Toyota Celicas are mostly remembered as affordable, stylish coupes that look like sports cars but lack performance.
Toyota kept many hi-po Celica versions out of the US market. In America, the Celica was overshadowed by its big brother, the Supra - opens in new window or tab..
In Japan and Europe, it was a different story. Celica remains beloved as a technologically advanced racing machine with road and rally victories.
Toyota sold the Celica for 35 years, but Celicas from any of its seven generations are uncommon these days. It’s even rarer when the example is an unabused original, like the 1983 Celica recently for sale on eBay in North Tonawanda, NY.
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Sharp Lines
The Celica began life in 1970 as a stylish coupe. High-performance twin-cam versions were raced in Japan and Europe, but Toyota never offered those engines in the US. In the second generation, sold from 1978 to 1981, Toyota elongated the hood, added two more cylinders to the standard four, and created the Celica Supra.
In 1982, third-generation Celicas and Celica Supras arrived with avant-garde styling unlike anything else on the market. Toyota offered two body styles: a notchback and a liftback, like the car for sale.
It has angular lines inside and out. Flush bumpers and resting headlights give it a thoroughly modern look. At the time, American cars had big chrome bumpers - opens in new window or tab. and upright grilles. In a departure from the excessive disco decade, the Celica had no hint of chrome.
Multiple Championships
The third-generation Celica was the last of a line with rear-wheel drive. Toyota formally split the Celica and Supra models for the fourth generation and beyond. Supras had six cylinders and rear-wheel drive, while Celicas kept their four cylinders, in front- or all-wheel drive.
In the 1990s, Celica won two Constructors Championships and three Drivers Championships in the WRC. That was before a scandal booted Toyota from the sport. (We’ll save that story for another day.)
While the car for sale doesn’t have much in common with the famed Supra or those rally winners, the third-generation Celica competed successfully in WRC. A heavily modified Group B version won several runnings of the grueling East African Safari Rally and Ivory Coast Rally.
Still Within Reach, For Now
The Celica maintains a dedicated following in Japan and Europe, but Toyota barely promoted its victories in US marketing.
A few years ago, the 1983 Celica listed in the auction would be considered a jalopy. Third-gen Celicas were available for $1,000. However, time (and programs like Cash for Clunkers - opens in new window or tab.) decimated the dwindling supply. As a result, an example with 160,000 miles is now asking $6,999.
The car for sale has several desirable options, including a five-speed manual transmission and an upgraded electronic fuel injection engine. The EFI 2.4-liter engine - opens in new window or tab. produces 105 horsepower, a bit more than the carbureted version’s 97 ponies.
However, the primary selling point of this 1983 Celica is its well-preserved and unmodified condition, especially the oh-so-80s blue interior. While there are a few dings and spots of rust on the body, it’s minimal for a northeast car. A competent body shop can quickly fix those imperfections. Finding materials to restore a ruined interior is much more complicated.
The Celica exudes 1980s aesthetics and will provide a fun analog driving experience that modern cars can’t match. And it’s offered with Toyota reliability. Supras and older Celicas are expensive now, but the third-gen Celica is still within reach.
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