Toyotas, Datsuns and Bugs were really big here in the early 80s...don't see many around here nowdays. Before I got into 510's, I got the Toy bug and bought a 1970 Celica...yes, I'm kinda by what's online about the US getting the Celica in '71...but I swear mine was a '70..had the car almost 10 years and registered it every year. Got it from a former service guy, had the fender mirrors (which I thought was so hideous at the time ) and a 20R motor....which I've read came out in later years? So I'm not sure what the deal is, but it's a first year car, just like my 68 Datsun wagon. I remember the odd color, Guam Beige...yuck...went with a nice black paint...one of the first black Celicas here. No one lowered their car in the 80's. I did minor engine mods...cam, headers, and a 'Pearl Harbor' shop made manifold to stick a huge Holly 500 carb 2 bbl on top...that sucked gas! Carina 411? gears out back...the car was in immaculate shape when I bought it and sold it. A friend of mine helped me flare the rear fenders, he did an amazing job. I used Chevy II Nova front coils to raise the rear a bit ... I'm looking for a '70-72 Celica now, yeah, the mid-life crisis bug has bit and I'm still kickin' myself for not jumping on Tonys white Celica. Not wanting to work on any projects, gotta keep wifey happy too so a nice restored early Toy is what I'm looking for. I'm all for motor, suspension, brake upgrades, still a hot rodder...so if you guys know of anyone selling a nice Celica, lemme know. I'm in Hawaii so west coast would be ideal for Matson shipping, I can fly up and check it out if it's a solid car. Mahalo! Here's some old photos of my Toy.
Brian