Classified of the Day – 1975 Toyota Celica
Japan loves a bit of car customisation, as this rather magnificent 1975 Toyota Celica goes to show.
April 5, 2019
Car culture and with it, car modification, is global, but it’s not uniform. What we might do here in the UK may vary wildly from what a car somewhere else may be subject to. A case in point would be Japan, as this 1975 Toyota Celica 2000GT Lift-back proves.
Japan is already spoiled when it comes to classic cars. They only really became a mainstream thing over here in the 1970s, and even then, it was mostly the ergonomic hatchbacks rather than anything with real flair. And that’s a shame, because Japan knows how to design a stunning machine, which again is proved by this Celica.
From the factory this 2000GT was billed as being the sporty version of the already sporty Celica notch-back. The lift-back was, as the name suggests, a change to the upper rear and nothing more. But it transformed the car completely. It looked incredible, like a baby Mustang fastback almost. But instead of a thundering V8, it came with a light and agile twin-cam 2.0 engine.
This example still retains those gorgeous original lines, but with the addition of some new ones. There’s a deep chin spoiler on the front, which incorporates winged flares for the leading edge of the front arches. These same ‘flares’ can be found ahead of the rear wheels, too. The chrome has been painted white with the exception of some details like door handles other delicate trim pieces. The car sits lowered on a set of incredible, deep-dish split-rim wheels. Inside it’s business as usual notwithstanding the Nardi steering wheel.
Normally we’d say that buying a modified car should be taken with a pinch of salt. We’ll make an exception here, though. This Lift-back is a rare bit of kit, and it seems to have been put together well and without going over the top. Also, it’s still original enough that going back to standard isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.
The only catch is that the car is in Japan, but the seller will happily arrange to have shipped to the UK with all the relevant paperwork, so it should be stress free. Just think, this could be your authentic slice of Japan.
