Japanese Mustang: 1977 Toyota Celica GT Liftback
The Japanese automotive industry enjoys a long history of creating its own interpretation of existing designs. That is not a criticism but recognizes that its designers can pick the key aspects of any successful or iconic model and place their own spin upon it. Mazda readily admits it examined the Lotus Elan carefully and incorporated vital design elements from the British classic into its MX-5. Toyota followed a similar path with its First Generation Celica, which has a hint of Ford’s iconic Mustang in its styling. This 1977 Celica GT Liftback is an unmolested survivor that would benefit from some light cosmetic work to present at its best. Its bidding history confirms that people have liked what they’ve seen since the seller listed it here on eBay in Palmetto, Florida. It sits below the reserve at $8,201, but there is a BIN option of $16,995 for those who view the Liftback as an automotive “must-have.”
You don’t have to look too hard to see traces of the Ford Mustang in the Celica’s styling. Admittedly, the Celica features a rear hatch that wasn’t part of Ford’s engineering philosophy. However, the long hood and flowing fastback shape are impossible to ignore. The taillight design is a further indication, making it appear that somebody at Toyota placed the Mustang’s blueprint on the Xerox machine and hit the “reduce” button. This GT is a tidy survivor that wears Code 128 Silver paint. This was one of the more popular shades available on the First Generation Celica and seems to accentuate the sweeping lines. The paint shines well, with no patchiness or other problems. The panels are straight, with only a few minor marks and blemishes. A few spots of surface corrosion require attention, but the comprehensive set of underside shots confirms this classic is as solid as the day it was born. The bumper alignment is poor, and the wheels need fresh paint and new trim rings. However, with those items addressed, it should turn heads at a show or a Cars & Coffee.
This Celica’s interior blew me away because it hasn’t suffered any of the general deterioration or UV damage typical to these cars. The Black vinyl upholstery is excellent, and the carpet is almost perfect. The dash and pad are crack-free, and the woodgrain trim hasn’t worn or lifted. There are no aftermarket additions, and although it isn’t highly optioned, the factory air conditioning and AM/FM radio should make life on the road pretty pleasant. The A/C doesn’t blow cold, requiring investigation to determine whether there is a system leak or other problem. The interior shot provides one disappointment because a car like this doesn’t deserve to have an automatic shifter poking out of the console.
Toyota’s reputation for bulletproof engineering and reliability was probably cemented by the 2.2-liter 20R four hiding under this Celica’s hood. The 20R isn’t bursting with power, with 96hp and 120 ft/lbs of torque finding its way to the rear wheels. If that engine is backed by a manual transmission, even those modest figures can produce an entertaining driving experience. However, the three-speed auto fitted to this car would take some gloss away. Potential bidders with an eye for originality would probably leave things untouched. However, there are options available for those seeking more power. Toyota collaborated with Yamaha to produce some wonderful little twin-cam powerplants, which bolt straight into the Celica’s engine bay. Team one of those with a bulletproof five-speed manual, and this beauty would be instantly transformed. The seller provides no detailed information about how this Toyota runs or drives, but they appear approachable. They are also willing to negotiate an in-person inspection, which is an offer I would accept without hesitation.
The 1977 Toyota Celica GT is not the most potent classic on the planet, but a good one can provide an entertaining driving experience. They are nimble handlers, and those less concerned about originality can choose from several twin-cam fours to slot under the hood to unleash significant performance improvements. This one is a gem, and its desirability is reflected in the nineteen bids it has already attracted. What would you do if you found it in your garage? Is a faithful refresh the best option, or would extracting extra ponies be too tempting to resist?
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Comments
nice looker. if i found it in my shop i’d most likely just repair and freshen. not all the toys need to be fire breathers. and if that motor really had to go i would prolly stay a little bit closer to home with a 22r or 22re, depending only on which was more handy at the time
Yeah, these are sweet little runabouts and don’t need monster power to be fun. Curb weight is about 2300 pounds; you’d need about 155 horsepower to have the same power to weight ratio as a Miata, and those are definitely fun.
Agreed! As the saying goes “Its more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.”
Resembles a Ford Capri
That would be Mercury.
That would be Ford in every country except the United States where it was sold by Mercury dealers with no make identifier on the car.
Japanese Ford Mustang, LOL. Sure..
The designer of this celica, was also the chief designer for ford mustang from the 69 to 70 model years.
You are thinking of Larry Shinoda who designed the Boss 302 and Boss 429. https://www.cjponyparts.com/resources/larry-shinoda-bio
Larry Shinoda had an offer from Toyota in 1968 but he turned it down to work for Ford. Nowhere in his background did he ever do anything for Toyota.
i had 2 77 celica gts back when i was a teenager. both 20r 5 speeds. i loved those cars. ran forever as long as you kept up with the points, plugs and oil changes.
The automatic is a deal breaker for me. I like the style however.
I’m not a “gotta have a manual” in everything type of guy, but I’m this situation…yeah….needs a manual. Maybe a swap?
Had a red one like that with a 5 speed. Also had the air dam underneath in front and the louvers in the rear window. Bought it brand new and it had everything you could possibly get on it. $5,500.00 had it for thirteen years. On car I still wish I had.
That sounds like the absolute perfect configuration for these cars!
I bought a second generation MR2 with only 34,000 pampered miles. I needed a truck in my job installing bank systems and the MR2 was really a highway cruiser and grocery getter. It felt like butter on interstate at 110mph with more left to go. I’d always be a little surprised I’m going so fast as it never felt like it except the cars blurring by in my rear view mirror. I didn’t drive it hard, but on the highway it just wasn’t happy until it’s about 90mph. Getting around 30mpg. Toyota quality got spotty once they began manufacturing in USA and Canada, with Canadian Toyotas a bit better. But never as impressive quality as these J cars. This Celica is more impressive than the pictures for any mechanic tinkering on it. Japan was really wanting to prove themselves. I also had a Toyota Van, the ‘mystery’ Scooby van. It had quirks because I got it with 180,000 miles on it. But it was fantastic. It just wasn’t going to last for longer treks at that point. I regret selling the MR2 and that Toyota Van. So much so I have vowed to never sell my 97 RAV4 3 door 5 speed. Car nuts look at cars with more regrets than old girlfriends it seems. Or maybe the cars help us forget all those years we didn’t know enough about relationships, but we could overhaul a carb a keep our cars going without hiring a mechanic. I really wish quality of this era of quality and serviceability had never been abandoned.
Def a Mustang Sportsroof and tail lights look on these.
Had a 77 in bronze. Was a fun car and a 5 sp to toss it around.
These have been hot on the auction market lately.
Beautiful car. I’ve always loved this generation Toyota Celica. My oldest cousin had one similar to this. I loved the 20R engine that powered the car. My favourite engines were the 20R and the 22R. If only today’s Toyotas were this nice.
If Toyota made this today….to compete with the Miata, BRZ, 370Z, et al….that would be awesome and i dare say quite popular.
I would imagine so. Call me old-school, but I’ve always loved the first 3 generations of Toyota Celica, including the Celica Supra.
this was the last year of the first Gen of Celica 1971-1977 always admired Celica’s from watching them racing. in the 3rd through 7th gens of the Celica more than 840,000 units sold in the US averaging around 42,000 per year. Toyota has plans to revive the Celica as an EV Sports car in the near future
The lift back as this, came two years 76′ and 77′. I had a 77′.
A matter of opinion, of course… but we found these to be more “Mustang-like” in appearance, than the contemporary version.
Love it…..that was my first car at 16 yrs old……FAVORITE CAR I HAD!!!! This looks just like mine except mine was a 5 speed standard.
“Japanese” and “Mustang” are two words I would never put together!
While I like both cars, I’ve never considered one anything like the other.
Too bad it’s an automatic.
I’d drive either, as long as it runs and drives safely.
Beautiful car. Superior to Ford Mustang then and now. Always thought this was a car to pare down to strictly a 2 seater, gut as must superfluous gadgetry possible, and I’m certain it can get to 1800 pounds with a carefully chosen alloy engine update. If you get too crazy on horsepower, you’re going to get into brakes upgrades and suspension overhauling and updates. I think you can stay original just make it all nice and mechanically sound as original if you keep the car weighing as little as possible. Great platform. And as I’ve commented before: Automatic examples tend not to be as ‘collectable’. Remember the old carb vacuum issues that interface with auto trans when to shift? If that carb has any issues, your transmission shifts when you don’t want it to, or not at all. So if I’m wanting automatic still, an engine with more alloy and better shifting that weighs less: Hyundai Elantra 2.0. Not the dual paddle shifters autostick nonsense. Just the basic 5 speed automatic. You can clean up the original engine and trans and display it someplace. Because thinking about updating it to fuel injection etc without tearing it down is going to take a lot of work that will be time lost when increased pressure on all those old gaskets and seals blow. But it’s a beautiful blank slate it appears solid. Not a huge investment for a really special and economical daily driver.
I agree. This has always been my favourite generation for the Toyota Celica. I don’t care if it’s an ST or a GT, Liftback or Coupe. I’d drive either if given a chance to do so. I love Toyotas of the 1970s and 80s.
Just add CDI ignition and fuel injection with correct settings to this great motor. Maybe add an oil cooler and better breathing. Probably updated springs and shocks, ultralight wheels and normal good road tires nothing too low profile… This car will get 30mpg + and be reliable for years and years. But probably $9-11k is the ceiling. I personally like the automatic in a fuel injection upgrade as it makes the mapping updates probably a little bit less difficult. And improves automatic performance, when shifting at what rpm’s with solenoid upgrades on the vacuum solenoids possibly replaced with solid state inputs on rpm’s instead of vacuum pressure that can go haywire from gunk buildup or losses in vacuum pressure from old rubber hoses. Much of which would be eliminated.
One thing that I bet most people don’t know about these Celicas is that even equipped with the automatic tranny, the necessary hardware mounting points are already there for the clutch pedal, making a swap really easy. I helped a friend do just such a swap back in 81 on a Celica that he got cheap because the automatic was so power limiting. Plus, who the hell gets a sports car with an automatic?
My friend also built, from scratch, an electronic ignition system for his Celica, he was a brilliant kid, always finding ways to do things better.
Here in Aus, that model was referred to as RA28, or more commonly, the mustang back celica.