Toyota Celica Part two: 1986-2005

Welcome to Auto Chatter! Todays video is part two of my Celica series. I started off with the first three generations from 1971 to 1985, but now were going to see the rest! Lets find out how many more convertible ones they made, and if a all wheel drive turbocharged model allowed for even more Celica sales than before! Please dont forget to like the vid if you enjoyed it, and comments are always welcome! Happy New Year everyone!

[@Simple_Jack82]

I was never really into the early Celica, however, this video made me super nostalgic. The seats in the 87 model are amazing.

[@autochatter]

Yes! I get all sort of nostalgia feels when I'm putting these vids together. The seats were great too I agree.

[@davidgold5961]

1:00 In 1986, while working at Hallissey Toyota in Haverhill, Massachusetts, George Pandy, who was Peter Hallissey’s right hand man, and looked straight out of a mafia movie, negotiated a supply line with Toyota of Puerto Rico because we could not get the new front wheel drive 1986 Celica in enough volume to satisfy sales. They were all ST coupes and had a double stripe down the sides. The top stripe stopped just behind the rear edge of the door and was terminated with the ST logo. This was right around the time that the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded - we had a TV in the upper corner of the showroom and we all saw it live. We were also selling Toyota Camry wagons at full retail because they were hard to get and in high demand. One of us super-glued a quarter to the linoleum floor just inside the showroom door to see who of our customers would try to pick it up. I met my girlfriend Jeanne of nine years there, and our first transaction was me selling her a 1985 Toyota Corolla GTS hatchback in red. She loved it.

[@autochatter]

I heard many a story from car sales vets in the 90s, who all talked about how great it was to sell Japanese cars in the 80s! I remember watching the Challenger explode in class live :(

[@MotorMaster_Stunticon]

I like the smooth, typical round look of the 1990 model. I like how it was an evolution of its predecessor. The ‘94s are sleek and sporty too. I wouldn’t mind owning a final generation Celica. I like each model you mentioned in this video. I’m glad to hear talks of them bringing back the nameplate. Good chatter as always!

[@autochatter]

Thanks Rob! I think I read somewhere years ago was that one reason Toyota made the 90 model so rounded and sleek ,was that they had advanced in the manufacturing process that allowed them to do it...Somthing other companies couldn't do then.

[@GeeEm1313]

I definitely prefer the 90-93 compared to the next gen.

[@autochatter]

@@GeeEm1313 I like them too!

[@arieljones4595]

Agreed. I always thought it strange that they offered that coupe and hatchback though. I felt the coupe looked a little bland and formal in comparison.

[@jonny-nava-367]

Came to see the video a second before getting notified, is somebody here?

[@autochatter]

Ive been experimenting with new ways to get clicks.....Next time lock your door! ROFL!!!

[@Simple_Jack82]

😂😂😂 I love this channel​@@autochatter

[@willyhwang1059]

Bug eye still my favorite

[@autochatter]

I love how those looked, but we didn't get the GT4 :(

[@P_RO_]

Not much a fan of these cars but they were good, and the performance versions being noteworthy. We also see here where in the attempt to capitalize on the American market and our not-always-good desires, they changed a basic good concept and got as lost as we've become in the process. Such is the way things go sometimes but even with the loss of the Celica and it's variants, Toyota never stooped down to cheapening their product, always striving to make good very cars and usually achieving that, which has paid off in them still consistently being one of the top two Japanese car makers.

[@autochatter]

The Celica certainly did its part in the 70s and 80s to establish the brand here. The newer ones were still well built, but you paid extra for that and their performance wasn't on par with other options if you wanted cheap speed.

[@P_RO_]

@@autochatter I've learned that "cheap" and "speed" are mutually exclusive terms. To go fast you pay up front, or you pay to fix what breaks later because you didn't. Sometimes both happen together. Toyota did well with the Celica in balancing that.

[@autochatter]

Agreed

[@anthonyrivera4735]

Correction: the seventh generation Celica saw a 2006 model year, albeit exclusive to japan only.

[@autochatter]

That's true..My focus was on Celicas in North America. I did briefly mention a few of the GT4 models we never had.

[@bad_puns]

not the fastest or the lightest but the celica had a good balance in terms of reliability, practicality, looks, and fun. europe and japan definitely got the cooler variants though. i agree that they would have a hard time bringing it back. the gr corolla fills the spot of the all trac celicas and the fr-s/86 fills the spot of the older rear wheel drive models. the only option to me would be to bring it back as a front wheel drive model similar to the 7th generation which would be pretty cool but i don't think would sell well today. (but then again, honda, vw, and hyundai seem to be doing alright with their sporty front wheel drives so you never know)

[@autochatter]

Yeah..Theres still a FWD sporty market, but if you notice from the examples you listed...They are all 4 doors for the most part. The 2 door FWD market today is tiny....No Mini puns intended LOL. A 4 door,FWD Celica??? I dunno...You can already buy a sporty Corolla LOL. If not for Scion, I wonder if the FRS/86 would have been better off being Celica badged.

[@bad_puns]

@@autochatter i agree. it would have to be 2 door, but you're right in that there is not much market for that today. they could have just as easily called the frs the celica. i'm guessing they were thinking the 86 name would have more recognition, although that seems kind of hard to believe to me.

[@autochatter]

​@bad_puns I wasn't a fly on the wall at Toyota, but my theory was the FRS was originally a Scion...and Scions just had letters for names. Maybe if Scion never happened and this car still came out, it may have been a Celica?

[@tonybost6817]

Always wanted one of the early 00’s GTS models. Whenever I see one I ogle at it shamelessly.

[@autochatter]

Yeah, the styling has held up well even today. Considering there wasn't many made and you still see them, speaks volumes for reliabilty.

[@aldoparise1224]

I wonder if the second generation ford probe rear glass was inspired by the rear glass of the 1986 Toyota Celica.

[@autochatter]

Maybe..I don't think Mazda was trying to copy the Celica then. Could have just been a styling trend at the time.

[@uptownsamcv]

good video. I always hear people say tha TC stands for Toyota Celica...

[@autochatter]

Thank you! I was under the impression it just stood for "Touring Coupe".

[@justintowers8230]

offering the 7th gen celica GT-S in auto trans and about 90% of them came with sunroof, thus adding to less interior headspace and heavier overall chassis weight. such fail.

[@domjohnson8723]

I know the All-Trac as the GT-FOUR.

[@autochatter]

Yeah it may have been called that from the start overseas?

[@FWDSUXARSE]

I'd love to own an All-trac / GT-Four. Definitely on my bucket list. Having previously owned a 1987 Toyota MR2 and a 1985 Toyota Supra Performance Spec, those were my favorite Japanese cars of the era. I'm more of a muscle car guy but about 18 years ago I started to get into the 80s and 90s Japanese sports cars and I've been fortunate enough to own a few that I found for a great price.

[@autochatter]

@@FWDSUXARSE I do miss the MR2 turbo I had years ago

[@FWDSUXARSE]

@@autochatter I always wanted one of those, even to leave stock. But I always wanted to do a V6 swap from a camry and turbo it.

[@autochatter]

@FWDSUXARSE That would be cool. Never modded mine...But I sold it in the late 90s.

[@DavidB-rx3km]

God that music is annoying and so unneccessary

[@autochatter]

Music...No music..When I started doing these they had none. Then I put in a little just for intros. I dunno ..They just seemed a little empty without to me. I try to pick selections that sound period correct or fit the mood of the discussion at hand. It has worked out better in some vids than others though! But I do appreciate your feedback.

[@DavidB-rx3km]

@@autochatter Another you tuber "Green Hawk Drive" linked to your channel - he doesn't have music running through it and it doesn't matter. Your vids are really good and interesting, I just don't think they need music, we're just listening to what you say - but others may disagree on music, I don't know.