After a bit of thinking I have decided to go the 'full hog' on my restoration of my SC AW11.
I got the car with pre existing damage to the front end - the extend was a bit unknown however I saw through the dirt at a car with pretty good bones!.
 
My last restoration was to a little SWB Suzuki Vitara. My 12 yo son and I took it from a $300 rust heap to a show car - and yes the restoration story was published in Australia's leading 4x4 magazine..
I had an AW11 20 odd years ago - it was BRAND NEW! - a gun metal AW11 with factory sunroof, cruise and after market 15" momo stars with RE71's - Back in the late 80's this was cool as! ... I was only 21 (do the math) - My biggest regret with that car was trading it for a GT-Four! - The first one registered in QLD! ...Since then the AW11 has always been a favourite of mine.. I now have 2 - and they both cost a fair bit less than the $37K I paid for that first one! ....
 
The car I am planing on restoring is a 1986 supercharged 'T' roof. Busted front lower support, dented guards, ****ty interior, motor that doesn't run properly .. etc etc ... but!!!! - Little rust...
 
The aim is to repair this to better than new.. properly grossly over capitalise and more than likely go overboard on every aspect.. But it’s going to be fun..
One thing I have learned with these cars is that sourcing parts can be challenging .. and Toyota Australia seem to have a pre-recorded message that goes something like ‘that’s out of production and no longer available’
However – I have a little network of people and companies from here in Brisbane to the UK and US who can get me what I need – mostly new parts too.. Hell – I can even get new front reinforcement cross members that were long thought extinct .. I also have just received a brand new idle control valve for my NA car and air flow meter for it too! (NEW!)… It’s all out there if you look hard enough…
 
Now to start the car I will post a few shots of it pre restore… I am still not sure what colour to paint it, but it will have to be wild … also I know the interior it going to be re done in leather (everything inc dash!) – but colour, stitching etc is still up in the air … so I’d welcome suggestions.. I was thinking pearl black with gun metal ghost stripes.. the will match the 17” Advanti Talons in gunmetal grey (http://www.bigotyres.com.au/upload/advanti-talon-gunm.jpg) these have already been ordered ..
One other thing about me – I don’t like taking forever to do resto’s – I want to have this finished by mid September….
 
 

Job: The front lower cross member (radiator support bar) copped a heavy knock... The underside of the front boot tub got a smallish deformation and the RHS caster arm bracket got totally stuffed causing the suspension geometry to be totally out....
I have ordered all new parts ex USA and stripped, sandblasted, repaired surface rust then primed with epoxy etch... all the suspension has been removed as a total new front end is going on .. just waiting on a few parts to arrive from the USA (Love the A$ at the moment!)....
 

Wow, looks like it will be an awesome transformation!!  I like your style, speedy progress!!  I wish I had the time to do the same...
 
 

Fantastic!
Good luck and all the best with your restoration.
I love my AW11 and love to see yours in completion, do you have time frame in mind?

Good luck with the re-build! Progress and end result photos and story will be an interesting read

I should post separate 'how to' and tips pages to this post, but never mind ....
I needed to source a couple of rear tail lights for the car and found a pair (thanks Skippy) .. problem was they, like the original pair were faded, dirty, dull and scratched - not really a surprise given they are a quarter of a century old! …
So what to do .. Well I have a technique for restoring plastic parts including lenses and clear plastics that produces a result that is unbelievable! … All I use is a sponge pad in my drill press running at a very slow speed. The surface I want to restore, I use Maguire’s Fine Cut polish – liberally too.. and just polish until it is how you want it … The two main things to remember is a slow speed on the pad – and very important is it is kept wet! – just the polish is not enough.. this is to lubricate and cool the cutting compound, without it it potentially could melt the plastic or dull it…
Give it a go – it’s really easy and the results are great! …
 
 

Awesome work, they definitely look brand new. Keep up the work !

Looks great.  Meguairs make a specific plastic polish (PlastX or something - probably the same stuff in a different bottle!!), I have successfully made dull headlights (plastic) and tail lights come up a treat!!  This was just with a rag and elbow grease.  Also good for removing small scratches from instrument clusters etc.
 
If you are really adventurous, you can sand out deeper scratches etc with wet and dry, progressively getting finer, then polish.

Yep - they do make a specific product for dull lenses, but it's really expensive and I find the fine cut polish works just as well (maybe even a bit better)..

Awesome!!! Cant wait to see how it goes! Good luck with the resto its in good hands ;)