The surprise jaunt into a room full of TOYOTAS

SATURDAY - I just had a coffee and was awake for about 20 minutes...

Then I should get into the car. My husband wanted to take me out. To a place he didn't tell me for I reason I coudn't imagine. About 20 minutes later, we arived in the outer areas of Cologne, were I started to ponder about our destination. I'm a bit James May regarding orientation, so I had a hard time with even knowing where we are. My husband pretended to have taken the wrong turn... because otherwise I would have guessed, that we would be there soon, driving into a side road. He pretended to turn the car in a car park - and parked.

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We got out of the car, went through a door above which a sign was saying

TOYOTA COLLECTION

and entered a hall full of nice elderly Toyotas!

Of course, the first thing I observed was, that there are TWO utterly wonderful 2000GTs in front of me, but I wanted to save them for later. Let's take one at a time.

I whipped out my phone and started on the left side of the room to explore the exhibits. The first object I encountered was a coffee machine. I switched it on and made some espresso. Ah, great. What's next?

As it says in the sign, it's a '77 Corolla Liftback. In red. Intact.

As it says in the sign, it's a '77 Corolla Liftback. In red. Intact.

Holy shit... this is beautiful. Look at that Corolla. Wait a minute...

​​As I went on, I found some real gems and sneaked around them, trying to catch the best angle despite the narrow parked beauties.

Scroll down to see what they have done to it.

Scroll down to see what they have done to it.

This.

This.

A crappy picture that tries to show the brilliant paint.

A crappy picture that tries to show the brilliant paint.

Here are some more snapshots. Don't stop scrolling. Story isn't over yet.

Woudn't be unhappy to have it.

Woudn't be unhappy to have it.

Those tanned windows...

Those tanned windows...

This is a proper amount of angularity.

This is a proper amount of angularity.

A bit too clean for my kind of taste.

A bit too clean for my kind of taste.

Would be happier outside a house. Can I take it for a short walkie?

Would be happier outside a house. Can I take it for a short walkie?

Slowly, it was about time for the real deal... and I sneaked onwards to the highlight in the room.

It's locked..

It's locked..

And then it happend!

My husband started talking to some men standing around the 2000 GT. I didn't listen and went on taking pictures. As I approached them again, the topic of their conversation was, that it actually was allowed to open the cars if they're unlocked... and sit in them. My eyes got bigger and my husband asked the only question pertinent here.

"IN THE 2000 GT ALSO???"

And the answer was: "They're locked...

... BUT I COULD OPEN THE ONE OVER THERE IF YOU WANT."

Not even on my wedding day, the sound of my "YES" was more convinced.

Yes. This is me. In a 2000 GT.

Yes. This is me. In a 2000 GT.

At one point, yes, I got out of that car again, sighed, and said good bye to that special moment.

I walked around the hall a bit longer, sat in some of the cars and couldn't help but grin for the rest of the day.

At a special racing corner, I could try what it's like to sit in a (replica) rally car...

​...and after a while it really was time to have a proper breakfast.

So the story of a fantastic surprise from the best husband I can imagine ends.

And as a BIG THANK YOU for reading, I leave this not so big but heavily irritating car here for you:

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Happy to read your comments!

- all pictures by me except the one my husband took -

#carcollection #toyota #toyotacollection #museum #corolla #celica #landcruiser #2000GT #toyota2000GT #racecar #lol #motormuses