Here’s another low-mileage beauty, this one is a 1976 Toyota Celica GT Liftback. It’s originally from Oregon and now resides in Santa Rose, California. The seller has it listed on eBay where the current bid is $5,000 but the reserve isn’t met.
The seller is the third owner of this beauty. It “was purchased by the original owner in Oregon. When he passed away in 1986, the car was stored in a garage by his wife at 13,100 miles. When she passed way in 2013, the car was sold by her son to a Dealer (Exotic Classic Motorcars) on the east coast.” They “purchased the car from this dealer Jan 2014 and had it shipped to Santa Rosa, Ca. The car was driven regularly since.”
I’m a huge fan of the 1970/’71 Celica notchback but this liftback body style would have been available in the US starting in 1974. This is the last year of the first-generation Celica. They say that this “car is absolutely rust free. No body damage ever.” The “paint is original, and has a few blemishes. Front windshield has been replaced, due to stone chips, the new windshield is chips free… All other glass is original.”
This could be how or at least why this car has lasted for so long in such nice condition – the automatic transmission. Thankfully the “dash is crack free but discolored due to the extremely hot sun here in California, To protect it further, I have installed a dash cover. The velcro can be removed.” The seller says that this “car came from the factory with standard steering. I converted the steering to power steering from a 1977 Celica. (1976 Celicas did not come with power steering). In order to install the pulleys etc, I had to install a head from a later 1977 20R engine. The original head does not have the necessary mounting holes, it goes with the car. (not that you ever want to revert back to standard steering).”
This is Toyota’s 20R, a 2.2L inline-four which would have had just under 100 hp. This Celica ” runs and drives well and straight.” This “car was maintained as expected. Engine oil was changed regularly, every 5,000 miles. All other fluids were drained, system flushed and refilled with fresh fluids. (trans, brake system, rear axle, power steering). Brakes, including rotors and drums, have been replaced. (2) out of (4) tires should be replaced soon.” This looks like a super nice example of a last year first-gen Celica GT liftback.
Like………
1976 was the first year the Liftback was offered in the US.
I’ve always liked these,but wouldn’t pay the high prices they’re going
for (in great condition).
Here’s one I saw in Oregon (Hood River?) a couple of years ago.
Photo looks more like The Dalles, rather than Hood River when you consider the vacant business buildings in the background.
Wow! I had one in the early 80’s that wasn’t in this condition…
I hear ya’. Most in the midwest looked like this the day after you got it home from the dealer,,,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/harvey_wade/8288858515/in/photostream/
I love these and would have told my son about it, but an automatic? I would rather have teeth pulled. My son would love an older Japanese car, but please…
True that a manual transmission car is more desirable in a collector car. The reason so many older cars come up for sale equipped with an automatic is because most people buy an automatic. That was true in 1976 and it’s true today. The vast majority of cars sold are automatic equipped. Therefore that’s what comes up for sale.
Very true, but that said there were many more manuals built “back in the day” than currently. One reason is that automatics of this vintage sucked, and combined with low output engines performance was significantly impacted. So lots of people did opt for stick shifts, and frankly most of that generation could actually drive them.
looks like the Japanese were busy copying the Mustang while the big 3 were trying to copy them. Nice car!
I always thought the same thing. Little 69-70 Mustang fastback.
So the oil was changed 5 times in 42 years?
I believe that a detail that distinguishes ’77 Celicas from 76’s is that the 77 (yellow car shown in angliagts post) has dual side mirrors while the 76 (blue car in this listing has only a driver’s side mirror. Although I personally prefer the coupe styling, both of these cars look great.
Lovely looking Celica GT. This has always been my favourite generation Toyota Celica. I’d want mine with either a 20R engine or a 22R engine and a 5spd. manual gearbox.
This is just an old used car.
The low miles a re a huge negative, not a positive.
Old used cars is kind of what this site is all about. And the low miles are only a negative if the car hasn’t been driven for a few decades or so.
Very true. It’s not just mileage that determines the condition of a car. It’s also the maintenance, or lack thereof. Whether a car has 28,179 miles or 128,179 miles, if ha car has been abused or neglected in any way, it won’t drive well, it’ll be ready for the scrap heap.
I had a 77 fastback. I loved it. Had a 5 speed and 22R engine. Ran great and good gas mileage. I kept it till 83 when I traded it for an 83 S10 Blazer.
When the new Celicas came out in 78, the dealer wanted to give me what I bought it for, but I liked it and didn’t want to get rid of it. In 83 to was starting to that, even though it had Rusty Jones understating. So much for Japenese steel back then.
In the early 2000’s I had a neighbor who moved off and left a red 76 or 77 gt 20r/ 5spd on his land. I bought the land from him but he never transferred the title and couldn’t find the title the last owner gave him. It ran and drove, the body was decent, but has been rattle canned red but interior was shot. I was visiting my dad one weekend when he was traveling for work near Navasota, Tx and saw another red 76 gt20r/ 5spd sitting at someones house. Turns out it ran but needed the carb rebuilt and the front suspension was shot from the gravel roads in the area. I bought it for $300 (!) It had faded original red paint, and only one rust hole the size of my little finger at the bottom of the rear window. I swapped the whole front suspension out of the parts car with around 6 or 8 bolts (!), rebuilt the carb, compounded and waxed it, charged the A/C, then later when it overheated on me, had to put a water pump on it, and got frustrated with all of my cars seeming to always need work, and sold them both for $2500. I thought I made out like a bandit, but could kick myself for not hanging on to it.
A funny side story; the agreement was both cars for $2500. The new buyer said he would come and get the parts car the next day, which he didn’t do. I hadn’t built a fence on my property yet, and a couple of weeks later I came in from work and someone had come in and pulled the rear axle out of the parts car, leaving it on a couple of oak blocks. The new buyer lived in the “neighborhood” (rural area), so I went to his house, he wasn’t home, but sure enough, there was the “good” car on jack stands with the old axle out. I wasn’t aware that there was any issue with the rear axle, but I guess he was sore. I left him a note asking him to come get the parts car or at least bring the old axle back so the parts car would be mobile. I went back by and called him several times with no reply. Finally after a couple more weeks, I was done. I scooped the car from behind with my loader and a chain and headed to his house. He wasn’t home (again), so I left it in his driveway. No charge for the delivery!
“Car runs and drives well and straight, does not pull to either side upon breaking.”
I wouldn’t expect a car with only 28k to break very often…
I wonder if it pulls side to side when braking, though..LOL
I had a red 74 ST coupe that was a great car. I had put spoke wheels on it and larger tires. At the time, I was trading cars on a regular schedule, so I only had it a couple years. One of the ones I wish I’d kept. I did like the 74’s better.
Although I’ve always liked the Celica GT, for some reason, the ST doesn’t seem to be high on the collector’s list of cars.
Get Your Hand’s On a Toyota, You Will Never Let Go !
Pretty sure I have seen this car around. I actually thought of knocking on their door to see if they might be interested in selling it every time I see it.
This ’76 is almost just like the only new car I ever bought-was this pretty blue, but white interior & little red lights inside the doors & 5 spd. (my Bi-Centennial car) LOVED IT–left it at my mom’s ’79 when I joined NAVY (BIG mistake, little bro. wrecked & mom sold for $1K so I still owed $1K) definite BUMMER !!!
I wish I could edit what I said earlier. I used to be able to go back and edit my comment when I realized that I made a mistake and re-post the comment.