I have a 1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac, which I use instead of my S2000 when the weather is really icky (bigger, heavier, AWD, still fun, and not worth too much).

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to resist improving it, so far having replaced the utterly dead shocks/springs with Tein SS shocks, and replaced both sway bars with stiffer ones. Now it'll corner competently. Next, of course, will be intake, exhaust, intercooler and turbo.

But, being an old Toyota, and having not been treated tenderly by its previous owners, it is starting to develop surface rust at some joints, particularly around the windshield and the sunroof. I am becoming attached to the car, but not so attached that I want to spend $8000 killing the cancer (Bel-Red estimated that just to paint the car; and "more than $2000" to fix the rust without painting the rest of the car).

I don't need the same kind of job for this car as I would want if something happened to my S2000. I want the cancer stopped, and for the result to look ok (not MAACO-ok; real ok). I'm happy with some masking, but obviously some trim will have to be removed, not just masked.

Is there a place in this area that seems to fit what I want?

 

Rust? RUST????

Even Ben has to admit the CF doesn't rust.

It looks rice, but it does not rust.

Rust is sooooo, like, 20th century.

 

With cars like this, it is probably cheaper to search for and find a better example than it is to restore the one you now own. Sad but true.

 

MAACO did us good. We just stripped the car down and let them have at it. The only thing we did not pull off is the windshield.

$800 for some body work and premium paint. Door jams and under hoods were in the pack, as well. The car was back on the road in two days.

We took the lights and plate with us after we dropped the car off.

Pic was before I got to carried away getting 'er road legal.



On the road home.

 

Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, but these things are very expensive (KBB notwithstanding) in good condition. Having driven this car for 10 months, I know (as much as you can) that its drivetrain is solid.

I'd have to spend parhaps $5000 to get one without any apparent rust, and I think that for a good deal less than that, I should be able to get this surface rust (just starting) repaired. I hope....

Otherwise, I'll probably just drive it into the ground for a few years.

 

The problem with MAACO, as I understand it, is that the paint (even with their top-of-the-line jobs) doesn't last a week past the warranty. Also, I'm just starting to get some rust around the windshield, so the windshield has to be removed to kill that nascent rust.

 

The first time around I pulled the WS. It took about 30 minutes to prep the car for the drive home.



She needed some work after this. My first born's work.





Call MAACO and ask if you can bring in your own paint.