Say not the Struggle nought Availeth

I thought Toy had fixed the fifth gear failure back in the late 70's. I had a76 Celica that I bought with 90,000 highway miles on it in New Mexico. My Japanese (born in and schooled at Toyota) mechanic told me I'd need to get 5th gear synchronizers replaced by 150,000 miles. The ever increasing whine in 5th after 140,000 miles did not jog my memory. At 160,000 miles or so, the tranny wouldn't shift for anything, about 10 miles outside of Little Rock. Cost me $250 for towing and repair. That was expensive in 1982. It was driven after that, 2 more clutches, 2 more brake jobs, 1 more timing chain, by myself and then my first x wife, unilt she sold it to a coastie for $500 in '87. I'd bought it in 81 for $1100. Headers, head mill, mild cam upgrade, removal of anti smog (something I'd not do now on a daily driver), trick suspension, (lowered through shorter stiffer springs and 13" wheels. 107 was all the top speed I ever saw, but it was quick and nimble, and in the days of federally mandated nationwide speedlimits of 55, we drove it from Newport News to St. Pete in 13hrs and 10 minutes. (Car and Driver proved in the late 70's or early 80's that dark cars are the least obtrusive. The Celica was a deep cocoa metalflake). Point is, when she sold it to a guy on her base who was guarranteed to be foolish and get stupid tickets, it had over 370,000 miles on it, and there wasn't a 2002tii in town that could hang with it.