AWD Toyota Tercel Ice Trails and Close Calls

This story dives into the time the MARS crew showed up to film a Spanners episode — and things went way off-script. Luke gives us a tour of his garage and the fleet, then takes us out in "Thunderbucket,” his lifted, trail-ready Tercel. 

With five people packed in and Michigan’s trails coated in ice, things get sketchy fast. From near misses that sent Jon running for the door to an actual accident that spiraled into a full-on recovery mission, it’s a day none of us will forget. Spoiler: Thunderbucket doesn’t drive home.

The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.

An AI-summarized transcript edited by a human staffer is below.

[Image: YouTube/Michigan Automotive Relic Society]

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The transcript follows a passionate Toyota Tercel wagon enthusiast from Michigan as he shares his love for quirky old off-road Toyotas, especially his heavily modified wagon nicknamed “Thunderbucket.” 

He explains how he became obsessed with these rare 1980s Toyota wagons after buying his first one from an online forum. Over time, he collected several more, becoming known locally and internationally as “the Michigan Toyota Tercel guy,” shipping parts worldwide and connecting with other enthusiasts who remember the cars fondly for their durability and surprising off-road capability. 

The story centers around an off-road adventure with the “Mars crew,” who wanted to experience what daily driving and wheeling these unusual wagons is like. Thunderbucket had been modified with suspension upgrades, mud tires, and a snorkel to improve off-road performance. Despite icy conditions, the little wagon impressively powered through frozen trails that even larger trucks struggled with. 

Things eventually go wrong when the driver loses control on a steep icy hill. With no ABS and almost no traction, the car slides uncontrollably into a tree. Although the damage initially seems manageable, the car later overheats from coolant loss and must be flat-towed home. During the tow, disaster escalates when a rear wheel bearing fails completely and an entire wheel falls off the car while driving down the road. 

Rather than becoming upset, the narrator treats the breakdown as part of the adventure. He reflects on his philosophy of accepting setbacks, making the best of difficult situations, and valuing memorable experiences over perfection. He describes the incident not as a ruined day, but as one of the most unforgettable experiences of his life. 

The transcript also explores his passion for preserving older vehicles. He contrasts classic cars with modern vehicles, arguing that older cars are more repairable, sustainable, and meaningful. Inspired by automotive YouTubers like YouTube creators from channels such as Roadkill and Vice Grip Garage, he started documenting his own adventures and repairs online. His goal is not fame but helping other enthusiasts keep obscure old Toyotas alive and inspiring people to restore forgotten cars sitting in garages or backyards. 

By the end, he reveals that Thunderbucket was intended to be passed down to his friend Alex, who shared many of these adventures with him. Although the car was damaged, he sees it as the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, planning to apply everything he learned to a cleaner, rust-free Tercel project he hopes to keep for many years.