Pete Lees - 89 Toyota Crown Royal Saloon

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My name is Pete Lees 

I'm 36, and I own an '89 Toyota Crown Royal Saloon.

I'm no stranger to unusual rare cars, I've owned 7 American cars previously ranging from big lazy Cadillacs to a 6.6 litre Trans Am. I've always used my cars as daily drivers as I feel cars are meant to be enjoyed. 

Having said that I am fortunate to have transport to work as the Crown would be a thirsty Daily! I've owned the Crown for just over 2 years now, I found it on Gumtree and failed to act only to lose out on it. Fortunately It was advertised again around 6 months later where I pounced on it despite the slightly inflated price. 

The Crown was completely stock and super clean! Engine is a stock 7MGE, 3 litre twin cam straight - 6. The same unit we had in the mk3 Toyota Supra. The crown has been in the UK since 1999 and is a Japan market only car. It's fitted with factory air suspension which for 1989 was pretty advanced. 

Inside it has a touch screen tv/sat nav/compass which all still works, electric front and rear seats, swing vents, Air conditioning front and rear, fridge, electric folding mirrors and auto headlights. 

Crazy tech for 1989. Since owning the crown I've had an image in my head of what I want it to look like. I wanted to replicate a kaido racer and modify it the same way they would in japan. This has involved getting some 15 inch SSR MK1 wheels shipped from japan for the authentic small wheel look, also the suspension I bought a control box which is just plug and play and enables me to slam it to the floor at a show or just parked up.

It's not ideal but to have proper bags fitted it's more than 3k so for now the stock suspension is holding up well. I've recently bought a Hako Skyline style spoiler, had some graphics put on by @protezione_wraps_ppf who did a great job, and also tinted my rear lights for that more authentic look. 

There are multiple things I'd like to do, proper suspension would be one, and also address the paintwork in places as it's not so great close up. I would like some deeper front wheels as they're not quite as deep as the rears. I have a few other things I want to do in time, watch this space. 

I'm hoping to get to shows like Retro Rides at Goodwood and Players Classic. Both shows I really enjoyed last year. 

My dream car is a GX71/61 Toyota Mark II 

Thanks hope you enjoyed the read.