For Sale: 1980 Toyota Celica in Lutz, Florida

Thoroughly authentic, absolutely distinctive, and very fun to drive make this 1980 Toyota Celica one of the best ways to join the rapidly growing field of Japanese classics.


If you know about Radwood, then this car will get you excited. It is a highly preserved example of 1980s fun. In fact, not only is the Silver metallic paint factory correct, but it also shows the right signs of being the factory application! The Celica was designed to be sporty, economical, and youthfully attractive... basically, Japan's Mustang. So you have clean and simple lines that impress you with the details, like how the door line steps down a little to give the glasshouse a low-slung touch. And the way the trunk tapers off and has a subtle low indention is a nice touch of European flair. And you can see everything so well because this coupe has been especially well-respected, right down to little things like the Toyota mud flaps. It's unknown if the odometer represents the full mileage, and there are some dings and fade from use, but overall, most of us wish we still looked this good after 40+ years.


The black interior looks great against the silver exterior, and the full package keeps the time capsule feeling going. It's wonderfully detailed with textured inserts in the seats, clean door panels, good carpeting, a working horn, and the classic AM/FM stereo there for a display. Plus, little things like the working courtesy lights in the doors are the kind of features that impresses survivor fans. But this Celica is more than just about showing off standing still. High-back front bucket seats and plenty of wood applique trim make this feel both sporty and premium. The grippy steering wheel, crisp stick shift, and a full instrument panel with a tach as prominent as the speedo is part of the enthusiast-driven package that really made us start falling in love with Japanese sports cars.


When you lift the hood, the 20R label on the head makes many Toyota enthusiasts very happy. The R-series motor is where Toyota earned its nearly bulletproof reputation. Plus, as you look at all the original components and decals, this makes for a great attention-grabbing engine bay. But a car like this was made to be driven, and the clean style also shows proper maintenance. The overhead cam motor fires up nicely, and you take full control over this peppy powerplant thanks to the five-speed manual transmission. The sports-inspired independent front suspension, trailing arm rear with Panhard bar, telepathic-like manual steering, power brakes, and front disc brakes all come together to create an outstanding driving experience.


This is an impressively preserved way to enjoy a significant classic that's gaining more prominence every day. Don't let this one slip away, call today!