TOYOTA CELICA
Apr 30, 2020
4 minutes
A decade and a half after its 1971 debut, Toyota’s Celica was in trouble. The rear-wheel drive design was old-fashioned, underpowered and expensive and no ordinary upgrade would guarantee its survival.
What it got in November 1985 was a makeover that shocked even hardened automotive journalists and preserved the Celica nameplate for another 20 years.
The ST162 Celica was literally new from the ground up with a sleek shape, pop-up headlights, a twin-cam 2.0-litre engine and 103kW if you opted for the $35,000 SX version.
Four years later came the restyled ST184 model; sitting on the same 2525mm wheelbase as
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days