Toyota : Celica GT

This nice running 1978 Toyota Celica hatchback comes with two year California smog certification good from Nov. 2014 and is registered through Nov. 2015. It was manufactured in Oct. 1977 and was bought new from Toyota of North Hollywood by its original owner who had the T top installed when the car was new. I bought the car from its first owner in 1986 with about 97 K miles and it served as my daily driver until I decided to overhaul the engine a few years ago. (the speedometer that's in the car now is a replacement for the origianal one that gave out. and I know the car has never seen over I 50 K miles. ) The engine was bored . 010 and turned . 010 and used locally until I retired in 2011. This car has never left Southern California so there's no rust anywhere. The body is clean and straight and holds good alignment on the highway and to the best of my knowledge. has never been in any accidents. Even the spash shield below the front bumper is dent free. I had the car painted in its original paint number gold a few years ago as the factory paint was faded but I have had to re-do a few areas where the clear coat began to flake off. I've changed the oil every 3 K miles since I've owned it. I've never lent it out to anyone and it's never even been smoked in. I had the headliner replaced in the original perforated material due to the desert sun and put in carpet at the same time. The door panels have no speaker holes and were reupholstered a few years ago when the old material began to dry out. The car was equipped with power steering when I bought it and I converted it to a manual box when the pump gave out after a few years. The manual setup allows better accesss to the engine as well as to the alternator which is new along with the starter. The air conditioner clutch began making noise a few years ago and I disconnected the belt although the system was working at the time. It would require converting to 134 A refrigerant from the old type R 12. The reason I'm selling is that I have too many cars and I need to sell a couple off. The state of California would pay me to "retire" the car. but I'd rather sell it to somone who'd appreciate it and care for it rather than hand it over to be dismantled. Successful bidder can pay through Paypal or to seller at time of pickup. I will work with any out of state shipper. This car would make a great collectible or mini-project car. Feel free to ask any questions before bidding and I'll get back as soon as I can.

On Nov-25-14 at 22:07:54 PST. seller added the following information:

This nice running 1978 Toyota Celica hatchback comes with two year California smog certification good from Nov. 2014 with Calif. registration good through Nov. 2015. I was manufactured in late 1977 so it's one of the earlier ones. It was bought from Toyota of North Hollywood by its first owner who had the T top installed at time of purchase. His daughter drove it back and forth to college. I bought it in late 1986 as a one owner car with about 97. 00 miles and used it as my daily driver through the present. The speedometer that's in the car now is a used replacement so the mileage reads 38. 03 but the car has gone over 150 K but less than 200 K miles. The engine is the original which I had bored . 010 over and ground . 010 under rods and mains as well as a reground camshaft and new timing gears and chain and had the valves ground. The car has never left Southern California except on a trip to Washington state a few years ago and to Nevada twice. There's no rust nor any accident damage. The body is clean and straight and holds good alignment on the road. though some of the rubber could do with replacing in the long term future. The car has never been smoked in and I've never lent it out. I had the car painted in its factory code gold a few years ago and re-painted the pin stipes to the original pattern but I've had to rework some body areas where the clear coat flaked off in the desret sun a year after repainting. I had the headliner redone in original white perforated material a few years ago as well as the seats. which by this time have sustained a couple of minor tears. All of the plastic interior parts which are famous for breaking apart have been replaced over the years so the interior is pretty straight too. I've kept all the registration and maintenance records from new as well as the original owners manual. It's noteworthy that Toyota in the 1970 s recommended oil changes at 7 K miles which I think accounted for premature engine wear. I've changed the oil at 3 K miles long before its engine was overhauled and ever since. The door panels have no speaker holes which means the original radio is still in place. The car was equipped with power steering but the pump went out a long time ago so I went to a used manual box which allows better access to the engine and alternator. The alternator itself was replaced recently as well as the starter which is the newer reduction gear type. The factory air conditioning clutch began making noise long ago so I took off the belt. It was still working at the time. It would need to be converted to 134 A refrigerant as the old R 12 is a thing of the past.

The reason I'm selling is that I have too many cars. I used to drive this car to work every day. bout 3 miles one way but I've since retired. The state of California has a vountary dismantling program and would pay me to scrap it but I'd sooner sell it to someone who would keep it and care for it rather than see it destroyed. A lot of used parts are available through TORC (Toyota Owners and Restorers Club) members or Toyota Nation all online. New parts can be bought through online discount sellers such as the parking light lenses which I put on new as well as the ignition switch harness that fastens to the lock barrel. I installed a pair of 1970 s Cadillac horns through a relay that works off the two horn buttons on the wheel. so the car sounds a lot bigger than it is. I'd be willing to work with any out of state or country shipper or have a buyer drive it away. This car would make a great collectible or mini-project car. Feel free to ask any questions prior to bidding and I'll be happy to answer. I don't check my email on an hourly basis but I'll do my best to get back same day.

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