Somehow I’ve managed to stay away from imported vehicles for the most part of my automotive history. The closest I’ve come? I used a Dodge Ram 50 as a site work truck when I was a teenager, I worked on the 1989 Toyota Celica that my mother, then brother owned about the same time frame. I kept the Nissan 2200 alive when I was on my second tour in Iraq, there was the fun of dealing with a very uncooperative Datsun Z-car in my college years and…I’m pretty sure that has been it. Ok, there were the cars I drove at Roadtrip Motorcars, too, some of which I really appreciated. Everything else has been borrowed for quick use or was something like a delivery vehicle that I nobody would like.
I often say that I’m not brand-specific, that anything goes in my garage…so how have I not dealt with anything Japanese, especially older stuff that is dead-nuts simple and looks as decent as this 1977 Celica? Light and simple and rear-wheel-drive…seriously, I’m almost annoyed that I never paid attention to these things. Maybe it was because every example I dealt with had been ragged to the ends of the earth. Maybe it was because I couldn’t get the images of 1977 Camaros and 1973 ‘Cudas out of my eyes. But cars like this Celica deserve a look-over and a bit of respect for what they are.
Great…now I’m craving a shot at driving one just to get the desire out of my system!
I owned a ’75 and’76 Celica and they were fun to drive. Way under powered and life in the northeast were not kind to them. I owned Toyota’s till 1988 and never bought an import again.
They were my favorite Toyota, and I’d say, not really underpowered, but just different compared to what American’s wre used to.
1980 Celica GT Coupe. My first car. Silver w/ blue and plaid seats.
Miss all 96 hp of it. Lol
They should have kept making these. The 86 is nice, but not a Toyota original. All the power is higher in the RPMs. Nothing is more satisfying than passing those EcoBoost Mustangs with ease. I\’ve had my 01 Celica since 2015 and never looked back.