1st gen celica

While looking at 7th gen celica pictures I came across this beautiful creation.

Which year is this? Any early gen celica gurus?

'76

While I hear the early Celicas were supposed to be mimicking Mustangs, if the Mustang II looked like this their popularity would be around 1000% times what it is now.

Take any import car from the mid-70's, delete the 5mph DOT bumpers and it looks great.

Those bumpers are not from 1976.

Well, considering that the hatchback started in '75 or '76, I'd say it has the Japanese bumpers on it.

koich - an example of doing it right (was featured in this mag several years ago...)

And no idea whose this is, but I have been in love with it for some time...

I'm pretty sure.... the hatchback only became imported in 76.... it was available earlier in Japan, and a few other markets

small bumpers as fitted to the front....

smog7 wrote:

Whoo... I need a cigarette.

Those aren't the USDM taillights. USDM Celicas have a much more Mustang-like tri-bar taillight setup.

This was mine at one point, but I got rid of it for some dumbass reason:

Those hatchback Celicas were only here 2 years, 76 and 77, Those bumpers are known as smileys and are either imported metal/chrome versions ($$$-$$$$) or are fiberglass. Those taillights are known as banana taillights and are imported as well.

I believe that those tail lights are custom. Really nice car.

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: Those taillights are known as banana taillights and are imported as well.

Or that. I've never seen them before. Neat!

They're really cool!

smog7 wrote: While looking at 7th gen celica pictures I came across this beautiful creation. Which year is this? Any early gen celica gurus?

That is the f22c powered '76 celica built by Ranz Motorsports. It was featured in Japanese Nostalgic Car magazine Vol 1 Issue 3

http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2010/03/10/wednesday-wall-f20c-powered-1976-toyota-celica-liftback/

So nice. Needs more V8.

Tyler H wrote: Take any import car from the mid-70's, delete the 5mph DOT bumpers and it looks great. Those bumpers are not from the USA

FTFY

fast_eddie_72 wrote:

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: Those taillights are known as banana taillights and are imported as well.

Or that. I've never seen them before. Neat! They're really cool!

Note the NSW (New South Wales) plates

I prefer the US taillights.

Those small bumpers were available in North America on the 1972 Celicas. By '74 they had sprouted the typical rubber overiders, but even those could be removed and holes plugged. I'm not sure if the fastback and the coupe used the same rear bumper though.

Too bad there was a wholesale switch to FWD. We used to have so many RWD choices in small cars. A 72 Corolla with a modern drive train and brakes would be a hoot.

DeadSkunk wrote: Those small bumpers were available in North America on the 1972 Celicas. By '74 they had sprouted the typical rubber overiders, but even those could be removed and holes plugged. I'm not sure if the fastback and the coupe used the same rear bumper though.

The fastbacks in the US came with bumpers that look like railway sleepers and are only marginally less heavy.

Man I love these old Celicas! I saw that one at the Japanese Classic Car Show back in '08, and it's gorgeous. Although I don't totally agree with the Honda-motor-in-a-classic-Toyota thing, it's still pretty sweet, and I'm guessing it goes down the road in quite a rapid fashion, if one desires.

In reply to BoxheadTim:
I realize that, Tim,but I think you can retro fit the ones from the earlier coupes. I don't think they changed the sheet metal throughout the run of the 1st generartion cars, just added those 5 mph battering rams.

DeadSkunk wrote: In reply to BoxheadTim: I realize that, Tim,but I think you can retro fit the ones from the earlier coupes. I don't think they changed the sheet metal throughout the run of the 1st generartion cars, just added those 5 mph battering rams.

If only that were the case. I have a 77 hatchback and got some of the USDM smiley bumpers off an earlier coupe from a pull-a-part yard a few months ago. The front will fit with some minor modification, but the rear bumper from the coupes is about 6 inches too narrow.

In reply to JohnyHachi6:

I happen to have a 77 Celica GT Coupe that desperately needs a "safety bumper-ectomy" if you ever decide to part with those!

Also, Deadskunk, the 76-77 engine bay/fenders/hood are a shade longer. The later cars can accomodate bigger engines (I6's for example), the early ones it is much more difficult.

4cylndrfury wrote: And no idea whose this is, but I have been in love with it for some time...

Along the same lines of sneaking into a Ferrari track day with an NSX or SW20, I would like to sneak into a muscle car track day with one of these