History
Toyota Corolla Mk. 1, purchased new in November 1967. My first car. I was twenty-one. No cars for most eighteen year-olds then. They cost too much! However, the purchase price of $1697 seems EXTREMELY cheap these days!
I possessed this car for three years. I bought it because it was
. cheap compared to models such as Toranas and Morris 1100s
. it had the most powerful engine in its 1000-1100cc class. Bib Stilwell actually looked over it at his Kew service station when I stopped there once because he was thinking of buying one to race.
In three years of ownership, I did more than 50 000 miles in the car, mostly travelling from Yallourn to Geelong each weekend to see my girlfriend. Sunday nights going east on Princes Highway were no fun as there was a constant stream of headlights going the other way.
In those three years 'JWJ' ('George'), as I called it, had two blown head gaskets. The reason for this was that it was one of the first cars to have an aluminium head (to save weight). However, that did not come with clear instructions on how to look after it. In those days, 'coolant' meant water to most of us. As a consequence, the head overheated and warped, causing the gasket to blow. I learned a very expensive lesson! 'Bars Leaks' finally saved the day.
In 1969, I journeyed from Yallourn to Sydney, via Canberra. Finding no accommodation in Canberra, my companion and I had to sleep in the car. Talk about uncomfortable!
The seat upholstery consisted of very thin, light-coloured plastic (that split at the seams within three years). To protect it, I ordered some cheap covers - clear plastic. You can imagine the experience on a hot day after the car had been sitting in the sun!
To celebrate the purchase of JWJ, my flat mates bought me a back window transfer based on the Morris 1100/Austin 1800 one that said 'This vehicle floats on fluid'. My sticker, to indicate its Japanese origin, read, 'This honourable vehicle floats on saki'.
I had great affection for JWJ. His presence gave me much needed flexibility, especially in respect to pursuing girls! Before then, it was difficult to attend a Melbourne dance and really 'score', as I knew that the odds were that the girl lived a fair distance away and I therefore would not be able to take her home. I had learned my lesson not to do that in 1965 when I was mugged after taking a girl home from Prahran to Heidelberg and then trying to hitch-hike back!
Modifications
Heater (not standard in those days). It cost me an extra fifty dollars!
Those memorable seat covers.
Wing mirrors that sat out at the front of the vehicle. You needed good eyesight to see what was to the side of you!
A cheap radio (also not standard) that just fitted into the slot for one on the dashboard.
A Westclox dashboard clock (not standard either) that had a magnet on the back of it. In those days, dashboards were metal.
Front seat belts. I was one of the earliest of my acquaintances to make this safety move. I purchased and fitted them myself.
