theft deterrent

[kartone]

Suggestions on best visible theft deterrent for 1980 GTV ?

[GTVeloce]

Make it look really ugly!

Personally I prefer a good immobiliser but you could make a reasonable one yourself without too much difficulty. Tap into an ignition or starter wire and run a hidden switch. These cars really need an ignition relay and starter relay so the easiest way would be to install an immobiliser switch at the same time. If you really want to be sneaky you can use an existing switch as your bypass switch. Does your rear fog light work? How often do you actually use it if it does? It makes a great 'hidden' switch. If you have electric windows there are always blank switch plates next to them you could use.

You could run the main ignition wire from the ignition switch (brown wire) to the hidden switch and then to a relay and then back to the main ignition plug. So now you don't have all the current for everything running through your ignition switch (or the hidden switch) so now they won't burn out and you have an immobiliser and more power for the things you want (like headlights, wipers etc). You can also return back to standard wiring very easily if you need to for any reason.

[matty-o]

My set up; steering wheel lock, snapped choke cable resulting in a good 3 or 4 turn overs before it fires, sticky rear brakes that require a good 3 or 4 yanks on the handbrake to free.

Is it ideal? Nope, has my car been stolen? Nope. 

Both of those issues, and a proper immobiliser, are on the to do list.

[poohbah]

I concur with GTVeloce. I had an immobiliser with remote fob fitted to my 81 GTV. Guy came out and fitted it in my driveway for about $200.

It's obviously not going to stop anyone from breaking into my car, but it is a visible deterrent to anyone trying to drive off with it - unless they have a flatbed of course.

[kartone]

Thanks GTVeloce and Matty-o, however the key words are VISIBLE DETERRENT.
Steering lock or combination steering & pedal lock is probably the way to go.
Do any alfisti have experience with these locks: brand names, types, drawbacks etc?

[poohbah]

I should have added that the flashing red light on the immobiliser is as good a visible deterrent as the old fashioned steering lock, plus you don't need to stash a heavy bit of steel in the passenger footwell every time you go for a drive!

[Neil Choi]

Install one of these and detach and take steering wheel with you inside the house or lock in boot.  Seriously.
Thieves will walk off and steal the next Toyota.

[V AR 164]

Why would anyone in their right mind steal a Toyota 😂
Well I suppose if it's a Camry go for it then! 
One less clogging up the roads!

[Alfapride]

I just Pull out the coil lead if I park it somewhere I'm worried about theft

[Paul Gulliver]

Leave a little note on the front seat about the propensity of these things to rust and how expensive it is to fix. In addition to other ongoing maintenance issues with a car that is nearly 40 years old

[Joe Garra]

I know it's sexist, but just leave your mother in law in the passenger seat! 

[poohbah]

Unfortunately, I doubt many mothers-in-law would fit in a GTV!

[jazig.k]

These stickers come to mind [OLED I think they are?]. They could replace the LED's that most alarms have. You could buy them and replace the LED of any alarm system. It will just flash on/off.

Viper just happens to be the brand I remember having them. The guy I got my GTV from had them on his GTI Golf, they fade on and fade off in a 3 second cycle with the original Viper alarm system. A friend later bought a Viper kit and his had the option to fade or remain lit as well as fitting multiple stickers [front windscreen and rear maybe]. Cost a fortune for the kit years ago.



I was going to suggest the quick release boss kit, but have been beaten to it. Just buy a brand name one. Cheaper ones have movement in them. I also doubt they would be legal, but I don't know.

Window tint. Simple multipurpose stuff. The VSI has finally been updated to include which windows have to meet the legal standards and which ones are free to be blacked out.

Away from the car itself...
Sensor lighting where ever you park the car. Modern sensor lights have day time adjustment so the light doesn't turn on and off during the day and only at night. Turn the light on, off then on again and the light remains on until you turn it off, over riding the sensor function. Don't know if they are recent features, but mum and dads old sensor lights at home didn't do either of those things.

Cheap security camera kit, mounted in a clearly visible position. Even a faux camera would do the job.
http://deals.ebay.com/blog/deal-on-a-dummy-dome-fake-security-camera/

[GTVeloce]

Leave a pet snake on the dash.

[carlo rossi]

They probably wont be able to drive it in any case
but if they do, have it heavily insured and a thankyou note
I recently insured my GTV thru nrma
if you tell them its over 25 years old and you drive it less
than 9000kms a year the insurance for comprehensive is under $200 pa
So let them go their hardest  unless its a Camry then leave you fuel card as well
so they can get real far away before you realise and hopefully you'll never see it again