Long before the Toyota Celica became a front-wheel drive coupe and then died, it was a sports car with proper RWD. The era we’re talking about is the first half of the model’s 35-year lifespan, and it’s represented nicely by the 1978 Celica GT shown here on ebay for an asking price of $202.50 with 12 bids recorded in an auction with five days to go. If you want it, get that paddle raising and then find your way to Signal Hill, CA to collect the spoils. You’ll have to meet reserve, of course, as that two-Ben-Franklin price tag is still under what the seller will accept.
The Celica was offered from 1971-2006. Its many body styles over the years included two-door notchback, three door hatchback, and convertible configurations. Engine displacements always hovered around 2.0 liters. Over the years, the Celica morphed from a rear-wheel drive tiny GT car to a front-drive sportster. In the middle of that period, an AWD turbo model was even available. This Celica GT sports no such complications as forced induction. Just a 5-speed manual gearbox behind that gasoline engine and the promise that the car “starts and runs good.” The body is not as good as the mechanicals, you might say, as it’s rust-free but covered in tinted primer.
So what will you be getting for whatever price this car ends up going for? A 2,500-pound (approximately), 82,000-mile two-door coupe with a 2.2-liter 20R Toyota engine under the hood. I’ll keep my crying about the smog rules to myself (you’ve heard it before in this space) but at least the new owner, if living in Cali, has the benefit of a brand-new certification good for two years. Is this car ready to be a daily driver? Maybe, but you’re going to want to dive in and pretty it up soon enough.
For my money, the model represented here lacks the panache of many of its marque siblings, but my bias might come from the fact that I used to drive a restored 1972 Celica GT, which was more sleek than boxy. In fact, this 1978 model is decidedly square and ultimately not all that handsome. But that’s to me. To you, this might represent a chance to embrace a past you’ve long left behind or never experienced the first time around. So at what point will the words “reserve met” compel you to get into the game for this car, and how far will you let your enthusiasm take you once you’ve made that first bid?
Very fun cars, any early RWD Toyota w stick shifts. Cool find this Celica. Thanks Brian. 🤝
You’re welcome!
My sister had this same year and model in dark grey metallic. Not really fast but very engaging to drive.
New engine needed, maybe a Merlin V12 from a P51 Mustang. Nothing worse then an under powered car. You know it, I know it, heck, everybody knows it. If for some crazy reason you think it might be too much, leave off the supercharger.
Oh so funny!
I had a 78 Liftback Celica for awhile around 1982. It was silver with black interior and a stick shift. It was the most reliable car I had owned though it didn’t have a lot of personality.
5 digit odometer so anyone’s guess for actual miles add says tinted primer looks like a Earl Scheib paint job to me. I wouldn’t restore it just make it safe and continue to drive it maybe use it as a victim to try a back yard respray this summer. When I was a teenager I crammed a 327 into a Datsun Pick up so for this I might try and stuff a 4.6 drive train in it just for something to do.
Mom got one of these around 1980, Tucson, AZ. I can tell you that if you leave crayons in the back seat in the Summer they WILL melt. If that car is still on the road guaranteed those crayons are still melted into the fabric lol.
We had a 1978 Celica GT Liftback that my wife purchased before we got married. I had grown up wrenching on and driving american made cars. The first time I looked under the hood of the Celica, I was surprised at the attention to details like rubber grommets through the firewall where wiring was routed to the interior. We owned a number of other Toyotas after this one and loved them.
I bought exact model 3 years old when I was 16. I could not break that thing and around town kicked a lot of butt. I would rev the snot out of it and dump the clutch and that little car would beat Mustangs Novas and Camaros to the next light. Longer stretches, they would blow past me at about 70 but it raised a lot of eyebrows. All my trucks and SUVs are Toyota to this day but the classics are all American V8s!
This is the best body style IMO for a Celica
This is a cool car but I prefer the fastback/liftback version, one on eBay. Almost same color but not primer.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/267195171954
Screams Rotary motor!
Now that IS one car I lost to, a pumped RX3
Had an 81′ that 22R was a good little Engine; one of, if not the best car I ever had. Reliable, great MPG, easy to work on. Would Love another one
Nice looking car. My parents had a 1978-79 Toyota Celica GT when I was a boy. Given the asking price, hopefully everything works like they should and the car runs and drives under its own power. Assuming parts are available, this looks like an awesome resto project.
Because Toyota’s are great cars, Vernon! 👍🏻🙂
This car makes me miss my 1981 model that I had! It was just like this, but with square headlights! It was brown, and very dependable! I miss it alot! Lots of good memories with it!