Ivan Stewart's 1984 PPI Toyota SR5 restoration

[Wardy]

Sorry for the lack of updates as I haven't touched the truck in about 8 months. That is all about to change after you read the following..

Not really an update but my buddy Dave Baldwin made me aware of this old school MTEG fender from either #003 or #004 that was available in Long Beach for $20! Consider it SOLD! Big thanks to my high school buddy Chuck Soper for picking it up for me yesterday...

Photo credit for screenshot unknown.

As for an actual update on #001, the Ivan Stewart Chenowth 1000 tribute buggy is almost finished and delivery to the new owner should be at the end of April during the NORRA Mexican 1000 where it “Might” be sitting on display at the Bilstein Shock Absorbers booth. We will then be on the #001 restoration 100% and no stopping till it is finished. I think I speak for everyone when I say this build has been going on long enough.

Above is a picture of the Chenowth as of now, it should look like thie (below) in about a month....

Photo credit Kurt Scherbaum

 

[Wardy]

Time for a well deserved update. I have been meaning to talk to someone about making another body for the Toyota as I only have 1 body. The plan was to have a race body, a spare race body and a museum body. Anyone who has ever had molds made knows it can be very pricey. I made a post on Instagram (my IG signature is “Racersonly”) concerning a body....

weston from McQueen fiberglass reaches out to us and said he might be interested...

I’m very familiar with their work and craftsmanship...

I can’t risk destroying these panels and I truly believe there is a market for them. I’m pretty sure most would agree with me that this fiberglass body built for Cal Wells III and PPI is the best looking fiberglass kit ever built. There are a few that are close but they don’t look this good. As far as I know there MIGHT be a few front fenders lying around somewhere but I haven’t been able to find any....and I’ve been looking.

so, my thought process is to have a couple bodies built and whoever builds them can keep the molds to sell to whomever. Any of you 1984-1988 Toyota SR5 owners interested in a body? By the looks of my inbox over the past year or two there is. Well boys, you are in luck. Weston came over today to look at the truck...

he was pretty happy with what he saw and next thing you know....

This might take a little time but a realistic goal would be the Off Road Expo event (if it isn’t cancelled) in October. I suggest you guys that might be interested in a body to check in with McQueen and put in an order.

We’re pretty excited about this, not only for us but for all the Toyota fans out there.

The move to the new race shop starts at the end of the month. The Chenowth 1000 restoration is done and the Toyota is getting 100% of our attention from here out.

 

[Curtis Guise]

That's awesome Rory. If I still had an 80's truck I would be all over this.

 

[Wardy]

Big day for the Toyota and anyone that owns a 1984-1988 Toyota SR5. McQueen Prototype and Design has finished the molds for the PPI 001 Ivan Stewart Toyota and they are AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE! Contact Weston at (310)-327-2337.

The Finish on the panels are fantastic and they went out of there way to strengthen them by adding a lip to the quarter panels and hood to make them more rigid.

Hood:

back side of hood:

Front fenders:

Inside front fenders:

Rear fender:

Can’t wait to mount these up and see the final fit and finish. Unfortunately that will have to wait a few weeks as Challenger IV is being cleaned up for a show in Monterey in 5 weeks...

 

[Wardy]

Long overdue but here we go. The plan was to start the Toyota within the next month or so but like they say, “there is no time like the present”. Not only that, Jeff Furrier motivated me with his post on Instagram about getting ready to start the Larry Ragland #Grasshopper race truck. I still have to finish up Challenger III but that won’t take much, mostly cleaning it up and waiting for the rear shocks to be finished. I will juggle the two until Challenger III is done.

The Ivan Stewart PPI 001 Toyota was taken off the lift and moved to the “Fabrication” side of the shop.

First step is to mount the NEW Body that McQueen Fiberglass recently made molds for. All the mounts are there, I just need to make sure everything lines up straight before punching a bunch of holes in the fresh fiberglass....

Once I get that done I will concentrate on getting a few more things fabricated up including the front bumper and altering the rear bumper back to original. Baby steps right now until I start checking some stuff off the list. Stay tuned......