Checklist

BODY & CHASSIS

The TA22 hardtop weighed only 970kg - the Liftback 100kg more – so not much metal there to resist impact damage or rust. Trying to locate second-hand sheet metal for any pre-1990s Celica is a nightmare and decent parts if they do exist won’t be cheap. A pair of doors, unsold at $800, were the most promising find. One Australian vendor with a yard full of ratted cars claimed to have most parts but you do wonder if they would be any better than those you’re trying to replace. Lights and chrome body embellishments aren’t too difficult to source or especially expensive. Decent bumpers needing chrome cost $50-150 each. Also available are reproduction build plates – not compliance! – for early Celicas and other Toyotas.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

If finding body panels for old Celicas is a chore then tracking down mechanical components is a relative delight. Local searches turned up basic items from various sources however the US market is a treasure trove for keenly-priced parts. Around A$1200 buys everything needed to recondition an engine including new pistons, bearings, timing gears and chains, a waterpump and gaskets (but not valves or the crankshaft). Engines that blow smoke and rattle at start-up need a bottom-end rebuild. Accelerate hard in second gear then lift off to check if the car jumps out of gear.

SUSPENSION & BRAKES

Simple coil spring and strut suspension didn’t do great things for Celica handling but did make maintenance very simple. Tauter springs and uprated shock absorbers are available however going too far will destroy the car’s ride and character. Look at the front tyres for uneven wear; a big hint that suspension components are past their prime. Bouncing from the front means new strut inserts are needed but that’s not a big job. You can upgrade the brakes but remember to improve the tyres as well to ensure the improvement can be transferred to the road.

INTERIOR & ELECTRICS

Celica seats were quite often discarded early in the cars’ lives and replaced with something more comfortable. If they are authentic, check the frames aren’t bent or cracked and that the recline/tilt mechanism locks. Dash cracks are unavoidable and replacements seem to be unobtainable in Australia. Not so the kits of body rubbers for TA22 and RA23 models or new carpet sets. Check the hood-lining for stains indicating water is seeping past window rubbers. A Malaysian supplier advertised stocks of genuine Celica switchgear plus numerous other parts.