The is an automobile produced by Toyota from 1970 until 2006. The Celica name derives from the Latin word coelica meaning heavenly or celestial. In Japan, the Celica was exclusive to Toyota Corolla Store dealer chain. Produced across seven generations, the Celica was powered by various four-cylinder engines, and body styles included convertibles, liftbacks, and notchback coupé.
In 1973, Toyota coined the term liftback to describe the Celica fastback hatchback, and the GT Liftback would be introduced for the 1976 model year in North America. Like the Ford Mustang, the Celica concept was to attach a coupe body to the chassis and mechanicals from a high volume sedan, in this case the Toyota Carina.
The first three generations of North American market Celicas were powered by variants of Toyota's R series engine. In August 1985, the car's drive layout was changed from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive turbocharged models were manufactured from October 1986 to June 1999. Variable valve timing came in certain Japanese models starting from December 1997 and became standard in all models from the 2000 model year. In 1978, a restyled six-cylinder variant was introduced as the Celica Supra (CelicaXX in Japan); it would be spun off in 1986 as a separate model, becoming simply the Supra. Lightly altered versions of the Celica were also sold through as the Corona Coupé through the Toyopet dealer network from 1985 to 1989, and as the Toyota Curren through the Vista network from 1994 to 1998.
__TOC__
First generation (A20, A30; 1970)
Displayed at the October 1970 Tokyo Motor Show together with the Toyota Carina and marketed from December of the same year, the Celica was a two-door hardtop coupé that emphasized styling and driving enjoyment. Based on a platform shared with the Carina sedan which is one size above the Toyota Corolla, and a shared size with the Toyota Corona, according to Automobile Magazine, the Celica was based on the Corona platform.
This car was aimed at the North American market and was Toyota's response to the 1964½ Ford Mustang (Pony car) which also was based on the standard sedan with stylized 2+2 bodywork.
In Japan where different dealer chains handle different models the Celica was exclusive to Toyota Corolla Store Japanese dealerships. The Celica filled a market position previously held by the 1965–1969 Toyota Sports 800, when Toyota Corolla Store locations were previously known as Toyota Publica Store then renamed in 1966 as Toyota Corolla Store.
The initial trim levels offered were ET (1.4L 4-speed), LT, ST (1.6L 4-speed, 5-speed manual, or 3-speed automatic) and GT (1.6L 5-speed) with GTV added in 1972. For export markets the Celica was available in three different trim levels; the LT, ST and GT.
At its introduction the Celica was only available as a pillarless hardtop notchback coupé, adopting "coke bottle styling". The prototype SV-1 Liftback was shown as a concept car at the 1971 Tokyo Motor Show and with slight modifications, the Celica Liftback (LB) was officially launched for the Japanese market in April 1973 as the 2-liter RA25 (18R engine family) and the 1.6-liter TA27 (2T engine family). Model grades were 1600 ST, 1600 GT, 2000 ST, and 2000 GT.
The Liftback model was then exported to many Asian countries and Europe in RHD form as the RA28 or TA28 with either a 18R 2.0-liter or 1.6-liter 2T-B engine. After the October 1975 facelift it was available in both RHD and LHD forms in other markets. The RV-1 "concept" wagon was also shown at the 1971 Tokyo Motor Show but it did not reach production.
The Japanese domestic market GT models had various differences from the ET, LT and ST including the hood flutes, power windows, air conditioning and specific GT trim but shared a few things with the ST—a full-length center console and oil pressure/ammeter gauges—while the LT had warning lights for these functions. With the exception of the American market, the GT had a 1588 cc 2T-G twincam engine or a 1968 cc 18R-G, which not available on the ET, LT or ST and always had 5-speed manual gearbox. Typically for the Japanese market GTs had 18R-G motors that were mated to a Porsche designed closer ratio P51 5 speed gearbox whereas export models had the W-50. For the American market only the GT had only a single cam engine (2000 cc 18R or 2200 cc 20R) with a choice of automatic or 4 speed manual gearboxes on early models then upgrading to the W-50 5 speed in 1974–1977.
There was also the GTV version which introduced in 1972 with slightly less luxurious interior than the GT to reduce weight. The GTV came with the same 2T-G engine, but with a thicker front sway bar & firmer suspension for better handling. Later in 1973 Japanese GTVs had a roof console "OK" monitor with a map light and a cluster of trouble indicators which detected blown brake bulbs, brake fluid level, main fuse & a floor console engine oil temperature gauge.
The first-generation Celicas can be further broken down into two distinctive models. The first of these was the original with slant nose (trapezoid-like shape front corner light). This is for coupe model only, TA22, RA20, RA21 & RA22. These models were produced from 1970 to 1975 and came equipped with the 2T, 2T-G 1.6 liter, or 18R 2.0 liter motor. They had a wheelbase.
The second series had a flat nose (square front corner light) and slightly longer wheelbase ( wheelbase). This facelift model appeared in Japan in 1974 but for export was the 1975 model year being TA23, RA23, RA24, RA25, RA28, TA28 & RA29. The Japanese version had engines under 2.0 liters so as to conform to Japanese regulations concerning engine displacement size, thereby allowing buyers to avoid an additional tax for a larger engine. Japanese buyers did pay a higher annual road tax for engines over 1.5 liters while staying under the 2.0 liter threshold.
In some markets, the lower-end LT was equipped with the single carbureted four-cylinder 2T engine displacing 1600 cc, while the ST came with a twin Solex downdraft carburetor 2T-B engine. The 2T-G that powered the high-end GT / GTV model was a DOHC 1600 cc engine equipped with twin Mikuni-Solex Carburetors.
The first Celica for North America, 1971 ST was powered by 1.9 liter 8R engine delivering and . The 1972–1974 models have 2.0 liter 18R-C engines with and . For 1975–77, the engine for the North American Celica is the 2.2 liter 20R with and . The Celica GT and LT models were introduced in the US for the 1974 model year. The top-line GT included a 5-speed W-50 manual transmission, rocker panel GT stripes and styled steel wheels with chrome trim rings. The North American Celica was equipped with federally mandated safety equipment such as an energy-absorbing steering column and seat belts. These were optional in some overseas markets.
The A40 automatic transmission became an option on North American ST and LT models starting in the 1973 model year. For 1975 the 1974 body was used and sturdier chrome and black rubber bumper bars with horizontally mounted shock absorber mounts (Volvo style) replaced the chrome bumpers used in the earlier cars (in accordance with US Federal bumper laws) mandating impacts without minor damage at . Unfortunately the early 8R and 18R series engines proved to be less than durable, with early failures common. The 1974 18R-C engine's durability was improved somewhat, but the 20R introduced for 1975 proved to be a better engine in most respects.
1972 update In August 1972 the Celica's tail lights were updated from one-piece tail lights (affectionately called one-tail or flat lights) to tail lights with distinctive raised brake & turn signal "bubble" lenses. The rear center panel was also redesigned as the fuel tank was moved from the trunk bottom to behind the rear seats and the fuel filler was moved from a concealed location between the tail lights to the left "C" pillar. Other changes included changes to the front and rear badges, the relocation of the towing hooks, changes to the color of the fender mirrors (on cars equipped with sports type mirrors) and changes to the center console on ST and GT models.
1974 update In January 1974, the Japanese market Celica hardtop coupé received a facelift with a different front-end treatment of a flat nose, new hood, and front fenders which were similar to, but not interchangeable with later model Celica.
In mid-1974, for the 1975 model year, the North American spec Celica retained the earlier body but received federally mandated 5 mph bumpers front and rear. Body-color urethane panels filled in the spaces previously occupied by the smaller chrome bumpers. This style of bumpers were used in North America until the end of this generation in 1977. Japan also used these bumpers for the Liftback GT, but not lesser grades or the coupe, from 1976 to 1977.
Other changes done during the 1974 model year included the introduction of flared wheel arches, another change in the style of the badges and the introduction of a new style of rear quarter vents.
1976 update 1976 brought the largest update to the model. The wheelbase of the car was increased and the car featured various difference both externally and internally. Externally the most noticeable difference is the flat front end (similar to earlier JDM models), the elimination of the removable hood vents (replaced by vents formed in the hood pressing) and the single cowl vent which replaced the twin vents on earlier models. Internally the cars also feature a different dash, seats and carpets. The liftback version also included these changes.
Liftback
The fastback-styled hatchback, called the Liftback by Toyota, was introduced for the Japanese market in April 1973 but not until July 1974 for export models. Models for the Japanese domestic market Liftback were the 1600 ST, 1600 GT (TA27), 2000 ST, and 2000 GT (RA25 and RA28). The North American liftback (RA29) was only offered with a 2.2-liter 20R engine for the 1976 and 1977 model year. All the liftback models have flat noses. Although there is no "B" pillar in the Liftback, the rear quarter windows are fixed in place and do not roll down (as they do in the hardtop coupe).
The Liftback was often called the Japanese Mustang or the Mustang Celica. The liftback styling was largely inspired by the 1969 Ford Mustang fastback, including C-pillar louvers and the vertical bar tail lights that are a signature Mustang styling cue and pay overall homages to the muscle-car era.
Facelift export models From its 1971 introduction in North America until the 1973 model year, the Celica retained its original styling and trim, and was sold only in ST trim. The tri-color taillights with the "bubble" style arrived for 1973, and continued into early 1974. Mid-1974, the trim was slightly revised. The original Celica quarter panel script was changed to a bold block-letter font, the "C" pillar trim was restyled with a more modern look, and GT logos switched to a bold serif font. The GT was the first American Celica to include a 5-speed overdrive transmission as standard, along with an FM/AM radio, leather-wrapped 4-spoke steering wheel, GT rocker panel stripes, styled steel wheels with bright trim rings, and 70-series radial tires. 1974 saw the introduction of the LT to North America. It was similarly equipped as the ST and lasted through the 1975 model year.
For the 1975 model year, US spec Celicas retained the 1974 body but received federally mandated 5-mph bumpers front and rear. Body-color urethane panels filled in the cutouts previously occupied by the smaller chrome bumpers.