Low-Mile Original: 1983 Toyota Celica Supra

From the time Ford first made the Mustang, helping to create the “pony car” genre, it became a competitive target for other car companies. Toyota’s entry in the niche was the Celica, a sporty body dropped onto a sedan chassis. The Celica’s economical little four-cylinder engines performed well but were no match for the Mustang’s power band. By 1978, an upgrade arrived in the form of the Supra. Based on the Celica, the Supra was longer, wider, and more powerful from the get-go. The design was wedge-shaped with pop-up headlamps and the motor was an in-line six-cylinder. The car retained the lively handling characteristics of its predecessor. Here on craigslist is a 1983 Toyota Celica Supra L-type, a very original example with an asking price of $17,500. Located near Milton, Georgia, the Supra might get you home under its own power. We have PRA4SNW to thank for this great tip!

Early first-generation Supras sent to the US were equipped with a twin-cam, fuel injected, 2.6 liter in-line six which was quite peppy; making a good thing even better, the displacement was increased to 2.8 liters in 1980. Horsepower rose steadily as well, and by the time this car came off the line, output was 150 bhp and zero to sixty time was down in the eight to nine second range. Transmission options included a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic; this car is equipped with the automatic. This car has just over 59,000 miles accumulated by a single owner. After a time in storage, an oil change, fuel clean-out, and a new fuel pump made her run like new again. The seller installed brand-new tires as well.

The interior is slightly faded here and there, but the dash is free from cracks and the seat fabric is intact. Supras came in two flavors: the P-type (performance) and the L-type (luxury). Certain options were only available on one or the other, but other than a limited-slip differential offered on the P only, these amounted to trim and accessory items. This car features digital instrumentation available only on the L-type. The air conditioning does not blow cold though it will turn on; everything else works as it should. Even the trunk is tidy.

The seller notes that the car’s rubber headlamp bucket trim is deteriorated on one side, and missing on the other. Other than this issue and the AC, virtually everything else about this Supra broadcasts that its mileage reading is likely correct. The seller even has all of the car’s original paperwork including its first title. Japanese cars have grown more popular with collectors in recent years. The automatic transmission will score against this one, but the low miles, overall condition, and documentation tell me that this Supra is likely to sell close to the ask.