Ouch.
On the Japanese TD-2000 site ( http://www.td2000.jp/ ) the list price for the base car with a 5spd trans is 4,599,000 yen.
At this morning’s conversion rate, that is $59,250 USD.
Add another 270,900 yen ($3,490 USD) for the rollbar, luggage rack, moto-lita steering wheel and leather interior.PMOSSBERG40857.3838888889

Amen to that Bill.

Well, it’s all moot to me anyway. Couldn’t afford one even if they were street legal here. 

 
It might be the actuator that was used to steer the car during the crash test.  

Can’t tell what it is. But it’s hard to believe it is the steering column.The front end is not collapsed enough to drive the column back through the passenger compartment.And as a practical matter, if the column DID protrude back like that, you can bet your last dollar someone at TD-2000 would have said, “No way you are putting that photo on the web site.”

Is that the steering shaft sticking through the center of the steering wheel and into the rear area? If so, talk about getting skewered! newkitman40856.9132175926

Most impressive photo on the TD-2000 site, captioned as a 1986 crash test. No mention of the speed.As they say on Mythbusters, “Don’t try this at home.”
PMOSSBERG40856.8103587963

Yes, it was bought out by a Malaysian company and is shipping to various countries around the world.  japan is the newest distribution and they responded to my questions about a US version.
They have a car in for testing to US standards and hope to have one in the next year if not sooner.
http://www.td-2000.com/
 

Black brake fluid???  I’ve played with cars since I was 14 and had some real junkers, and I mean bone yard ready or beyond, and I’ve never had brake fluid turn black. 

Is the TD2000 still being made? I read somewhere that the original company in Australia was bought out by a Malaysian outfit, but haven’t seen anything since. 

Wow, if someone offered me $40,000 for one of my TD replicas, I surely be tempted to sell.  I wonder when the 2000 TD will be available in the USA and how much it will go for?

Now that’s an idea that’ll work no matter which wheels you have. Thanks for posting this Mel.

I took my Honda S2000 on a run with a group of Miata owners this weekend.  We made a Poker run of it, stopping at historic places in the more rural county next door for new cards, and ended up at a casino for the buffet lunch.  I got to take advantage of being a first time enrollee for their players club, which gave me instant credit to cover t…[Read more]

I was with the Just Brakes techician, a Certified Brake Specialist, and saw him lift the cover of the master cylinder to show me the black fluid.  He told me that exposure to air would cause it to turn black and that I most likely had a leak somewhere.  I haven’t had the car long enough to notice any brake fluid leaking.  The weak brakes were ob…[Read more]

Great post Ed. I especially like the show me the money comment.
I had a guy at the Cruisin The Coast event ask me how much I paid for Winston. When I didn’t say he asked $60K. I said with a smile. “No, but if you’re in the market I’d certainly consider $60K as a good starting figure. He smiled back!

Brake fluid should take a couple years to turn black and even then it should still do its job.If you had a leak you would be constantly adding.Sound like your system has been contaminaited with something.

I leave for work before dawn and get home after the sun sets.  No time for shots during the week and little time on the weekends, lately.  I’ll get shots of her posted in a few weeks, if you can all wait.  I’m sure the eBay photos are long gone by now.The master cylinder sits up high in the engine bay, and is visible from the outside due to a cu…[Read more]

HAR!That’s a great idea, oldbuzz, but then: with all that extra horsepower from the roundells, plus the extra confidence from the “rollbar”, I might get myself into trouble!

The BCW Chevette cars used adaptor plats to fit the VW wheels, I believe.No idea where one would find those now but other 15-inch steelies might work just as well. I seem to recall someone using Hyundai wheels on their ride. 15 round holes in them (as the TD had), and 15 x 5 rims. Could be mis-remembering that.