1978 Toyota Celica GT Driving Video #1

A brief driving video of my 1978 Toyota Celica GT Coupe. This is a car that I bought a few years back on Bring A Trailer, and then drove cross-country in, without a single issue.
Since I purchased the car, I have been enjoying it, and also working to bring it to the next level, replacing a cracked dash pad, broken interior door handle surround, removing the modern DIN stereo cut into the dash and replacing it with a proper OEM shaft-style radio and NOS dash panel, replacing the broken fuse box cover, reupholstering the "melted" rear armrest panels, and fixing the A/C, among other things.
It's a wonderful car, good looking, solid, well built, and thoughtfully designed. Being from 1978, it's not a fire-breathing performance monster, but it's sporty and fun, and compares favorably to my '71 MGB. It's also a great highway car, thanks to the 5-speed overdrive transmission, which results in ~3,200 RPM at 80 MPH. I detoured into the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee on my way home, including the Tail of the Dragon, and the car was a load of fun, and handled itself with aplomb.
This car is for sale on Bring a Trailer, auction ending 10/16/2021 @ 4:55PM: bringatrailer....

[@matcentrino7602]

Protect this car at all costs. This is the most beautiful designed car to me ; (

[@mationinfo]

You are truly a sun of a gun. This was my first car. I paid $3200.00 for it. It had 149000 km on it. I brought it in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada in 1985. I was 19 years old.

[@greghudson1489]

My first new car. Yellow 1978 Celica GT. I loved that car. And I'm "like" #78. - There were performance upgrades available. I put exhaust headers on mine. TRD offered a twin cam head and four barrel carburetor that would have really been fun.

[@CurtS1957]

I loved my Celica. Forget how smooth they shifted.

[@beb1527]

In the mid 1980’s we had 2 of these with 5 speed manuals on our driveway. A black on black interior‘78 GT lift-back with a rare sunroof and a green on tan interior ‘79 GT lift back. Both with manual steering - however the ratios were different. the '79 had less turns lock to lock and was nearly impossible to steer unless you were moving. The '78 was easier. The '78 had a 125 mph speedo while the '79 went only to 85. Both cars were incredibly reliable. The '78 had well over 100k miles at that time. I took my driving test in the green one back in ‘84. Both had the 20R 90 hp 2.2L engine and ran on Unleaded. My first car was a ‘76 Toyota Corona with the same engine. It didn’t have the catalytic converter and produced 96 hp on regular leaded gas.

[@CelicaDan]

I absolutely love the interior of the 2nd gen, never giving mine up.

[@aw2023q]

That was great to hear those good ol' mechanical clicks and whirrs. Thanks for the ride along!

[@chollythecrazycorgihesinsa6505]

I had one! Dark Brown…loved that car!!

[@AngelHernandez-ls5wr]

I love those mid 70s early mid 80s japanese cars.☺️👍👍

[@chriscole9621]

Same, I'd love a 78 Silvia/200sx or a Celica or Corolla from this era

[@scottconville9780]

Had one in high school in the early eighties, still have occasional dreams about driving it. Would love to drive one again!

[@bobagosto6441]

Car sounds awesome

[@argontheguardian0621]

You're not wrong, I love these classic imports. ❤

[@vice4134]

Thank you so much for creating this video. Awesome! It brings back memories. 🙂

[@gigcleveland9740]

Smooth power band even for a 43 year old car wow

[@richarddumas4758]

bought one in 1990 for 475... Damn i miss that car.

[@sej4323]

Alot of Highway Patrol in the end of trip. Reminds me of my old Mark 1 Scirocco. Except it reved higher.

[@glock0292]

My high school car in the 90s. 👍🏼

[@iga671]

i learned to drive in an identical car

[@ruslanmathvich8593]

Needs more revs. Sounds good btw

[@Paramount531]

I wanted one of these in the worst way, by late 81 when I could afford them there were none to be found. I wound up buying a new 82 Accord, but I really would rather have had the Celica. I didn't like the 82 Celica at all.