Backstory: I got remarried last year to a woman who is a car enthusiast but never had a support system. In 1990 the first car she bought by herself shortly out of school was a red 84 Celica GT-S hatchback. Loved it but only had it for 6 months before it was stolen and stripped. When we got together I decided to introduce her to my hobby by searching for a replacement. I figured that she would be more accepting of the time and mess of a project car if she had an attachment to it.
I had no experience with these, so I threw myself into learning all about them, which is part of the fun of the chase for me. It took me a year and two failed attempts. After the last one, where I flew in with cash and left very disappointed I took a break from looking. After a few months, one night I was trolling Craigslist at a 1000 mile radius and found a pretty basic add. I don't know why I even bothered to call, but wow was it a find.
So now I would like to introduce my wife's new toy, most definitely not a project car:
http://s1107.photobucket.com/albums/h390/rojeho/
I bought this car from the original owner in the original town with the originally issued 1985 title. He told me the name of the salesman and how the dealership grew from a strip mall storefront to the current store. It was always a second car and always garaged. There is literally not a pinhead of rust anywhere on it or under it. The paint is all original and has never even had a touch up brush touch it. It has 171k miles on it, and you would never know it by the condition of the seat bolsters, pedal rubber pads, the lettering on the stalks etc. The shifter is as tight as new, the doors are dead straight, the wood spare tire cover is perfect. Among the odd facts of the car:
The PO told me that "it was in the rain three times. Well, maybe I forgot one or two, but definitely less than ten times." The original port installed motion alarm system still works. There is not a single blemish on any of the wheels. I had to redo the window tint because the original tint, applied in 1985, was just starting to bubble. It's never been professionally detailed, it's just this clean. When I pointed to the defog switch and asked if it worked, with a dead stare he said "I don't know, I've never had it in weather where I needed it. In fact, I don't think I've ever pushed that button." Among the original, never been changed parts include the brake pads and rotors, clutch, radiator hoses, and the original R-12 freon. The AC is not super cold, but is still more cold than cool or warm. The only parts that have been changed are the starter, water pump and clutch slave (the only time it has been in for an overnight service), and tailpipe and muffler (the only receipt that came with the car).
When I first got it, I struggled through a no-start. I changed the fuel pump and the relay. Even after that it still wouldn't start reliably, and then one day it magically healed itself and it's been perfect ever since.
Had to dig to find some cassette tapes, now we just need some parachute pants and a few props and we're ready to go cruisin, 80's style.
. 
