Body Panels for 1997 Celica Convertible..., Are The Available??? Options

[FrankB2]

I scraped the very bottom of the passenger side front fender on Thanksgiving. My wife had to have Starbucks, and I heard a grinding noise as I pulled alongside the curb! A mechanic friend told me that Japanese cars rust easily and quickly, so I slapped some beeswax on the area until I feel like taking it to a body shop (probably tomorrow).

In the meantime, I've been looking at various parts suppliers for fenders and rear quarter panels. They're listed as "available, except for convertible". I don't see why the front fender would be any different on a convertible, but... Anyway, am I stuck with junkyard body panels for a convertible? There don't seem to have been very many 1997 verts made, so junkyards could be tough as well. I dunno......

This post has been edited by FrankB2: Dec 5, 2012 - 2:52 PM

[Special_Edy]

Actually from what Ive seen our toyotas dont rust much. My celica has had a ding on the hood that had rust the day I bought the car, and it doesnt look any worse two years later. My rear quarter panel(got smashed before I bought it) has some bare metal where the bondo fell cracked off that has been exposed for 2+ years as well and has only now developed slight surface rust.

Bare metal on our cars will develop surface rust with a few months exposure, and pockmarked rust within a couple of years.

Of course I live in Texas so there is no salt, no snow and very little rain.


The rear quarter panel at the bottom behind the rear wheels is a common rust spot on the liftbacks, as well as the area around the hatch hinges on the roof. Not sure about coupes though.