1977 Celica TA 23

[Erwin77TA23]

Hello my name is Erwin i was born in early seventy’s and that’s where my Celica story starts. I don’t know my exact age but it must be around 1975,
my uncle bought an amazing sportscar with red lights in the doors! It was a yellow 1972 TA22 flatlight 1600 ST this car is later destroyed when building collapsed due a whirlwind. He bought a Yellow 1974 TA22 1600 ST with a vinyl top on it, and for some reason these are the only cars that i remember quite clearly from my very early years on this planet!

Then in 1986 i’ve got my first real job at an honda dealership when i was learning to become a mechanic and when one of my new collegues arrived i saw what car he has, a 1977 Celica TA23 1600 ST, in one of the conversations i told him if you ever sell it i wanna buy it!
In 1989 when i was nearly 18 years old he came to me and remembered me of what i said that first day and that he wants to sell it……
I bought it offcourse and stored it for a while because i didn’t have i driving licence (driving lessons and examination not possible before 18 years old in the Netherlands)
After a few years driving the Celica have the well known rust problems and when the engine decided to use the 3rd cilinder as an oilpump i bought an 2T-G engine and put it in storage again and bought an RA40 Liftback for the time i can’t drive the TA23.
After buying a house and living together with my girlfriend the usual thing happend, the project stranded.
In 2008 after a minor restauration and a respray he’s back on the road again with an 2T-B engine because the 2T-G engine i’ve bought in the early 90’s needs a complete overhaul (= a lot off money)
When i’ve got the chance to buy and TA23 ST with an overhauled 2T-G engine i bought it and drive it for a while to check if the engine was as good as they say and swapped the engines between my good old TA23 and my “new” TA23 and sell it with the 2T-B engine.

Sorry for the long story but a have the Celica now for 27 years and still love it and i hope i can help other celica addicts or get some help from you guys en girls when i need it.
I'll be back with some pics

[Erwin77TA23]

Knipsel by Erwin Puke, on Flickr
My TA23 way back in 1989

And some from last week.....
77TA23 1 by Erwin Puke, on Flickr
77TA23 2 by Erwin Puke, on Flickr
77TA23 3 by Erwin Puke, on Flickr
77TA23 4 by Erwin Puke, on Flickr
77TA23 5 by Erwin Puke, on Flickr
77TA23 6 by Erwin Puke, on Flickr
77TA23 7 by Erwin Puke, on Flickr

[rachuck21]

Welcome!
Nice story and great car!
Chuck

[Erwin77TA23]

Thanks Chuck

[patje1100]

Huh?...??
I thought i knew the celica community in Holland quit well and suddenly... out of nowere you pop up with your beautifull celica... in Eindhoven of all places

Gefeliciteerd.. beautifull car.

[celicata23]

wow. I also thought I know all the Celica's owners in the Netherlands. and also with a GTV batch.

Super nice celica, welcome

[Erwin77TA23]

Patje1100 and celicata23, i'm a former Celica Big Spender member but like i said my Celica was from the early 90's till a few years a go not on the road.
I was a Big Spender member (i believe a was no 27) till ithe club stops and had no reason to become a member of another club, but i went to a few meetings in the last years and if i don't forget it (ooow was that last week...... ) i will go to meetings in the next years.
maybe brings forum me closer to the espacialy classic Celica scene in the Netherlands because when i check the internet for meetings than the most events are for the "plastic" cars from the 90's and on and they talk mostly over the newest body kit and 2000 watt soundsystems...... and thats not my cup of tea.

[matthijs]

Wow finally a ta23 with the vinyl top! Love the combination. If I had the money to do mine over again, would install a vinyl top. Where did you find the trim for that?

[Erwin77TA23]

Matthijs, the trim was already on the Celica when i bought it and i think it's an dealer option when the Celica was new.
I found a guy who put new vinyl exacly the same pattern as the old vinyl on the Celica in 2009, i can give the adress he a specialist in classic cars also for interior

P.s. check your How it's made post.....

[celicata23]

Old times..............

[Erwin77TA23]

I will check some old shoebox i hope i have mine....
I hope we next summer