The Toyota Celica became available in the United States almost immediately after its initial introduction in Japan in December, 1970. At the time, many consumers weren’t considering imports, so it would take years for the Toyota brand to reach the level of desirability it has today in the domestic market. However, in 1976, Motor Trend certainly took notice of the Celica, honoring it with its Import Car of the Year award. This 1976 Toyota Celica here on Craigslist is said to be a one-owner example, and the seller reports that it remains largely original. It’s located in La Habra, California, northeast of Los Angeles, and is listed for $16,500.
Barn Finds reader Jack M. spotted this sleek liftback, and we’d like to thank him for sending us the tip here! Although the Celica debuted as a 1971 model, it was still in its first production generation in 1976, but the car received more updates this year than ever before. The wheelbase was stretched, and the exterior also got a few changes, including the vents becoming incorporated into the hood and a revised front end. The seller reports this one was originally orange, but it was repainted once in the nineties, changing the color to red. The body is said to remain as straight as an arrow, and the sheet metal is claimed to be 100% rust-free.
A peek inside shows an interior that appears about as good as the exterior. The owner describes the condition as great and notes that the seats were also reupholstered in the 1990s, and they still look excellent decades later. However, the dash is original, and the pad and instruments look very good. The factory radio has been upgraded to a more modern unit, but most other parts appear to be factory Toyota components.
Under the hood is Toyota’s 20R engine, a 2.2-liter inline-4 cylinder known for exceptional reliability and longevity. It’s paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, and with just 75,000 original miles, it may still have years of service left for the next owner. It was reportedly parked in a garage in 2012, so most of the driving hasn’t been recent, but the seller says they replaced the fuel pump, cleaned the gas tank, and states the car now runs like new overall. This seems like a fun cruiser for the price range, and I’m guessing it won’t take long to find a new home. What are your thoughts on this 1976 Toyota Celica?
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