Finding a one-owner vehicle is what a lot of us think about when we’re surfing the internet late at night, and sometimes we get into trouble by buying those vehicles without telling (or, asking) our spouses or significant others. And, then they show up on a car hauler and, well, you know the rest… This 1979 Toyota Celica is one of those one-owner cars. The seller has it listed here on eBay with a current bid price of just over $1,400 and no reserve. It’s located in the birthplace of the United States Marine Corps: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and yes, you can drive it home.
This car, while not perfect by any means, appears to have been taken care of over the last four decades. It has “been garage kept since day one and has every maintenance record since 1979.” They say that the “exterior is showing its age but complete and original”. It does look a little faded and worn in spots, but don’t we all? Even though the underside looks and sounds rock solid, there is a bit of rust to deal with.
The second-generation Celica was made for the 1978 model year up until 1981. Toyota changed the design heavily with each generation in a revolution rather than evolution philosophy. This is a Series A car which was made for 1978 and 1979 and you can tell because of the round headlights and big, black bumpers. US cars and GTs got the big bumpers, unfortunately. Most other countries got nice, small chrome bumpers. The Series B cars had square headlights and different tail lights. The trunk on this car appears to be in great condition.
The seller says that the “interior is very nice and everything works including the radio, all the dash lights and courtesy lights work.” It does look good, despite some tears on the front seats. The back seat looks almost new.
The engine could use a thorough detailing for sure, but reportedly it “drives great, engine runs well no issues at all, starts right up even in this cold snap, trans shifts smoothly through all gears including 5th, clutch feels just fine. It really drives well.” This is Toyota’s 20R 2.2L inline-four which would have had just under 100 hp. The next owner will appreciate the 5-speed with that amount of power or lack thereof. Have any of you owned a second-generation Celica?
1981 was the last year for this generation and IMO they were really good, considering what we had to choose from at the time. The next generation was OK, but I always preferred this style. You just couldn’t go wrong with Toyota.
Nothing not to like here.
Loved mine. Rock solid engine. Around here the body rust out but the engine would dropped in something else. Learn to shift without a clutch. So many stories. My wife deemed it not safe for a newborn
Had an ’81, great little car. It had a luggage rack. It left with the girlfriend, I don’t know which one I miss more.
I attended college in the mid ’80s. Back in that day, Celicas like this were a common choice for parents who bought their kid a “nice” car. They really were pretty well bullet proof, and weren’t the kind of car that would induce a teen or early 20-something driver to do stupid things.
I had an 80 ST trim. White with tan interior. It was my second car. I unfortunately sold it as I entered the Army. It was a great car. Very short sighted on my part, should have kept it and had my folks take care of it while I was gone. Oh well, to late now.
Mr. Gilbertson, Tun Tavern, Boston, Mass. 10 Nov., 1775. Birthplace of the Marine Corps.
No Tun Tavern is in Philadelphia, PA. Just put my feet on that street this month.
cole2649 – This is what I found online: “The history of the Marine Corps began when two battalions of Continental Marines were formed on 10 November 1775 in Philadelphia as a service branch of infantry troops capable of fighting both at sea and on shore.” I could be mistaken and my apologies if I am. And, as always, thanks to anyone here who served in the Marines or any other branch of the military.
Awesome looking Toyota Celica. My parents had one similar to this one when I was a boy.
Almost Cole2649.
Philadelphia is the Birth place of the Marine Corps. All of your other info is correct.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tun_Tavern
I had a 74 with the nice bumpers and a 77 with the big ugly bumpers that I bought off my sister, I always thought the 78 and up style was ugly until the boxy ones came out.
My sister and her boyfriend just recently bought a 71 almost rust free when’s the last time you saw one of those?
Gotta love the west coast!
Up to $1775 this morning. If I didn’t live half a continent away, I’d snap this as a daily driver in a heartbeat.
Purchased a Black Celica Lift-back, off the floor (revolving pedestal) at the Miami Auto show. Loved it, used it daily, and might still have it, had some schmuck in an over-filled Chrysler mini-box Omni on a rainy night not decided to swerve from the far right lane across 4 other lanes, forcing me to take defensive action that had me spinning past him, missing by inches. By the time I had nearly regained control I impacted with a concrete planter in the center median. Car was a total loss. I was not injured and sat, still belted in, while a cop who had witnessed the event dug away at the planter rubble so that the door could be opened.
The 2nd generation celicas in my opinion are some of the best. Even compared to the 1982-85 3rd generation. I got to drive a 1981 st Celica coupe the front seats were so comfortable.
The front seats on this generation of Celica are very comfortable also they are the most Americanized looking to date.