This car was given to me during my senior year.  The paint was originally avocado green but it had faded to a nice lima bean green (come on - it's better than avocado) by the time I owned it.  It had a 400c.i. engine and was also the recipient of my first ever car repair.  The carburetor needed rebuilding so I just bought a kit, read the instructions and did it.  It was sold when I moved after graduation. 

This one had a 455 and was tan with a tan interior.  Not very fast off the line, but man would it fly on the freeways.  I owned this car for a few years, but it was sold when I joined the Navy

I bought this car in 1986 in California and owned it until 1989.  It was my first real car that I learned to fix (all too often).  It had a "wide block" 318c.i. engine with a dual-stage single barrel carb. I found an intake manifold at a flea market and purchased to Carter Thermo-Quads.  Even with 229,000 miles it still ran good.  I couldn't punch the gas off the line, the engine would just cough and die, instantly flooded, I had to feather it some or power brake it.  Unfortunately it did overheated some.  I remember one time that I was coming back from New Mexico across the desert into L.A. and I tried to blow it up.  I had it floored, the valves were floating, it was going as fast as it would go, the temp gauge was pegged and it took me all the way home and still ran good the rest of the time I had it.  I really did like this car and wish I still had it, but when I moved, I wasn't going to pay for the gas in this beast to tow my 1983 Celica and my Celica certainly wasn't going to tow the Charger.

For those of you that have seen the original Blues Brothers, you know the car the I am talking about.  Black hood, trunk, and fenders and white roof and doors.  "Mother of instant acceleration, don't fail us now."  It had a 440c.i. police engine in it. Stomp on the gas at 55 and it would snap your head back.  I had this car also from 1986 to 1989.  It too was sold for the move.

This is the car that changed me from a die-hard Mopar man to preferring Japanese autos.  I bought this as a cheap beater car.  Having always been rough on my cars, it didn't take long for me to realize that my Celica was the epitome of reliability.  It never broke, never complained, and was a dream to work on (for fun).  It took me all over California and across the country.  When I bought the car in 1986, it had 70,000 miles on it.  I drove it to 170,000 miles and then sold it to my sister in 1991 to buy my Supra.  She drove it to over 200,000 and then sold it to someone else.  It's true about the 22R: change the oil and they will run forever. 

The Mark III Supra came out in 1986.5 and I swore to myself that I would own one someday.  In July of 1991, I finally was able to admire one of my own.   This car is Turbocharged and seemed very fast after having the Celica.   Eventually, I yearned for more speed and soon came the modifications.  I still have this car and probably will for many years to come.

I bought this car in July of 2000 because the price was right, $300, and the parts I needed to repair or replace on my turbo Supra would have cost more than that.  I also had a few modifications that I wanted to test on it.  I hate to junk it, this car was such a pretty blue, but it is now probably a metallic box no more than a few feet per side.

In April of 2002 my turbo Supra developed a rod knock one weekend and I needed a reliable second vehicle to get around in.  It also needed to be able to tow my Supra and carry any parts (such as the engine) with no trouble.  It took me a few days to find one in my $3000 price range that wasn't too torn up.  This 4runner is still a solid vehicle with no squeaks or rattles even when going off road and the interior is immaculate.  There are a few things that I will change on it (such as power windows, locks, mirrors) and it may eventually get a paint job.