WHAT IS IT
Toyota and Nissan, the two biggest Japanese OEMs during the late 1960s seemed to have learned two different lessons from the failure of the gorgeous Toyota 2000 GT. Nissan, drawing on some earlier work by Count Albrecht Goertz opted to build the 240Z, which was in some respects, a larger, cheaper mass-market version of the 2000 GT, while Toyota decided to build the Celica, a 2+2 sort of mini-Mustang. Both were successful. The featured car is an example of the second generation of the Celica in the more desirable liftback body style. The 2.2-liter four was fairly indestructible, and the build quality was excellent compared to most other offerings in its price range.
WHY THIS CAR HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
While we tend to feature cars based on condition rather than spec, the USGP livery on this one is frankly irresistible. That, combined with the 39,000 miles on the odo, makes this peak early 80s U.S. market Japanese sports coupe. Every surface of this car is beyond reproach, engine compartment, underside and interior, wheels, it’s all remarkable. The sad paradox confronting Toyotas of this era is that although the drivetrains were bulletproof, the bodies were well on their way to returning to the elements after a few winters. There certainly can’t be more than a handful of early Celica survivors anywhere near this nice.
Every surface of this car is beyond reproach, engine compartment, underside and interior, wheels, it’s all remarkable.
THE VERDICT (Delivered by Judge Alan Galbraith)
I didn’t know there was a USGP package for Toyotas in 1980. Now no other 1980 Toyota will do. Some day, somewhere I will start jumping up and down and pointing at an old Toyota with faded side stripes and my family will want to have my mental health evaluated, again. But I will be the one in the know. I will have found a USGP edition in the wild. But it wont be anywhere near the condition of this gem.
https://www.hagerty.com/marketplace/auction/1980-Toyota-Celica/58ZzEDzf0hiVr7QUR2vcyX
This car is in shockingly perfect condition. As a very young girl the Celica GT was one of the first cars I wanted, because my babysitter had one, but hers was a 1977. In my opinion the body style lost its edge in 1980. I prefer the styling of the earlier versions.
This is fantastic. My first car was a 1981 Celica (coupe) that was indeed on it’s way to disintegrating back to its core elements after 8 Michigan winters, but it was reliable as an anvil and helped me learn how to drive a manual transmission. At 170k miles my roomate and I hopped in and drove to Florida from Ann Arbor for Spring Break never even worrying about whether the car could make it. Alas, it did succumb to the elements but owed me nothing at the end.
I didn’t know there was a USGP package for Toyotas in 1980. Now no other 1980 Toyota will do. Some day, somewhere I will start jumping up and down and pointing at an old Toyota with faded side stripes and my family will want to have my mental health evaluated, again. But I will be the one in the know. I will have found a USGP edition in the wild. But it wont be anywhere near the condition of this gem.
In the 1980’s in my area, you either knew someone (or were someone) who had a Honda Accord or a Toyota Celica GT or you didn’t exist. Like, they were everywhere. You had one, as did your sister, your Mom, the accountant. Then, they totally disappeared from the face of the planet. Great then still great now.
I’m in awe of the fact that the radio, cassette player, and massive graphic equalizer are all in separate locations.
This is a most appropriate election for TBOOTP! I have the incredible good fortune of now seeing it in the collection of a wonderful Petrol Head and this Toyota sits in a place of honor amongst hundreds of cars! Folks, I see A LOT of great cars in my line of work, however, this example just defies description! And this new caretaker has a real emotional link as he participated in the Long Beach GP Celebrity Pro/Am race 5 times. This super solid example is with a most appropriate new caretaker! This story is just as good as this car! This one deserves TBOOTP for sure!
I’m going to be the contrarian here. Don’t get me wrong, I love this car, I’m just not convinced it’s the Best One on the Planet. The white seats, (especially the driver’s) are a little dingy/dirty, and the underside has some haphazardly applied undercoating and some surface corrosion. My guess is that there’s a mintier one out there somewhere, although maybe not in USGP livery.
These cars were everywhere until they weren’t. I’d love to hear the backstory on it. Very nice!