Expert: Mike Evans - 5/24/2009

Question
Hi Mike, I have a question about replacing a few body parts on my foreign car in order to make it lighter.  I have a 1988 TOYOTA Camry LE (ALL - TRAC), and I was hoping to make it lighter by replacing its hood and trunck to start.  How feasible, reasonable is it to so, and perhaps with who would you rec. to deal with in the U.S.A. or Canada? Thank you.

Answer
    It is entirely feasible if you could find someone who made such items for such an old family car.  You might be able to source something for a Celica, but I know of no one who makes such items for the Camry.  However, if you are of a mechanical bent, or used to working on boat hulls, you could make your own out of fiberglass.  There are several excellent books available on making fiberglass parts for cars, up to and including entire bodies.  I'm still not sure how practical it would be for this car, but it might be instructive and rewarding.  If you are trying to improve gas mileage, you might find it a lot simpler to go looking for aerodynamic improvements first; they are more easily done and, in the case of your car, probably more needed.