Vehicle Description
If you've been paying attention for the past year or so, you know
that Japanese cars are finding new homes with collectors. Early
Z-cars, the Toyota 2000GT, and the Honda S600 are all seeing a
resurgence in interest as the guys who enjoyed them as kids now
have a chance to buy back their childhood. And this 1978 Toyota
Celica is no exception, with just 17,704 believed original miles
that offers wonderful driving dynamics and a handsome look that
will bring back memories.
And that's really what this hobby is all about: memories. Many of
you probably remember cars like this being ubiquitous on US roads,
but when was the last time you saw one? Wait, scratch that. When
was the last time you saw one that wasn't rusted to oblivion? This
one has been recently repainted, since the original '70s gold paint
color wasn't exactly setting the world on fire, and we have to
agree that the bright yellow finish suits the sporty Celica just
fine. The bodywork is shockingly straight and clean and thanks to
the low mileage, all the totally unobtainable parts are still in
place and in excellent condition. Build quality is typical Toyota
with nice gaps and neat trim and this car doesn't look almost 40
years old, does it? The styling has really held up well! The big
black rubber bumpers don't look as awkward on this car as on so
many of its contemporaries (I'm looking at you Mercedes 450SL) and
the rear window slats are a performance look that practically
defined the 1970s. Yeah, it's safe to say that we dig this car.
The tan bucket seat interior is totally original, which, given the
mileage, shouldn't be surprising to anyone. What is surprising is
how modern it feels from behind the wheel, with supportive seats, a
great driving position, and a slick-shifting 5-speed manual
gearbox. The carpets are a little dirty and the horn button is
missing, but the list of faults in this car is notably short. We
love the little metal cages on the vents, the bright, crisp
instruments that look suspiciously like those in a 1970 Camaro, and
the very 1970s compartmentalization of all the controls like the
set of some sci-fi show. The back seat is well-contoured for two
and really uncomfortable for three and under the hatch there's a
huge storage area that offers nice carpets and a tie-down strap for
your cargo.
The 2200cc inline-four feels energetic and eager, moving the
lightweight Celica with ease. Typical of Toyota, it's really packed
in there, but thanks to its bulletproof reliability and low
mileage, you won't need to spend a ton of time under here. It's
quite stock, from the air cleaner assembly to the hose clamps to
the decals in their proper places and its low mileage status is
apparent everywhere you look. The 5-speed is a slick shifter and
yes, this Celica is rear-wheel drive, making it a very entertaining
handler on twisty roads. It's quite clean underneath with no issues
and plenty of originality and the single exhaust system gives it
just the right 4-cylinder buzz to match its look. Fresh
Minilite-style wheels have been fitted, and they're exactly the
right choice, especially with modern 14-inch Goodyear radials
wrapped around them.
Go ahead, try to find a nicer one. And don't laugh, because
Japanese cars are the next big thing. No, this one won't make you
rich overnight, but we'll wager that there will always be a line of
guys eagerly waiting to own this Celica. Call today!
