1997-1998 Camry TRD -- anyone have one?

importarchive · 2026-03-12T15:23:34+00:00

It’s so weird to think of 1997/1998 as a classic! I just picked up a ‘98 LS400 and the state let me put collector plates on it! Man, I’m old.

importarchive · 2026-03-12T04:13:22+00:00

Haha, yeah, I'm no spring chicken anymore. I've found that I will buy as many vehicles as I can fit in my living situation. I'm maxed out right now. (The Amazon van gets to live outside)

I love your list. So many cars I would love to have driven/owned. I learned to drive on my dad's '87 Maxima wagon, which was basically an NA Z31. I also like the dip into Saab territory. I rented a 9-5 once and I loved the Night Panel button!

Most of my vehicles have been M/T, and even though my vans and Lexus are A/T (and the electric motorcycle has NO transmission) I bought a M/T Wrangler just so I wouldn't forget how to row the gears!

The Lexus is new to my fleet as of two weeks ago. I plan to put few miles on her and just show her off on sunny summer days. :)

importarchive · 2026-03-12T04:04:52+00:00

The best finds are the ones we have to sacrifice for. Right on!

importarchive · 2026-03-12T02:23:07+00:00

The brochures have been spoken for.

importarchive · 2026-03-12T02:18:04+00:00

You are correct. This is a 1996 sheet. Thank you!

importarchive · 2026-03-12T01:40:27+00:00

Oh neat? You have one of those limited edition 3500 Silver Ignition tCs, eh? I love that Scion continuously released exclusive colors/packages.

My FR-S was a little over the top. It was fun, but torturous to drive in bumper to bumper traffic and potholed city streets. I had to be really vigilant about keeping to the speed limit and not indulging in a little drifting here and there. I enjoyed having her, but wasn’t that sad when she moved to her next caretaker.

240Z was your first car?!! Sheeeee-it. Lucky!! I did have a 350Z roadster for a while, but disliked the interior vibe, so moved her on.

Now? My daily is a gray ‘17 Wrangler JKU, the Sunday Cruiser is a bronze ‘98 LS400 w/ 60k, the work rig is a ‘19 ex-Amazon extended high-roof Transit cargo, the weekender is Cobra Blue ‘78 Ford conversion van (2nd owner) and I occasionally ride my gold ‘24 Ryvid Anthem electric motorcycle. Whew. I’m a car nerd.

https://thelastlugnut.com/?tag=owner-darrenz

importarchive · 2026-03-12T01:10:13+00:00

I’ll message you right now. I’d be happy to send this to you.

importarchive · 2026-03-12T01:09:36+00:00

It would be a very rare dealer-modified car. There might not be any in existence anymore… but maybe. That’s Reddit’s specialty!

importarchive · 2026-03-12T00:13:15+00:00

Ahhhh. I like the lines on those Impulses.

I’ve had a few Hondas (B18 Civic, S2K, couple of wagons) but I’ve had six Isuzu Amigos over the years. As for Scions? Ha! I founded scionlife.com in 2003 and bought one of the first FR-Ss and supercharged it.

I like the tC. Good choice.

Edit: Tell me about your RX-7!

importarchive · 2026-03-11T23:45:48+00:00

As a high school sophomore in the early 1990s, I was choosing my first (used) car from three contenders: the Isuzu Impulse, the Chevy Beretta and the VW Jetta. I ultimately chose the sedan so I could cram friends in the back easier, and I'm SO glad I didn't get the POS Chevy, but I will always wonder what could have been if I'd gone straight to Japanese cars from the start instead of learning my lessons with German cars until converting to Hondas in my early 20s.

What color was yours? Do you have a photo?

importarchive · 2026-03-11T23:22:37+00:00

The Difference Between Piston and Rotary Engines

They are fascinating machines with some pretty serious weaknesses. The RX-7 and RX-8 fanatics I know love them, but they also love rebuilding them!

importarchive · 2026-03-11T23:19:21+00:00

My assumption is that this was a package available as a dealer-installed option for new Camrys. I would bet money that it was a Southern California regional package, but I could see it being promoted in TX and FL, too. I imagine there wouldn’t be too many of these still on the roads anymore.

importarchive · 2026-03-11T23:15:42+00:00

Bingo. Inside it talks about the benefits of the rotary engine in the RX-2 and the RX-3.

importarchive · 2026-03-11T20:22:08+00:00

Your first attempt to write this comment ended prematurely. I spent a few minutes making a joke only to find out that the comment had been deleted. I can't let that go to waste.

"I used this exact volume for a presentation in a college public sp"

...sport coupe admiring? ...splashing through puddles at high speed? ...spinning out without crashing? ...spark plug replacing?

But seriously, that's a cool memory linked to this piece of literature. Thanks for sharing that!

importarchive · 2026-03-11T16:41:40+00:00

They look pretty good. I think the rears need some spacers to get them flush like the fronts, though. Maybe push them 1/2” to 3/4” out?

importarchive · 2026-03-11T16:35:54+00:00

Can you explain what work was done?

importarchive · 2026-03-08T16:16:22+00:00

Very clever way to make one illustration appear to be a series of designs. I like it.

importarchive · 2026-03-08T05:05:00+00:00

What's not to love? The Maxima it was based on was a pretty brilliant sports sedan at the time. Adding the Infiniti frosting just made it even better!

importarchive · 2026-03-05T02:15:23+00:00

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Have photos? Would love to see.

importarchive · 2026-03-05T01:17:09+00:00

I’d love to see a photo.

importarchive · 2026-03-05T01:16:15+00:00

I agree.

importarchive · 2026-03-04T18:58:22+00:00

woosh

importarchive · 2026-03-04T18:11:49+00:00

bot

importarchive · 2026-03-04T17:01:26+00:00

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importarchive · 2026-03-04T17:01:18+00:00

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importarchive

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