With Diesel $.90 more per gallon then Gasoline, and the AC in the SD, DOA, MB Tex is mighty sticky. so I pulled my $80 beater car out of mothballs. I've been driving the Toyota for 3 months now on and off. but with the summer heating up and my land lord cracking down, I took the plunge to turn the $80 Toyota into a good looking car. here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.

The Man in the photos is my friend Aaron, the Painter!

Before:




Sanding:




Painting:







Painting the Details:




Finished Product:

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Hey! That looks pretty good!

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Nice paint job.



I like the super epic pictures.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Nik that looks great, I remember it before it got painted. They even seem to run better afterwards, don't they?

I also have practically mothballed the Mercedes, the Subaru wagon gets such better gas mileage, on regular, too, and I put in the factory accessory subwoofer sold in the dealer's parts department, and the sound is absolutely fantastic, maybe in part because the interior is that of a station wagon

I understand your pain about diesel prices. I filled up on Friday in Grass Valley and noticed that they were selling Diesel for
$4.89 a gallon!!!!! The sign said that they now put Techron in Diesel fuel, but come on - $4.89???!!

That said. we still want to have you on the Diesel Drive on July 19, you are still coming, aren't you?

That wonderful SD of yours is one of the "anchor cars" for the diesel drives, so we need it, and you, at the next one. It will be good to see you there Nik

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Those Toyotas are pretty tough cars.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Wow! We could start a "Make-Over" thread for cars. Aaron did a great job.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

I'm impressed. I wish I had a space like that. I'd love to try my hand at painting. It looks like fun. Good job!

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Not too shabby, Nik! I inherited an '83 4WD like yours (but blue) a few years ago from my late MIL. Only had 64K on the odometer! I touched up the few rust spots and had it shot by MAACO. 6 weeks later coming home on the highway the engine fused itself into a solid metal block. I felt awful about getting rid of it (for sentimental reasons) but I just didn't have the time or funds to put another engine in it and the town frowns upon inop cars. The thing really was a bear in the snow!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

If I had the place to do it and the equipment, I'd be tempted to paint my SEC either the color of JimB's or pure black. That would be AFTER I got the wheels, and the body kit, of course. I'd probably have to have lowered it before that, too.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Look to the wisdom of the East: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

Look to the wisdom of the West: Look before you leap

Look to the wisdom of the East AND West: If you can find a better built small car than Toyota, BUY it.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Last year 80's diesel cars were all the rage and I couldn't find a wagon for under 6k, now I can't find a frign geo metro under 5k... damn the system

that paint job is too good for that car. . .

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". . .back before accountants designed cars"

-Current Stable-
'78 MB 450SL-C 107.024.12.020783 #3840 <Kayleen>
'85 FORD F250 6.9L Diesel <Allison>
'98 Lexus ES300 <Rachel>
Long Gone...
'74 Chevy G10...........................'99 GMC Yukon 4X4
'83 Chevy Suburban 6.2 diesel .....'99 SAAB 9-5
'90 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS............. '01 Chevy Tahoe
'98 Nissan Altima .......................'02 MB ML320
'88 Chevy Suburban V2500 4X4 6.2 diesel

Thats actually a pretty darn good paint job.

Wow talk about a make over! Looks good!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200