Learn me: Classic imports (or, How to Score an Old Celica)

After I gave him the XR4Ti to get back and forth to work, my roommate noticed the wistful gazes I began giving some of the 80's Japanese tin.

The fever is back . . .

It has gotten worse since then. It started innocently enough with a night spent Googling the 3rd gen Supra, and took a turn. Now I'm convincing myself not to drag a 77 Celica out of a barn in Arkansas.

So, those of you who know about this sort of thing: tell me what a noob should look for in a RWD Celica from this era. Should I even be looking for one at all, or should I settle for an AE86 or AW11 MR2? I know the last gen of RWD Celica had the 22R engine, which sounds like a gold mine as far as cheap parts are concerned. However, the 77 looks like a baby Mustang with bitchin' JDM fender mirrors. (If I wasn't convinced that thing was a rustbucket, I'd try to pick it up.)

Or, conversely, should I step up to a 3rd gen Supra? I see ratty driver Turbos change hands for Challenge money, as the "drift yo!" tax has yet to hit Memphis. I'd get the turbo thrust, but I'd also get the weight.

Celica or Supra owners, your thoughts?

.... just how rusty is the 77? And is it a notch or a fastback?

If it's a '77 notch, and the body is salvageable, GO GET IT. NAO.

The RWD Celicas are no better or worse than the RWD Corollas. They're just... different. More power, more weight, a little more stable-feeling, and friendlier to DD at this point.

3rd gen Supra.... ehhh, i dunno. The only reason to get one as far as i'm concerned is looks (if you like them) and their ability to make a lot of power.

If i had to rank desire for myself, PERSONALLY...

1st gen celica > 2nd gen Celica > MKii Supra > Pre-AE86 Corolla > AE86 Corolla > AW11 "Space Wedge" > MKiii Supra.

If i was looking for sheer ungodly amounts of speed, i'd start with the MKii Supra, strangely enough.

Your order is weird, sir. The Mk II Celica is downright fugly, and I would put it at the far right of your list.

Also, the 1st-gen liftback is a far superior car aesthetically. The only issue is that they only imported post-Smog years, so I can't put a proper engine in one without jumping through California buerocracy hoops.

It's a fastback. Still totally badass.

Here's the CL ad:

http://littlerock.craigslist.org/cto/2242376757.html

Heh, I'M weird. I'm not afraid to admit it.

I hate 1st gen liftbacks. Hate 2nd gen liftbacks, too. 2nd gen notches look GREAT on panasports or the like.

LordTurbonia wrote: It's a fastback. Still totally badass. Here's the CL ad: http://littlerock.craigslist.org/cto/2242376757.html

That doesn't look that rusty, at least from those two awful pics... i'd go check it out.

If it's an Arkansas car it likely won't have much rust.

So I gave up and called . . . the guy's voicemail is full. Wonder why?

P.S. Those 2nd gens look clean. I like 'em.

ReverendDexter wrote: Your order is weird, sir. The Mk II Celica is downright fugly, and I would put it at the far right of your list.

Waaahhh? MkII Celica looks great!

If you get that Celica, I will really REALLY hate you. Such things are not around the northeast. I guess I will just have to be content to buy a 7th gen and wait 20 years for it to be a classic. Inspiration:

There was a dark silver '77 fastback Celica in CT for sale about 6 months ago on CL. It was in awesome shape- there was almost no rust, and the little rust it had were surface spots no larger than a nickel. Even with the autotragic it would have made a great investment. I considered it, but ultimately I didn't buy it because I didn't have any place to store it.

It's pictures like this that make me wish I hadn't given mine up:

I just didn't have the time/money to do with it what I wanted to.

Forget the 2nd gen. Celica, unless you find a really well preserved, low mileage, example. 1st gens and 3rd gens will look so much better sitting in your driveway.

Last weekend I drove past a used car lot that had a 2nd gen. Celica out front. I feel these look like Transformer rejects, and the silver color of the one I saw just reinforced that feeling. So I didn't even bother going back to see if it had a manual or automatic transmission.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: 1st gen celica > 2nd gen Celica > MKii Supra > Pre-AE86 Corolla > AE86 Corolla > AW11 "Space Wedge" > MKiii Supra.

I own two MkIII Supras, and I support this message.

"Classic Imports" and "old Celica" don't belong in the same book. Didn't classics stop in the early 70s? Most probably with the last small block Cobra.

Guess I'm over the hill now . . . . anyone know a good rocking chair forum?

Time marches on. Besides, when it comes to Japanese cars, the 70's cars ARE the classics (or "nostalgic," as the Japanese like to say).

DavidinDurango wrote: Didn't classics stop in the early 70s?

Funny you mention that... The Celica started as a 1970 model year.

DavidinDurango wrote: "Classic Imports" and "old Celica" don't belong in the same book. Didn't classics stop in the early 70s? Most probably with the last small block Cobra. Guess I'm over the hill now . . . . anyone know a good rocking chair forum?

As time moves forward, so do classics. That 25 year mark keeps on going. I remember watching an old episode of Dukes of Hazard where Uncle Jessie was going to have a moonshine running race against boss Hogg in an old junker of a car with a surprise great motor. The car...a '66 Mustang fastback. I was laughing at one of my classic dram cars being referred to as an old junker.

I have owned a 77 Toy Cel GT and it is one of 10 cars I wish I had back.

My tip:

Search for "Used Racing Seat" on craigslist...

Be shocked when a '72 Celica pops up for sale, $2000.

Stripped out, caged, and made into a racer....Has a spun bearing.

Problem was....No time, no skill, no money later:

Even lucked out and got a FREE 18R-G, plus spare parts (2 heads [ones missing] a damaged head, and all the rods, cranks, cams etc for a spare engine) for $300.

....Anyone want?

LordTurbonia wrote: So I gave up and called . . . the guy's voicemail is full. Wonder why?

I don't.

I've owned a MKIII Supra turbo and a 2nd gen Celica and I'm convinced the best classic Toyota is this one.

It was about a million times more agile than the Celica and no slower. Obviously much more tossable than the Supra. Really good steering (mine was non power assisted) and immensely driftable.

In my poverty/college years I autocrossed an 80 Corolla with tires from the junkyard; snow tires on the back and rock hard econo tires on the front. The chassis was so friendly I could just drift the entire course and avoid using the crap tastic fronts for grip. Most fun/slowest autocross of my life.

On the subject of Celicas. I have a thing for the third gen 83-85 GTS liftbacks. How does the independent rear suspension rank on the GTS as compared to the solid rear Corollas or Celica GTs? Anyone autocrossing or tracking a 3rd gen GTS?

In reply to MrBenjamonkey:

Agreed. The * E7* chassis Corolla is essentially a 4-door AE86. 4AGE bolts right in, along with all the '86 suspension goodies.

Just add expensive, low-offset JDM wheels for a killer look

Old Toyota thread?