Mid 70s Celica

[NorseLegend]

Anyone know where to find one of these babies inside the US?



I've only managed to find one '77 and one '78, but neither had the chrome smile on the front bumper. I don't mind since I'm sure I could find it AEM, but has anyone seen them elsewhere? I found a red one on bringyourowntrailer or something like that, but it was sold a few years back. Really, '73-'would be perfect.

I have a few other places to check, but I wanted to see if anyone else had seen them. Would like to bring one in along with a BRZ sometime in the future.


All your base are belong to me.

[Wes B.]

Long story short, they are hard as hell to find within the US. Here's what I've managed to come up with:
http://montana.locateanyauto.com/aut...-liftback.html
http://texas.freeshopperads.com/cars...-liftback.html
http://www.carsforsale.com/used_cars...lica_151556791

[NorseLegend]

Originally Posted by Wes B.

Long story short, they are hard as hell to find within the US. Here's what I've managed to come up with:
http://montana.locateanyauto.com/aut...-liftback.html
http://texas.freeshopperads.com/cars...-liftback.html
http://www.carsforsale.com/used_cars...lica_151556791

Thanks, and I've noticed... I've been looking for about two weeks, and only found two. It makes me sad.


All your base are belong to me.

[UltraFRS]

Here's mine. I took the front rubber bumpers off and it looks a lot better. There are some websites that sell the smiley face bumper in fiberglass if you find the later bumper ones.

[NorseLegend]

Originally Posted by UltraFRS

Here's mine. I took the front rubber bumpers off and it looks a lot better. There are some websites that sell the smiley face bumper in fiberglass if you find the later bumper ones.

God that looks good. You've done really well in it's upkeep. And yeah, I've found websites selling wbks as well as the chrome smiley, but just not the cars. Or at least not the specific one.

But hey, still bouncing between a 2002 and the Celica as a secondary to the BRZ.


All your base are belong to me.

[UltraFRS]

Originally Posted by NorseLegend

God that looks good. You've done really well in it's upkeep. And yeah, I've found websites selling wbks as well as the chrome smiley, but just not the cars. Or at least not the specific one.

But hey, still bouncing between a 2002 and the Celica as a secondary to the BRZ.


All your base are belong to me.

Thanks. This one belonged to my grandmother and she bought it new in '77. It has 180k original miles on it. I still have more work to do on it, but it just got it all put back together this past week to where it can be driven.

[NorseLegend]

Originally Posted by UltraFRS

Thanks. This one belonged to my grandmother and she bought it new in '77. It has 180k original miles on it. I still have more work to do on it, but it just got it all put back together this past week to where it can be driven.

A woman with impeccable taste. Stupendously well done sir.


All your base are belong to me.

[SP86]

Originally Posted by UltraFRS

Thanks. This one belonged to my grandmother and she bought it new in '77. It has 180k original miles on it. I still have more work to do on it, but it just got it all put back together this past week to where it can be driven.

Well didn't you luck out. I have recently found I have a soft spot for these. In no position to get one as the FRS comes first in this instance. I already got myself one nostalgic ride. Anyway though keep up the good work.!

[Guff]

I almost bought one a while back! I'll be getting one sometime (preferably a '77) and doing a 2JZ swap... Purists will kill me, but I like the idea...

classic-celica.com is a good website, and they have a Cars For Sale section too...

[Wes B.]

Originally Posted by Guff

I almost bought one a while back! I'll be getting one sometime (preferably a '77) and doing a 2JZ swap... Purists will kill me, but I like the idea...

I'd probably go with a 4A-GE engine and a W55 transmission. Again, purists would go bonkers, but the car would be far more enjoyable.

[NorseLegend]

Originally Posted by Guff

I almost bought one a while back! I'll be getting one sometime (preferably a '77) and doing a 2JZ swap... Purists will kill me, but I like the idea...

classic-celica.com is a good website, and they have a Cars For Sale section too...

Originally Posted by Wes B.

I'd probably go with a 4A-GE engine and a W55 transmission. Again, purists would go bonkers, but the car would be far more enjoyable.

Which 4A would you think about?
I'm liking that 2JZ idea though I was actually thinking about a 1JZ or a 2ZZ swap.

[Wes B.]

Originally Posted by NorseLegend

Which 4A would you think about?
I'm liking that 2JZ idea though I was actually thinking about a 1JZ or a 2ZZ swap.

I'd go with a 5th Gen 4A-GE (20-valve) "Black Top" from a 1995-2000 AE11 Corolla mated to a W55 transmission from a US Market 2002-2005 Lexus IS300.

Yes, I'd have to convert it from FWD to RWD. Not exactly the simplest swap, but there are articles out there that are a huge help -- http://www.rollaclub.com/wiki/index....verting_to_RWD.

[NorseLegend]

Originally Posted by Wes B.

I'd go with a 5th Gen 4A-GE (20-valve) "Black Top" from a 1995-2000 AE11 Corolla mated to a W55 transmission from a US Market 2002-2005 Lexus IS300.

Yes, I'd have to convert it from FWD to RWD. Not exactly the simplest swap, but there are articles out there that are a huge help -- http://www.rollaclub.com/wiki/index....verting_to_RWD.

Yeah, conversions are pretty tricky. And personally, I like the silvertop more I feel it looks a little more exciting. But they're both great engines.

[Guff]

I nearly bought a 1JZ '77 Celica (that was in pretty shitty condition) as a project car. It was a single turbo with a slew of eBay performance parts. It would have been a fun daily, and I believe it had a W55/W58 in it... I figure I could work on restoring the chassis while I had it and then when the engine eventually died on me, I would start over with an Aristo 2JZGTE and find a R154 trans for it. Get it into a reliable BPU+ state and make 350whp reliably and just have it be my awesome weekend classic cruiser...


Those plans are far away though...