http://louisville.craigslist.org/ctd/2314486174.html
If the ad goes away:
http://www.mcdonaldindustries.com/james/1983%20Toyota%20Celica%20GTS%20-%20RED.pdf
This one looks very clean but has highish mileage in an absolute sense, though not for the year. It looks to have been kept up by maybe one or two OCD-type owners. What would you pay? I'm thinking if someone paid $4500 for it, I would not laugh at them, but I wouldn't get seriously interested until it came down around $3200.
"...a true JDM car..." What a douche.
Having driven one of these, it's just not special enough to warrant that money.
EDIT: Oh, I've never driven a GT-S. Maybe I'm wrong.
Yeah, I got some chuckles from the description also, but I thought the car looked like a good example.
being that there are Celica Supras in similar condition trading for less money, I say not worth it.
jrw1621
SuperDork
4/16/11 4:22 a.m.
Contradiction in the ad.
The top text says GT-S. The lower text says GT.
The steering wheel and rear deck lid say GT.
The car wears the GT-S appearance items.
http://www.cobra-motors.com/vehicledetails.aspx?VID=132502335
What I found quickly was:
In 1983, Toyota added the GT-S model to the Celica line to re-inject the sports image that Celica had lost as it grew larger and heavier with each subsequent model. The GT-S included larger wheels and tires, fender flares, sports suspension, and a sports interior including special seats and a leather-wrapped steering-wheel and gearshift knob.
Seems that in theory, you could bolt on/in the items needed to take a GT to GT-S trim. I know the GT engine and GT-S engine were the same 105hp 2.4L 4 cyl.
An '83 GT should have these rims and no flares.
More reference with complete model year brochures
http://www.toyotareference.com/celica#CE
I am finding that maybe for the first year, '83, the GT-S package may have carried GT badges but clearly in later years it carried its own badges as seen on this '85
An '83 example:
http://www.celica-gts.com/feature_cars/feature_pete_hawk.html
In 82-83, the GT-S wasn't labeled as one. They still wore GT badges. They were sold as "Celica GT with S package" the flares will not bolt on with out cutting to the ST-GT body. The fender openings are physically larger, and have no fender lip underneath. The 82 had the flares, but still a solid axle, and the 83 had semi-trailing arms that from experience, only serve to produce rear squat worse than an e30.
I wouldn't pay that for that car. These aren't THAT hard to find in good shape, unless you're hell bent on getting the early ugly front end and a "GT with S package" car.
I'd pay $3k for that. Maybe.
sanman
Reader
4/16/11 10:12 a.m.
Agreed. Cool older car that I would love to own, but it is not that special. If I was not a Toyota nut, it would just be an old used car in great condition. Now, if this was a Celica -Supra it would be worth money. Similarly, the mr2 would have been worth that money as a pristine s/c.
There was a similar Supra on CL here in Denver a while back. Just amazing survivor with very low mileage. He wanted like $12k for it. If I was in a shopping kinda mood, I might give $4k for this one? It's a neat car, but think back to the late 80s/early 90s. The roads were lousy with these things. Not exactly rare just yet. It's a nice one, but still just an old car at this point. Personally I'd like it more if it was an '82 with the SRA. Not so many of those out there.
Oh, wait. Something up with that car. Maybe not at all bad, but the intake and valve cover weren't black from the factory. And it has a header on it. So, some work has been done to that car. That may be fine, but not in keeping with the time capsule vibe.
Looks like the electric antenna is broken. Not a big deal, but for top dollar like this I'd expect it to be perfect. Pretty sure I can see a blemish on the passenger side seat too. Again, not a big deal for normal money, but for the price.
Eddie, I like the notch-backs without flares, as in your avatar, better than these.
JamesMcD wrote:
Eddie, I like the notch-backs without flares, as in your avatar, better than these.
No surprise to hear... so do I!
Lighter, more rigid, and in my opinion, cooler looking. Going to be fun. Guess I should go tear down that engine I pulled yesterday so I can get it running again!
"Antilock Brakes, Driver Air Bag, Passenger Air Bag" LOL
I think the seller may be an air bag as well. Nice car but not 6k nice.