OWNER PLANS PARTY FOR CAR'S MILESTONE.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Oh, what a feeling. Local resident Skip Newhall likes what his Toyota has done for him, so he's going to do a little something for it.

When his 1988 two-door hatchback Toyota Celica pulls into Le Chene French Cuisine restaurant on Sierra Highway on Sunday, its odometer will read 400,000 miles on the dot. The Firehouse Stompers Dixieland Jazz Band will follow, wine will flow and dancers will do a jig - all in celebration of a little car that served its owner well.

``The only thing not original about this car is the color,'' said Newhall, a retired astronomer for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena who is hosting the private bash for his car's achievement.

Newhall, a descendant of the valley's pioneer, shrugs off any notion that a guy whose family's name is pretty famous could have enough money to buy any car he wanted, every year if he wished.

``That's a myth,'' he said. ``I'm not wealthy. I had to work. This car is very reliable. It gets 31 miles to the gallon. I figured I'd just keep it till it drops.''

According to statistics provided by the American Automobile Association, most Americans keep a passenger vehicle for an average of nine years. Across the nation, most Americans drive about 11,000 miles annually.

Toyota spokeswoman Denise Morrissey said it's not uncommon for Toyota owners to reach astronomical numbers on their odometers.

``We do get a lot of calls from customers, and it's great,'' she said. ``This year, we got a call that a 1991 Corolla reached 300,500 miles on it. We had another report in 1999 that a 1978 5-speed Corolla reached 500,000. It's pretty impressive. Last year, a 1991 Toyota Previa reached 222,000 miles. People call in and they're just so happy, and when they get to the 400,000 mark, and we're always happy.''

Frontier Toyota of Valencia manager Amir Boktor said Toyota owners rarely want to give up their cars, even for a new one. ``They say, My car is still good, I'll keep using that,'' he said. ``We have a story from all the Toyota owners.''

When Newhall bought the car in 1987, it cost $18,000. He believes he's spent more through the years maintaining it. Though the car was repainted after one Halloween when vandals threw paint on the original dark blue sheen and a few valves were replaced, its original 4-cylinder engine has never been changed - or cleaned. He's driven all over in it, especially to Death Valley, a favorite place.

Though a party for a car seems like a pretty sentimental gesture, Newhall insists he's not emotionally attached to his car. He'll give it up when it's good and ready to go. He doubts it will reach 500,000 miles though, he said.

Still, he does believe cars are a lot like people. They show their age, he said. And they have to dress to impress.

``It's a birthday party on Sunday,'' he said. ``I don't care what I wear, but the car's got to have its best suit on.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Skip Newhall is throwing a party for his 1988 Toyota Celica, which will soon hit the 400,000-mile mark.

(2 -- 3) Skip Newhall poses beside his trusty 1988 Toyota, above. Newhall is throwing a party Sunday, when the car will hit the 400,000-mile mark.

David Crane/Staff Photographer