Blog > The price of passion
Author: Jason Simms
Ok, it’s no great secret that it was my 1975 TA22 Celica which Marco was referring to in his most recent blog. I can’t dispute the facts contained in his piece - I idiotically gave them to him - and his advice to avoid getting involved in car restoration/modification projects was undoubtedly wise. However, the fact we encourage a broad spread of views among APR staff means I can say he’s not entirely right.
Severe (yet justified) beating that I took from my dear wife put to one side, and the fact that I never intended to go quite so profoundly into the red over this car duly noted, I can’t entirely regret starting the project. It’s a great car, or will be when it eventually moves under its own power (I don’t like to use the word ‘steam’ around it – that’s tempting fate), and I’ve learned a huge amount about mechanics in the process. It’s also inspiring to help make a product, rather than just ‘consuming’ one.
And, until you get your hands dirty stripping one apart and putting it back together, you never fully appreciate just what a pinnacle of engineering, craftsmanship, design and technology a car is. With an older example, like mine, you also appreciate just how greatly we take our modern motors and their dependability for granted. As an example, the latest hold-up for my project is the rust-filled petrol sucked from a corroding fuel tank clogging the filters – I bet you modern petrolheads haven’t suffered that one.
But more than anything, the Celica project has been a reminder that I love motoring because it’s fun, not purely a personal transportation solution. Ok, it can be that sort of ‘through gritted teeth’ fun, similar to a camping holiday on the English coast, but when you dry off and warm up you’re invigorated by the adventure. I’m not always interested in getting from A to B in the most efficient, safest, fastest or cosseted way possible, in fact sometimes there is no point B at all.
Of course, I also want the safe and comfortable family car and accept the dear old Celica is not a car for all seasons. But neither is the über efficient runaround. There is a place for ‘bare bones’ motoring pleasure and profound satisfaction from being part of putting another example of that back on the road.
7th Jul 10
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