In late 1981 Toyota watchers were highly distracted by the new Supra; a would-be performance car was finally getting genuine muscle and poise. Yet slipping in almost under the radar was the standard Celica, a model that outsold the sportier – and more responsive – Supra seven to one. The Supra may have grabbed the headlines, but it was the Celica that brought home Toyota’s bacon.
Restyled for the 1982 model year, the Celica was offered in two body styles, either the fastback model called the Liftback – which shared its rear profile with the ‘82 Supra – or the notch back Toyota Celica Sport Coupe. Both were available in GT trim, though only the Sport Coupe offered a base ST model. The fourth generation of Celicas abandoned the rounded contours of its predecessors for crisply folded edges and a pronounced wedge. For the Liftback this meant a breakthrough drag coefficient of .34 – the lowest of any Japanese production automobile, claimed Toyota – while the squared-off Sport Coupe measured a .38 in the windtunnel.
History published in Sport Compact Car February 1999; republished by author John Matras
Much of the credit, and probably more than reasonable, was given to the 1982-85 Toyota Celica’s new front styling, with a grill that angled back 45 degrees from the front bumper. Not only the grill but the rectangular sealed beam headlamp slanted back, Toyota calling them “retractable ‘rock-forward’ type.” When illuminated, the lamps rotated forward to vertical, a distinctive styling feature. At the rear, the 1982-85 Toyota Celica Sport Coupe had an unusual rear deck, with the depressed center section, and wedge -shaped tail lamps that elicited some negative reviews, although again, this made the Sport Coupe stand out from other cars.
The “formal” roofline of the Toyota Celica Sport Coupe did allow more rear headroom than the Liftback, though no doubt this shifted rear seat occupants complaints to the minimal legroom. Well, it is a coupe, not a sedan. And on GT models, the rear seat tax folded forward for pass-through from the trunk. Front seat passengers were treated better, with well-bolstered and highly adjustable buckets, and the GT driver got the same gauge panel as on the Supra. The ST had fewer gauges and a lower general trim level.
All U.S.-bound 1982-85 Toyota Celicas, however, had the same 2.4-liter SOHC four-cylinder that appeared in 1981 models, which was rated at 96 hp at 4800 rpm and 129 lb.-ft. of torque at 2800 rpm. If that sounds a bit truckish, the engine was also used in Toyota’s pickups.
“It goes about its business willingly enough, but we find the 22R…more serviceable than stunning,” said Kevin Smith in Motor Trend, adding, “Smoothness and noise control are adequate but not exemplary…” In other words, though smooth at lower speeds, it was “rough and busy at anything above 4000 rpm,” said Road & Track. The engine was teamed with either a five-speed manual, with rejiggered ratios, or an optional four-speed automatic that hunted badly between third and fourth years.
Variable-boost power assist was optional with the new rack and pinion steering. The four-link live rear axle was a carry-over from ‘81, but the McPherson struts up front had added caster. Front and rear track were 1.8 and 0.8 inches wider respectively; however, the car was suspended more for comfort than corner carving. Smith thought the tires, Toyo 185/70SR-14’s, too small, and complained, “Understeer and body roll are pronounced, and the front tires send up audible protest even before the driver starts pushing all that hard.” The only good thing was that available power was insufficient to cause axle tramp.
Any potential axle tramp problem would have been solved by the independent rear suspension of Supra, as installed on the Celica GT-S, though that was available in Liftback form only. The Toyota Celica Sport Coupe continued, while gaining horsepower in ‘83 and losing the pop-forward headlamps in ‘84, getting a smoother front fascia with more conventional pop-up headlamps. The orgami-inspired Celica expired after the’ 85 model year, replaced with a curvier Celica with front wheel drive. It was a changing world, and the Celica was changing with it.
Addendum: The successor to the 1982-85 Toyota Celica went front drive, but not completely. Toyota introduced its all wheel drive system called “All Trac.” Here’s a history of the ’90 through’93 Celica All Trac Turbo in Hemmings and my contemporary review of a 1991 Celica All Trac Turbo versus the Isuzu Impulse RS. Check it out. My review of the 1994 Toyota Supra highlights another sporty Toyota.
