1982 Toyota Celica 2.0 XT Coupe

Description

For more than three decades, Toyota’s Celica enjoyed a reputation for being one of the world’s most popular sports cars.  Introduced in 1981, the third generation was a radical shift away from the curvaceous lines of earlier versions, introducing a very contemporary wedge design offered in both notchback and liftback models, the latter proving far more popular.  Codenamed the RA60, the Celica used a conventional front engine/rear-wheel drive platform with a wide selection of four-cylinder engines, ranging from 1600cc to 2400cc, along with automatic and manual transmissions.  Australian customers were initially limited to the 21R-C engine pumping out 67kW, followed by the more powerful 2S-C unit and ultimately the fuel-injected 2.4-litre 22R-E.  Notable features included power-assisted ventilated front disc brakes, MacPherson strut front suspension and rack and pinion steering, while options included alloy wheels.  As an aside, Toyota homologated a turbocharged version of the RA60 Celica for Group B rallying, building the required 200 road-going GT-Ts to meet FISA’s regulations and the model won a number of WRC events in Africa and New Zealand.  Last of the traditional rear-wheel drive Celicas, finding a decent survivor in good condition is becoming much harder as the years tick by and values have begun to appreciate in line with the burgeoning JDM market.