The second-generation Toyota Celica arrived in 1978, with its facelift designed in the US to appeal to Americans. Longer and wider, the new Celica was a true five-seater offering a new level of luxury, though what it gained in heft and comfort, it lost in vintage appeal. While the new car promised to be as successful as its older sibling, for reasons that remain unclear Toyota acquiesced to submitting cars to Jack Griffith’s company (yes, the same Jack Griffith of TVR fame) for conversion into targa-topped/partial convertibles. The resulting car was called the Sunchaser. Here on craigslist is a 1980 Toyota Sunchaser with an asking price of $12,000. This car is located in Wanaque, New Jersey. We note the seller’s description of his car is “Sinchaser” in the marque box- no doubt a typo but amusing nonetheless. We’re grateful to Barn Finder PRA4SNW for this tip – thanks!
The Sunchaser was crafted from the Celica coupe by reinforcing the frame, then hacking the roof off behind the windshield and just behind the front seats, removing the backlight, and filling in the blank spaces with a folding soft top (rear) and a fiberglass targa top over the seats. A former worker at Griffith’s Santa Ana plant describes the process here. TNestled in the engine bay is Toyota’s 2.2 liter 20R in-line four-cylinder good for about 90 hp, paired with a five-speed manual. The seller says many parts have been replaced with NOS items, including the master cylinder, drive belts, brakes, shocks and struts, and exhaust. It also has new wheels and tires but the originals come with the car.
The interior has been restored – looks spiffy in here. The rear seats are pristine. The targa tops tended to leak; seals are available, fortunately, though the entire top is not. Several purveyors do make the soft top. If you don’t like the styling of the Sunchaser, you’re in luck, sort of: Griffith made the TX22 Sport from a Celica Liftback, the Legato from a Supra, and a very few Sundancers from AMC cars. Whatever you think of their looks, these desperate attempts to keep convertibles alive in the late 1970s and early 1980s finally spurred automakers to circle back around to the drop-top by the mid-1980s.
Griffith’s company branded his creation with badges at the base of both sides of the B pillar, and both of these are present. This car’s paint is faded but the seller indicates it has no rust. The soft top could use new windows. But if you have a yen for a Sunchaser, this example won’t likely break the bank in restoration costs; the question is, what to pay? A show-quality Sunchaser sold for $11,000 in 2019, and this one was bid to just $4000 in 2020. My hunch is the seller will need to come off his ask a bit; what do you think?
Awesome looking car. Although I was still way too young to drive a car, I remember when this generation Toyota Celica was on the market. It’s a shame that Toyota USA never officially produced their own Celica Sunchaser, that they had to look outside the company to have one built.
You cannot go wrong with ANY iteration of a Celica. They were superb, even if a bit stodgy in order to appeal to the older buyer.
Boy, this thing presents nicely! I agree w Michelle (the writer) that perhaps the seller will need to be a little flexible in his / her price but I like this car. It even has the coveted 5-speed manual… it’d be a lot of fun to drive, I’d bet, although I’d prefer a regular, less rare top.
A family member had a Celica hard top, same vintage and I believe it was good to her back in the day.
Nice write up, Michelle.
Really cool & sporty but probably not fast and probably needs a rebuild on the engine and probably not all that rare. But I’d still drive it if the price was right. Under $10