Ah thanks, reading along is kinda fun. Also R152a, or dustoff is a viable replacement for R12 as long as you have PAG oil, if not R600 is drop in, but cooling dynamics are not amazing.
You drove a forty year old car with 280k miles on it another 2352 miles partially over rough terrain proving expensive off road vehicles are not required to see the American backcountry.Awesome video with stunning scenery and content.Thanks for sharing.
My 1981 vw rabbit pickup with an old tdi swap has crossed the country over a dozen times. I commuted every business day last year without a single hiccup. I am a mechanic. But my motor has 300,000+ miles when I got it in 2011…. Before any of those trips. Camped out of it for a full year. Later used it to live in the woods for another 2 years. I’m a mechanic again but still drive the same car. You can too. If u work the system a bit, like I have, Mine is supposed to be registered forever…/altho technically only until the year 2050. That means a 40yo car will be my main transportation for… Another 40 years.
@@joesprague1464 very true that elaborate overlanders or even jeeps and 4x4 trucks are not needed for exploring and enjoying the backcountry. When I took time off between jobs and went cross-country in a 1969 VW camper I went on almost any road my heart desired and never got stuck. Great traction with that engine behind the rear axle and usable torque combined with high ground clearance and I was golden.
Get that little thing a bit better ground clearance, and some decent tires. It will outlive us all lol. Super impressive for what it is. Can't beat 80s/90s Japanese cars/trucks.
If you ever find yourself doing 60mph in 5th at 3k rpms with your foot to the floor, you should try downshifting into 4th and get into a rpm range where it has MORE POWER BABY! 5k rpm all day while in 4th should let you hold 65mph up hill. (with no a/c or passengers) 😉
That’s why I love my mechanical tdi swap with variable turbo. Even at 1500rpm I floor it and whoosh. 300lb ft of torque at 1900rpm It started with a 1.6 na diesel about as fast as the Tercel. But turbo makes all cars better
Nice tercel. I own a 84 toyota camry with a 2.0l turbo diesel manual transmission with 300k miles. With original radiator . No issues just regular maintenance.
I had a 1983 model of the Toyota Tercel, bought off my parents. The thing was almost unstoppable with maintenance, my parents had the engine rebuilt (probably due to dad's lack of mechanical sympathy) and the mechanic took the 3A out to 1600 cc with 4A pistons. I wish I still had that car - it was amazing, and it was the car I grew up with for all of my childhood.
Tercel wagon engine is 3A, Carbureted, for torque. At the same time you could get the AE86 with the 4Agae (famous for starting drifting. Fuel injected, gutless, but twice the horsepower and 7500 red line. I had that engine stuffed in my Tercel wagon for fun
My boss 8 years ago offered me a free tercel. They never passed smog in ca according to my hs autoshop teacher, and recommended not taking it. but low and behold people love them!
Its easy to pass smog in CA. Maintain the original engine as designed. I had a 1979 Ford Thunderbird in 2011 with a 351 V8 and passed with flying colors.
Really enjoyed the trip. I owned this car. Mine was a 1987. It was my first and one of my favorites. Felt like getting back together with an old friend.
These are among my favorite cars from the 1980s. I basically think of this as the Subaru Crosstrek's ancestor and I think Crosstreks are cool. The styling of these Tercels is just iconic though, and it looks really capable. I don't think Toyota made this car with the intent owners would do crazy off-road driving like this, but it handled it pretty well for a 40 year old car.
I am HERE for every second of Tecel content. I loved my ‘84. Just don’t be a boneheaded like I was when I tried driving 4wd on wet roads - with that live axle out back, I swapped ends pretty quickly. Curious to see how you’ll mod it, and to see how well you’ll be able to find tires for the 13” wheels
Just import tires from the EU if you still have the Tiny size tires, 12, 13, & 14s are still very common over the Atlantic. Thats where I get tires for my 85 Subaru GL-10 and 94 Subaru Sambar.
Awesome video. It brings so many memories when me and my wife road trip our 1984 Subaru Wagon from California to Colorado and back. Much more memorable than driving a full comfortable overland vehicle. Just a whole different experience.
I have a friend who is the original owner of a 2wD ‘87 Toyota pickup with over 200k miles on it. Every weekend he takes it out into the Utah desert to go camping. He commutes to work in it. At times he’s lived in it.Older vehicles are the way to go. As the original owner of a 20 year old Jeep Wrangler l am a big fan of simple, easy to repair vintage vehicles.
Mine was an '86. Had about 300k miles on it when I sold it. It was my first vehicle, and it was ABUSED. I had replaced 2 clutches, 3 slave cylinders, and two master cylinders. I was hard on that poor thing. I sold it to a co-worker about 15 years ago. It was spotted by me and friends for the next 10 years. I'm guessing that it has finally given up, but who knows? I wish that I would have kept it.
If anyone gets one of these. Check the gear oil in the trans immediately. Failure to keep it full will cook the top bearings and it'll cause a chain reaction that'll cause the trans to eat itself. There are no rebuild kits or parts unless you buy another trans.
My dad had this car in robin's egg blue - '85 SR5, exact same trim. Funny you said you don't see them in Texas, he bought his new when we lived in Louisiana, and brought it to Virginia when we moved there. That car took us to see cousins in NY, vacation in PA, and all over VA, MD, DE, and WV when we were in the Boy Scouts. I learned to drive on it in the 2000's... fantastic vehicle. I wish they still offered a model anything like this. Thanks for the video, it brought many smiles to my face.
This was great! I took my drivers' test in a friend (87-89?) Tercel coupe. Really, a totally different car, but still brought back some nostalgia! That car would crank for 30 seconds trying to start when cold, 1st to 2nd (in an automatic) always slammed so hard you'd think a wheel fell off, and I'm pretty sure the interior was upholstered in cactus - but he kept that car to 200~ish K miles and it was still running fine when he sold it.
consider getting a old volvo 200/700/900 series. Much like the toyotas, they are absolute beasts when it comes to reliability and also they are very safe cars with ALOT of modifying potential.
We had the same model brand new in 1986. Tinny slow car by today’s standards, but was “state of the art” for its time. It couldn’t climb but fine on the flats. The square back hatch lift gate looked like an ATM machine. Sold it after 10 years of reliable use.
man watched the video from start to finish early morning. What a badass car. I saw one last year for sale, i am from pakistan and it was a slightly newer model. Guy was asking too much but it was very well kept and super clean. He was an Afghan dude and told me he goes to the mountain sides in Balochistan regularly and Drove it multiple times from Quetta city to Kashmir which is around 2000miles, note that he said multiple trips.
Bought a new 87 Corolla FX 2 door hatchback in 88. Nobody wanted them, 4 left, all 5 speeds... My buddy worked at the dealer, manager wanted them gone. Big discount. Drove it 10 years, great car. Easiest stick ever drove, carried mattress and box spring and all my junk. A/C and cassette deck, all you needed. It would cruise at 75 no problem.
My dad was in the Wholesale car business and in the early 1990's he purchased a lot these wagons. Brings back memories of my dad and me driving one back home. I miss him and this video makes me relive all those memories with my old man. He left this world in 2013, you guys have brought back some great memories with this video
Hey I'm new here.Watching from Germany.Nice car and YT Channel.Those Toyotas are bullet proof.So reliabeI.We had so much driven here in Germany,but a lot of the old ones were exportet to countries like africa. I left a like and will watch more videos soon.Greetings from overseas 😊
I remember when these first came out in England 🏴. I was a mechanic at a local Toyota dealership. These are certainly interesting vehicles that have undoubtedly survived a lot longer than I’d have imagined. Toyotas are wonderful vehicles, and the older ones I have a great fondness for. Great video, and I’d definitely love to have an older Toyota wagon, or estate car as known back home in the UK 🇬🇧. 👍
Great video man! I'm glad others are out taking these old things out on trails! I hage had so many people underestimate what they can do on trails. Hopefully I'll see you at the Toyota Tercel Meet and greet some year!
This was pretty cool to stumble across this video. Right where Forrest Gump stops running, I actually saw the Tercel on the side of the road and it was pretty cool to see it. I was also in that flash flood in Moab. I was leaving Arches NP and the whole highway was flooded and blocked by rocks.
I can truly say Toyota's are the most toughest and dependable vehicles ever made especially the older models. I own my 5th Toyota now . I had a classic '78 Corolla which me and my buddy restored to it's former glory. DIE HARD no issues at all. I also owned a '87 Corolla 4A motor basically a sedan shape Tercel(but not a 4WD) . Also owned a '88 Corolla Avante hatch 4A and i currently have a '98 Corolla 7AFE as a Sunday car only drives it to show off . Each an every Toyota i had up til my current one had no engine issues on any trip . Always took me safe and without sweat and breakdowns on all my ventures . Love this video keep it up . Looking fwd to more installments. Love from South Africa 🇿🇦
Ever since I found out about the 4wd Tercel I've wanted one, seems the perfect camping/beach beater car, I can't never find one in as good condition as yours. side note: The 80s and 90s had so many cool and weird cars like the toyota van and tercel with true 4wd, the VW Golf country with syncro system, The Samurai, etc.. a true golden age of reliability and simplicity.
WONDERFUL! I REALLY LIKE THOSE CARS. I HAVE A 92 GEO PRIZM WHICH IS A TOYOTA SPRINTER FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD. DROVE FROM NORTHERN NV TO LOUISIANA AND ONLY NEEDED AN AXLE SEAL, WHICH LATER TURNED OUT TO BE AFTERMARKET OIL SEAL! ADDED FEW ML'S OF OIL IN ABQ AND CONTINUED THE TRIP. ALL WORKS AS IT SHOULD. I FEEL LIKE CONVERTING IT TO A 4WD WITH PARTS FROM 4WD TERCEL/COROLLA. IT IS MY DAILY AND AT 292K MILES.
i picked up a 2000 toyota corolla a few months ago with 92k miles on it. had bent rear suspension components, bad brakes, bad 02 sensors, leaking and loose exhaust, and knocking rod bearings from being ran low on oil, and it still drove down the freeway like no problem. took the oil pan off and polished the crank/put new factory rod bearings in, and fixed the other issues and its been fantastic. shes at 101K miles now and i daily commute it to work and back to keep the mileage off of my siverado, as well as save big bucks in gas!!! Toyotas are just proven tough machines. (oh and the A/C blows ice cold!!!)
Had a gold 84 Tercel 4WD wagon bought used in LA back in the early 90s. Had a new clutch and a transmission seal put in and replaced a timing belt that was so cracked it was a miracle it didn’t snap. Drove it for many miles, including going cross-country twice. The iron block and head engine was unbreakable. Got a better car and sold it to a friend and he eventually sold it to another friend, who gave up on it when fifth gear eventually gave out at around 250k. Bought it back from him as he needed the cash and then sold it very cheap to the family of a friends wife in Asheville, North Carolina as it still ran fine, including the four-wheel-drive system. Lost track of it after that, but wouldn’t be surprised if it’s still running.
Nice! Got into an accident with my ‘86 5 speed several years ago and parked it in the back yard. You inspired me to fix it and get it back on the road. Happy trails!
I didn’t think i was gonna watch the whole video because its like 1 hour long, but i did! I had to. What a great video and beautiful scenery. Utah, arizona and Colorado are amazingly beautiful! Sadly i haven’t been able to visit yet but one day i will. Toyota really are great cars. I still have a 2004 corolla with 267,000 miles and still runs amazing with a very quiet engine. Fantastic video guys! 👏🏽 👏🏽
I own a 1998 Toyota Corolla E11 Hatchback 2CE Diesel and this video made me think again about the road trip that I dream to do around Europe from south Spain to Istambul, around 4500km and then another 4500km to come back
Tbh on one hand i'm kinda sad that nothing happened but on the other hand it's awesome that nothing happened. Toyota just builds cars that last! Love the little Turdcel! 💯🔥
Great video! My aunt had one of those and all I remember was how gutless that thing was! That door buzzer that sounds like an angry mosquito bought back some great memories!
IDENTICAL little Tercel that my buddy's Mom had back In Junior High!!! Good times.... back in a day with real people and capable adults were around! I took my drivers test in a 5sp manual, no big deal...
14:30 I resonate with this so much. I love these little 80s and 90s light stick shift Japanese cars bc they remind me of my childhood taking Taxis in Senegal. Toyota Corollas, Carinas, and French cars like the Peugeot 405 and 505. Even the smell and the comfy cloth seats, the loud and low-powered 4-banger when you shift, I could sense it all through the screen watching it haha.
@@OverlandNomad yeah idk just one of those things. either a former owner wanted it to 'look cooler' or the crew from the set threw it on to do the same lol. i kinda get it, i used to have a 69 camaro with z/28 cloned paint and badges. it got me a lot of fun attention haha
originally I thought that was the case, since the car that was used during filming had the fuel door on the fwd side, however a couple months ago the car showed up for sale. they put FWD wheels on a 4wd wagon and put a fake fuel door on the driver quarter panel for some reason.
I had this 1984 Corolla 4wd in Portland Oregon back in 2005, great car!! Now I have 1953 Ford P500 parcel truck that I drive from Temecula to Clarksburg WV ( total of 2,500 miles). No problem.
Love your love for Toyotas man! I’m up here in Fort Worth so I know how it feels to get out of our state and see some real landscapes..I mean you have the beach down the street from you but you can only go so far on SPI. When my 80 series LC is ready to make it down there I’d love to have the Tercel tow me out of the sand if needed!
I will own one of these eventually. I vow to own one of every 80's Toyota some day. I see these Tercels all the time in central AZ and they are more or less immortal.
I just retired my 1993 Camry, that thing kept me on the road longer than it had any right to. 3 years, 2 batteries, 2 alternators, and a brake job later it put me in a dangerous spot when, ironically the brakes failed me 😆 Toyota makes some impressive machines.
I've always loved these cars, AND I was super excited to see the 84/85 Civic Wagovan on the road too. I owned one of those and it was indestructible too! Cool video!
I would definitely fit some underbody protection. New springs and shocks would probably lift it an inch those one's look knackered. The Tercel is one of the cars ever built basic tough and reliable.
You've got me beat. My daily driver is a 1990 Toyota Corona. First purchased in 1989. Only 35 years old. Theres a short video about it on my channel. I love that car by the way. Awesome.
It will make it. That's my first car. 4wd on the fly baby. My HS chemistry teacher used to mock me "are you going to fly away in your space mobile???". 😂😂😂
