A 40-year-old Toyota Starlet, which had been looking the worse for wear but still had just 33,000 miles on the clock, has been lovingly restored by a group of motor enthusiasts and the totally transformed dream machine will be formally unveiled this Thursday night.
The 1982 vehicle, which had been parked up in a shed for 15 years, was brought back to life and restored to pristine condition by volunteers in the Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club to be raffled to raise funds for four worthy local causes.
Up to 30 people volunteered their time and expertise during regular Thursday night restoration get-togethers at the Killarney Men’s Shed premises, provided by the Kerry Mental Health Association.
The engine on the Starlet was stripped back and fully restored and refitted with tender loving care and it will hit the road in some style when the finished product is unveiled at Kelliher’s Garage in Tralee – sponsors of the project – tomorrow night.
The enthusiastic volunteers have been working on the car since last October and, similar to other restoration projects undertaken by the club in the past, they will now raffle the fully-restored Starlet.
Proceeds from the €10 ticket sales will be shared by Cuan Mhuire, the Killarney branch of the Irish Kidney Association, Killarney Valley AC and cancer support charity, Recovery Haven Kerry.
Killarney Valley Classic and Vintage Club secretary, Richard O’Donoghue, said the Starlet has been fully resprayed by Humphrey Kerins in Killarney and the engine, gearbox, drives, brakes and other small details have been fully fitted.
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