Can we forgive Toyota for burying the sporting ambitions of its Supra in the Celica at launch? The Celica was a spritely and economical competitor offered up against Ford’s Mustang, but when Toyota gave it the “Supra” treatment for model year 1979, the Celica’s nose grew along with its wheelbase. Objectively, the extra 5″ didn’t flatter the design, but the long-nose idiom was still popular by the late 1970s. The new car was aimed at Datsun’s 280ZX – the portly but luxe evolution of the brilliant 240Z. Bringing this car home from the showroom would set you back $10,000 – a hefty sum for the day – but it was festooned with features Toyota hadn’t offered yet: plush carpet, power options, clocks and cubbyholes. Its engine bay was graced with a silky six cylinder, but soft suspension reminded buyers that the point was conveyance, not track time. Here on craigslist is a first-generation 1979 Celica Supra, with only three owners in its history, and an asking price of $5995. The car is located in Aberdeen, Washington, and we have T.J. to thank for the tip!

The US-spec Celica Supra was delivered with a down-rated 2.6 liter, fuel injected SOHC inline six, making 110 hp versus the JDM version at 125 hp. Torque was decent, though, and the car could be had with a five-speed manual. Alas, this example has a four-speed automatic with overdrive. But its odometer reads just over 100,000 miles (documented), and its owners have cared enough to recondition the head, clean up the injection system, replace the belts and hoses, and rebuild the transmission. New struts and shocks round out the major repairs. The car is said to start immediately; according to the seller, it can be driven daily.

The interior is clean as they come, with the mildest of scratches here and there, light staining on the carpets, maybe a stitch or two loose on the e-brake boot. The door cards, seats, and headliner are in excellent shape. The cargo area has the aura of mild use, and the seller notes a hairline crack in the windshield. This Celica Supra came with a tilt steering wheel, air conditioning (R12), power windows, cruise control and a cassette player. The spare is still present beneath the cargo hatch – and it’s clean as a whistle in there, too.

The car still rides on its factory wheels, which could use refinishing. The seller notes a few chips in the cream paint, and a small rust spot or two – already treated. The badging, lenses and rubber trim are in fine shape. This first attempt at a new sporting tradition from Toyota was not a revelation, but it set the groundwork for the mid-1990s turbocharged variant. That Supra could sprint with the best of them, and will eventually attain a position in the pantheon of collectible automobiles. But this first-gen example will turn heads immediately, and at a very reasonable price.