1974 Toyota Celica Gen 1 'TA22'

They were keen on double skinned construction weren't they!

Frustratingly so!

I may just run around the various edges with a wire brush and some Hydrate 80 to slow things for the time being. ideally a decent cavity wax and seam sealing should stop the oxygen part of the equation in future.

Very true. Err no not at all 

Inspired by a few of the Celica's on display at the show last weekend, including this white one which I took a few more photos as reference from - a nice car with some really nice touches


I thought I'd try and make best use of the evenings and get going once more


First job was dismantling what I'd built up previously, so wing off and pins out



Before I got really stuck in to making the wing top permanent, I needed to address a couple of other areas while I had better access... well of sorts. I decided to slice and drill out another section that was corroding beneath the top section


before moving on to the slightly trickier elephant in the room


So despite having no idea how I was going to resolve, I thought I'd at least give things a go. I found the old cardboard templates I'd made a while back and set to work. Starting with the easiest piece first of course... that was tough 


You know the process by now so I'll spare the making bits, but here's where it got me


which was making the repair piece to the extremes - great for look and fit, not ideal for using as repair or for welding in place without unpicking a considerable amount. So I decided to refine a little to only replace/repair what I needed to and to keep the basic structure in situ.

So it was shortened


Then the rotted bits carefully cut out using a combination of reciprocating saw and dremel, no chance of getting anything else remotely into the space


I could then refine the repair piece to fit the hole



which eventually gave me


Pretty happy with that all things considered... although no one will ever know as it can't be seen

Folk may have also spotted that I've also requisitioned my welder once more so I can get busy the next couple of weekends. After the last few weeks, the diary is blissfully clear for the next couple and I can't wait to get stuck in.

That was a monster split in that liner!

So a few more hours in the workshop after work last night

As mentioned, the next bit in my grand plan of attack was to deal with the front of the wing.


Once measured and marked, it was soon removed


Forgive me church of restorers, for I definitely sinned in a previous life when I knew no better... upside down... in the dark... wearing sunglasses... 


Thankfully I've seen the light (from the welding torch ), and am addressing the issue. Speaking of which, on with the welding in place then


Much betterer!


having the rotisserie definitely helps on such occasions and things are sounding a lot more solid



I will need to finish the bottom part once off the rotisserie as the brackets that attach to the bumper mounts get in the way, the same is true for the N/S wing too. As it happens I will soon need to remove them anyway and slim them down for reasons that will soon become clear, I just need to work out a way of supporting the shell while I do so.

Starting to look like a wing again



Time was a bit against me by this point, so again I treated everything and will revisit to dress back and tidy at another time




There are a few other areas from a previous life that will be getting some attention too, so makes sense to address everything at the same time.

More soon I hope!

Ain't that the truth Ray. Shocking that I've had the car for 10 years next August... efforts must be doubled! 🤣