I'm going to break it up, so it's not a huge wall of text in one post.
Not long after I got back from the US in May 2011, an opportunity presented itself.
My wife found a 1975 TA22 Toyota Celica convertible listed on gumtree (like craigslist, for Australia).
They were asking $4,000 or would consider a swap.
I didn't have any money, but I did have a Holden Rodeo ute which was using too much fuel for my liking.
(Not my actual ute, but looked the same as this)
I wasn't sure that the owner would be interested, but we thought we should give it a shot.
One hour of driving and we arrived at the house where the car was.
Our hopes were lifted, as the business of Ruby's owner (A mobile safety screen door installer), was colour coded perfectly to the ute... This started looking like a trade was possible
As we headed to the back of the property and rounded the bend, she came into sight.
Sitting in the sunshine with the roof down..... I knew right then that I had to have her.
Negotiations and discussions were short. Apparently, the car had been advertised for over a year, on and off, and no-one had even come to see the car! He test drove the ute, and I drove Ruby. We were both happy so the swap was done (or so I thought)
"You can't have the car if the roof doesn't go on" said Cath.
Fair call I guess. Only problem is that the roof hadn't been on the car for years, and so it had shrunk.
We spent 15 minutes pulling the roof, trying to stretch it out..... I WAS going to make this roof fit!
Obviously, we did get it on, otherwise this thread wouldn't exist.
As awesome as it was, it needed some work done.
The interior, although re-trimmed with fabric instead of vinyl, was outdated.
Brown and white interior
Original steering wheel, with a crack in the plastic at the top.
Half repainted air cleaner covering the 2 barrel carb, which only had one functioning.... so it was quite gutless.
Pea-shooter exhaust was falling off, which made it easier to convince the Mrs. that a new one was required sooner rather than later.
And so, that's the starting point of Ruby from when she joined the family.
. I'm gonna have to show him this thread and remind him about that day in 1986. 
