The question most often heard by Brian and Karen Lynch when they pull up in their 1997 Toyota Paseo is not “Where did you get it?” but “What is it?”
The car itself is not the missing link in Toyota’s evolutionary tree, the kind of rarity that enthusiasts know exist but are lucky to ever see. Brian Lynch assures me there are Paseos out there. You might just have to look long and hard to find one. And to find a Paseo like our feature car, well, this may be the closest you ever come.
Despite the car’s fossilization in the sediment of junkyards across the United States, the Lynches’ take on the Paseo is not merely a carefully restored piece of mass-manufacturing history. It is proof that even the most unlikely vehicle can benefit when someone finds it is worth reworking.
The Paseo occupies a rather unremarkable place in the Japanese company’s history. Built on the Tercel platform, it shares parts interchangeably and is a base model that could never be accused of dissimulation. With stock horsepower figures to make you yawn, torque never becomes an issue without serious modification.
The year that the convertible model was introduced was also the last year for the Paseo in the United States. Even with the convertible addition, Toyota built this car to continue its venerable tradition of utilitarian cars made for the masses.
Brian Lynch said the most difficult challenge about owning a car that’s been discontinued and that had virtually no aftermarket support is finding parts. While owners of high-end exotics deal with some of the same problems due to the uniqueness of their acquisitions, often having to ship in parts from the countries of origin, the Paseo’s problem comes from sheer indifference to the model.
Knowing that putting together a modified version of the car was going to mean more than simply calling up their local Pep Boys for parts, the two software developers from Linthicum learned to become detectives.
“The car was built by eBay,” jokes Karen Lynch, indicating that they spent many hours looking for odds and ends parts for the vehicle. Brian himself checked the Web site once a day for anything Paseo-related while he was building the vehicle. And when that did not work, they made the parts themselves.
“If it can’t be found, it can be built, which has been the case for taillights, front turn signals and a few other parts,” said Brian Lynch. The Lynches even had to import parts from Japan.
“We’ve been into cars for about five years now. It all started with Karen wanting fog lights on her ’97 Paseo hardtop. Instead of paying the $250 in labor charges for it, we tackled it ourselves,” said Brian Lynch. “It may have taken longer than it should have, but we haven’t stopped modifying cars since.”
And as a nod to their occupation, the software developers have outfitted the trunk with a fully functioning computer system complete with roll-out keyboard.
When Brian is not tickling the keys at work, he’s maintaining a Web site wholly dedicated to Paseos located at www.USPaseoClub.com. Because of his hands-on know-how with this vanishing economy model, he wanted to create a network where other enthusiasts might meet to discuss the car.
Brian and Karen are members of Sudden Impact car club in Baltimore.
What do you drive?
Brian: A 1997 Toyota Paseo convertible
Why do you drive it?
Brian: The Paseo is extremely fun to drive while being small and sporty too. We also tend to prefer unique cars, which may explain also owning two Scions, one being the “Toaster on Wheels.”
What makes this car so special?
Brian: It’s hard to find the Paseo on the road stock, let alone modified. Even at events with nothing but Toyotas, I get the “What is that?” question at least a dozen times.
What’s your most memorable driving experience?
Brian: Probably the trip back home after buying the car. It was bought in New Jersey and we had a three-hour drive back to Maryland for the first time in a convertible on a beautiful day in May.
What’s the first car you owned?
Karen: A 1995 Toyota Tercel
Brian: A 1994 Toyota Corolla
What’s currently in your CD player?
Karen: “Disturbed”
Brian: “New Found Glory”
And your first ticket? What was it for?
Karen: Speeding
Brian: Never had one.
