It’s rare that we get sellers as honest as the one that’s listed this 1976 Toyota Celica on behalf of his friend, Gary. This Japanese Mustang is claimed to be a rust-free Texas specimen, and despite its tired cosmetics, the combination of a manual transmission with a very low opening bid of $500 and no reserve makes this liftback worth a look. Find it here on eBay somewhere near Dallas with two bids to $510.
The seller is up front about the fact that a motivating factor in this Celica’s sale is the difficulty of finding spare parts to repair the body damage on the passenger side. As you can see, the rear quarter has taken a hit and the fender is also pushed in. Although you can’t likely trundle down the street for spares, a few minutes spent internet sleuthing would likely turn up good fenders, and the quarter will require the hands of a bodyshop to fix. Still, not impossible to overcome.
Bit we’ve all been there, when you’re just done with a project and want to move on. The seller notes that Gary, the owner, was driving this car quite reliably before hanging it up for the cosmetic restoration that never happened. Now, it looks like there is moss growing on the carpets (in addition to on the body), the seats are tattered, and I’m guessing the dashboard is cracked assuming it’s spent some time parked in the unrelenting Texas sun.
Currently, the Celica is lacking a battery due to theft and the keys have gone missing. The can of starter fluid sitting atop the air cleaner is a familiar sign for anyone with a carb and a car that’s slow to start. One of the biggest obstacles with owning one of these is their propensity to rust; given the lack of major floor rot and/or rust along the bottoms of the sills and doors, this Texas Celica could be worth saving if the price remains low.
I’m currently restoring one of these, (in year two for this project) & can confirm the difficulty finding parts for these. This car has a few of the parts to finish mine, but from the photos it’s other parts are no better then what I have.
If it wasn’t so far away!
Uh, that’s not starting fluid, more like bug spray.
You’ve never used bug spray as starting fluid? Works very well. (seriously)
Wow. I just learned something. I will remember that when I run out of starting fluid for my VW Safari!
Thanks for the tip.
I’ve used starting fluid as wasp spray ( knocks them down until you can step on them) and I heard, hair spray makes a good wasp spray too.
looks like this Celica has a case of the wasps..
There is guy just north of me in Beloit, wi who literally collects these old Celicas and sells parts all day long on the internet. Last time I was there he had no less than a half a dozen of them sitting there waiting to be parted out. Parts can’t be that hard to come by. In fact, come to think about it, a friend of mine here in town has one that he got in a garage when he bought a house at a foreclosure auction. I don’t think it has any rust either. Anyone need a parts car? Lol
Hi there, do you know if the guy has a website or anything? Thanks.
Hello, do you happen to know if the guy in Beloit, WI has a shop or site?
If not for rust, these things would have lasted virtually forever.
guy here has 1 w/a turboed Tacoma motor. Brings to the drags, has around 700 HP.
(I think ‘hot shot’ is a tire care product?)
There is also a HotShot product for ceiling stains.
Looks like “Gary” was a slob, or a drunk. Somewhere, on a curve, I bet there’s a tree with no bark on it. Got to be a couple empty beer cans under the seat,,,
This has always been my favourite generation Toyota Celica.
Sold my ’77 to a guy in Paraguay South America this year for 3k. Hadn’t run in years, interior was wet and mice infested. The outside was original paint and it was a one owner car…..some good and some bad…..
A neighbor of mine used to find interesting cars, fix them up and park them in his front yard for sale. Driving to work one morning, he had a 1976 Celica Liftback, Retina Burn Yellow, absolutely showroom: $300.00 (This was about 15 years ago) I did a U-turn to head back home to grab some cash, the car was GONE when I got back.
My oldest cousin had a 1976 Toyota Celica GT Liftback.
Love these cars. My “red- neck” uncle had a red one. He used to buy T-birds during the 50s and 60s. He beat on his and it never let him down. Gave it to his son for college and he beat it more and still couldn’t kill it. The A/C was still running perfect too. Finally sold it for $1,000 and running too. My sister had one as well that I got to use occasionally. Coming from a German family raised with air cooled VWs, these had power and A/C! Pure luxury!!!! Probably the only car I’d care to resurrect. That or an early 70s Corolla. Must come with manual tranny is my only restriction.
That’s what I’ve always loved about Toyotas, their durability. They’re like lightweight tanks you can actually drive. My cousin had a 77 Celica GT. I can’t remember how long he had it, as I was just a boy, probably 7 or 8 yrs old at the time.
I bought one of these new and kept it as new condition till my ex wife took it in her greed during the divorce settlement in 89. It was yellow, 5 speed manual. Made me so sad when I heard she wrote it off running into another car in 1992. I looked after that Celica & it was still like new at 13 years old. Still wishing I had it now.
Anyway it kindled a love of Toyota sports cars. I now have 4 MR2’s 3 Celicas & a Soarer & looking for a Mk4 Supra. I would love to find one of these old Celicas that was not too far gone & restore it.
I had a ’77 Lift Back that I bought new. It was absolutely gorgeous. Paint was Burn Orange with a white, very grainy 1/2 Landau top. the interior was a reddish brown with all matching carpets, trim, door panels, dashboard and console. Nice woodgrain on the instrument panel. I was impressed with the sensors on the master cylinder, coolant recovery tank, windshield washer bottle and in the oil pan that all warned you of low fluids for each of the vessels named above. I was particularly impressed when the low oil warning lamp came on, and I’d check the dipstick, and it would be exactly a quart low. The car just had a very different feel to it. Quality and attention to detail is what struck me most the first time I sat in one. This was like no other Japanese car I had ever driven. I stuck the key in, and turned it, and more surprises, It cranked slowly, but deliberately, and you could feel the engine rocking around on the obviously very soft engine mounts for exactly 6 revolutions. Then it would come to life and it felt strong, very smooth for a 4 banger, and QUIET!! I wasn’t expecting that at all. The 5 speed stick shifted perfectly, and the clutch was flawless. We moved away like it was meant for us. It had such a sporty feel and especially the look, but under the glitter was a good solid machine that didn’t seem to need any assistance at all. You just push down on the gas, and wait for the tach to get to 3000, then shift, and do it all again, all the way up to the five. Never any fuss, no stumbles, just the best 4 cylinder engine I ever experienced in a passenger car. Except it wasn’t. It was back in the day when they would stick any kind of engine they had the capacity to build, and cram it into whatever was coming down the assembly line that needed something to make it go. I’ve owned 3-20R engines, and god knows why they designate it as a truck engine. It’s a perfect engine for little sporty coupes, a corona sedan, or whatever needs an engine. You can’t go wrong. It’s absolutely bullet proof, and with regular oil changes, it will last you a good long time. Just a sweetheart deal.