Ke50 To Trash Or Not To Trash

[lexcy]

Hi all , I am new to forums, so I'll try not break the golden rules.

Intro- I've had a couple of Corollas and am looking for a van now so I can cart my bike around..

 

What I am seeking is opinions as to what to do with a KE50 that is currently sitting at a friend's property.

It doesn't seem to have any structural rust, doesn't seem to have been badly smashed ever, yet it is run down. Everything seems to be there, it is just tired looking with an awful white paint job over the original silver.

That said; is it a candidate for stripping and then the scrap metal dealer, or something worthwhile rescuing?

It was mine but I kind of gave it to a friend and it was used to let a relative learn to drive in, but now it is sitting doing nothing and we were talking about whether to try sell it or scrap it.

It seems these little coupes are pretty uncommon and I've only seen one other where I live.

 

 

Well I think I introduced myself a little stayed on topic and didn't use leet talk, I'm not even sure what that is, so I hope this post is acceptable.

 

Cheers Lexcy

[Des]

Welcome to the club

 

I say keep it and fix her up. :)

[7shades]

I'd say hang on to it... Those coupes look great when tastefully done up... especially if all the chromework is still in good nick. Just a nice set of 14 or 15 inch wheels and lowered a sensible 50mm and they present a really cool profile whilst being very cost effective and reliable daily transport.

[beerhead]

Hey Lexcy! Welcome to Rollaclub.

 

Restoring old car's is such a personal thing, the question you ask can't really be answered by another person. You've just got to work out how much you like the car, how much you would anticipate it'd cost to restore (then double it to be safe) and whether at the end you'll have a vehicle that'd serve it's purpose for your demands. Personally I love the KE50's they're such a rare retro looking car, if you don't restore it I'm sure someone on rolla club would take up the job rather than stripping the nice old beast.

 

Best of luck on the panel van hunt, if you want to move your bike without a trailer it'd be awesome.

[KJ's Rollas]

I have a KE50 as a project car myself, and yeah they are a very rare find & very unique, but also gorgeous looking when lowered with mags (as 7shades said) - and the best thing is most of the car and all the engine & parts are the same as a normal 70's corolla (3K), so she's not going to require imports and expensive parts or mods!

So I would say go for it - it will pay off in the long run, and if you don't think it's the projct for you, then pass it onto someone else who does - another Rolla enthusiest no doubt would take up the offer.. but seriously, NO corolla in my opinion deserves to see the scrap metal pile!!!!!

 

KJ :)

[lexcy]

Hi again, thank you to all who have given feedback and opinions. I think we won't trash the little coupe. I might try put some pictures up. I probably won't fix it myself as I hope to be busy with a little panel van sometime soon and I don't really have the skills or money to do it all. I will talk about not trashing to friend who is storing it and maybe sell it or find it a home where it may be loved. Technically I gave it to him, but he wants me to decide if I want it back or to get rid of it because it will just deteriorate where it is. We had an owners manual somewhere from one he wrecked (don't get upset this one was smashed beyond repair) but it seemed these had 2tgue motors in Japan. I am not certain about that, the picture in the book was for the same body shape but it had a different grille and headlight set up.

 

Cheers Lexcy

[7shades]

Good to hear its not heading to 'rolla heaven (where the roads are nicely paved and cambered and there are no hills with lengthy gradual inclines)... and hey, at the very least, if you can find a nice place to store it its an appreciating asset!

[mikeys toy[RL]]

yeah, the TE51's got the 2tc here, we never got the KE50

[Beau-Jangles]

i say sell it and get a gemmie wagon/panelvan. Reliable, stylish and fuel efficient all in one. Haha. u can also fit your bikes in the back

[lexcy]

A Gemini !!!

I've had one of those and it was a mechanical abomination. I must have got a crook one, but it was a pig on fuel for a 1600, rusted at the sight of moisture, stylish was a matter of opinion, I guess it looked ok, but it's lack of reliability was why I'll not own another. The Corolla's I've had never let me down.

One the up side a Gemini will run on unleaded with no modification, and I'm guessing that the crook one I had was not the norm.

Thatnks for the suggestion though.

Cheers Lexcy

[beerhead]

All K motor's have an alloy head (dunno about the real early ones), hence hardened valve seats, they will run on unleaded no problems :)

Edited October 25, 2006 by beerhead

[KJ's Rollas]

Yeah very true, I run my KE55 on unleaded with no problems whatsoever, although they say it isn't a bad Idea to chuck that fuel saver stuff in once in a while, and once or twice I've chucked premium in her and it seems to give it that extra kick - but at the moment, it costs too much for that!!

 

KJ.

[Hiro Protagonist]

Yeah very true, I run my KE55 on unleaded with no problems whatsoever, although they say it isn't a bad Idea to chuck that fuel saver stuff in once in a while, and once or twice I've chucked premium in her and it seems to give it that extra kick - but at the moment, it costs too much for that!!

 

KJ.

 

I use Premium all the time, actually Ultimate whenever I can afford it, just to be on the safe side, even though the engine is completely stock. Never used the fuel additive stuff though, haven't seen a need as they were designed to run on plain unleaded from the start, just not in Australia

[ke30corolla.coupe]

I have a KE50 as a project car myself, and yeah they are a very rare find & very unique, but also gorgeous looking when lowered with mags (as 7shades said) - and the best thing is most of the car and all the engine & parts are the same as a normal 70's corolla (3K), so she's not going to require imports and expensive parts or mods!

So I would say go for it - it will pay off in the long run, and if you don't think it's the projct for you, then pass it onto someone else who does - another Rolla enthusiest no doubt would take up the offer.. but seriously, NO corolla in my opinion deserves to see the scrap metal pile!!!!!

 

KJ :)

id say keep it as ive never seen one till i found my ke30 2 door are they rare? as ive got one and havent seen the sedan shaped 2 door before so i don't know much about it except i like the look of these i was looking for a coupe till i found my 2 door sedan

[KJ's Rollas]

Yes ke30corolla.coupe they are one of the rarest of corolla shapes to come across in Australia - equally as rare as the 4 dr KE11 (import) - I just love the shape of the KE50 too, and it's well equipped with everything that the Aussie rolla's had at that time, plus more - factory tacho, cloth seats, pillarless doors, the list goes on! - I travelled a long way to find mine, and there's only a few other KE50's on Rollaclub, a white one (owned by KE50) - just sold it last week I believe, and there's one other somewhere on here, but yeah if you can find one - It's like finding a Gold Nugget in your backyard - a rare occasion!

 

KJ :)