The Toyota Celica Supra foreshadowed the arrival of one of Japan’s best-selling sports cars. Still sold today under the Supra name, this model has come a long way from its 100 hp beginnings. Today’s example is a first-year 1979 with only two owners and 108,485 miles on the clock. The car is located in Red Bluff, California and it’s advertised here on craigslist for $13,000. With a full list of options and in good running order, this Celica Supra would make a terrific starter classic. Thanks to T.J. for finding this Japanese gem.
The Celica had soldiered along for several years, powered by a four-cylinder, before Toyota responded to dealer demands for a more muscular option to sell against the Datsun 280Z and the Mazda RX-7. The answer to success in this niche lay in Toyota’s M-series in-line six-cylinder engine, in production since 1965. To accommodate the longer six, Toyota extended the Celica’s front sheet metal. Our subject car sports engine code 4M-E, a 2563 cc, fuel injected, OHC mill, good for 123 hp. It’s paired with a four-speed overdrive automatic (remember, this was a high-cost option in the day, and this car was box-checked to the teeth). “All needed repairs” have been completed, and the tires are new.
The seller is easy to appreciate – he lets us know the seats wear aftermarket covers but provides a photo of damage to the driver’s side upholstery under the cover. The rear seats are pristine. Love the very ’70s brown/tan/cream striping. The instrument panel is also of the era, but a little less easy to love with its big plastic pod. Still, Toyota gave us round-faced, chrome trimmed gauges. This car has an eight-track unit that works, an automatic sunroof, power steering and windows, air conditioning, and remote rear view mirrors.
As if the options list isn’t long enough, this Celica Supra is equipped with rear louvers and a roller shade, most likely installed by the dealer. Said to have been garaged all its life, the car’s paint has just a few flaws. Accompanied by its original bill of sale, this has to be one of the better early Supras on offer today. Given recent market activity, which barely differentiates between a manual and an automatic, this price seems reasonable as well. First-gen examples are selling for an average of about $17k, and none have particularly low mileage. Are you a fan of early Japanese sports cars?
Beauty. This may drive like the Crown 👑 Cressida.
I always wish they had done a coupe 6 cyl.
Well I didn’t expect to see that….the 8 track tape is Classic Hits of the 40’s and 50’s. I sure wouldn’t give them the $13K unless they took the tape out.😂
Lovely looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember the Toyota Celica and Celica Supra.
My Father had one of this generation,he loved the engine in it and when he found out the upcoming Cressida was going to be available with the Supra engine he bought one of those.4 Doors when one has a family,the Cressida was the 4-door Supra back then.
I had an ’82, five-speed. Yes, it drove like the Cressida (my buddy’s parents had an… ’84?). Very smooth and good power.
The 3-part proprietary radio/cassette worked great, which was a good thing because good luck getting a standard DIN in there somewhere somehow.
I had one with a 5spd – Brown in color. Traded a 78 Celica 5sp – Brown in color. The Supra had more leg room and made it up the Vermont Mountains without having to down shift to 3rd. The 78 was a wake-up call as to what Toyota was doing to my beloved GM. They were well built and fun to drive.
Went to Longo Toyota to buy a new ’84. Drove it and loved it. Mentioned to the sales rep that I was getting married soon. He suggested I test drive a new’84 Cressida parked next to it. I couldn’t imagine that it would be similar but with the same engine and suspension, I LOVED IT, and with 4 doors it would be a lot more practical in the future. To make a long story short I owned that Cressida for 22 yrs, 240k miles and 2 daughters!😂 Not one issue in 22 yrs, best car that I have ever owned!!❤️💕
Yes, fully optioned and in very good condition. The price point is about right, but there is no ‘average’ of $17k on these Supras. There is a near perfect ’79 in Florida that has been languishing at $18k for almost a year now. The 2.6L I-6 is 116hp. The rear cargo roller shade is standard equipment, but the louvers were dealer-installed options from Shadow. They also offered rear quarter window louvers. The sunroof is manual (crank), not automatic. Among other non-standard features that came standard on these cars, it has cruise control, rear window defogger, map light and intermittent wipers. The cruise control actuator has actually been moved to the 80-81 location ahead of the e-brake, instead of the original location on the center stack ahead of the shifter, which is a long reach. The owner is known to me as a member of our 1st Gen Supra group, and I hope he gets his price.