Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
9th October, 2024 13:00
1976 Toyota Celica ST Coupe
The Japanese Muscle car of the 1970s
Estimate
£25, 000 - £30, 000
1976 Toyota Celica ST Coupe
Registration No: NTL 51P
Chassis No: TA2224072
MOT: T. B. A
Very rare, surviving, UK-supplied Celica notchback
Subject to an extensive restoration back to original specification
Full rotisserie custom paintwork
Cost in excess of £40, 000 to restore
Unveiled at the October 1970 Tokyo Motor Show, the first generation Toyota Celica debuted as a two-door, notchback coupe with distinctive ‘coke bottle’ styling. Utilising the same running gear as its Carina sibling but in a smaller, lighter and sportier package, the newcomer was a strong seller in Japan and served as something of a halo model in North America and Europe. Better built than many of its rivals on the latter two continents, the Toyota was also an early adopter of five-speed manual transmission. Performance was class competitive and running costs admirably low. The Celica proved its worth in competition too both as a rally car and circuit racer.
A fan of the first generation Toyota Celica since its launch, the vendor could not resist acquiring ‘NTL 51P’ when it was advertised locally. An aeronautical engineer by profession, he was undeterred by the Coupe’s forlorn appearance. Determined to return it to showroom condition, he undertook much of the work himself over the next four and a half years. Consulting with marque specialists and taking the time to source correct-type replacement parts where necessary, he spent £12, 000 on the professional repaint alone. The interior was retrimmed with new leather, carpets and door card inlays. The 1. 6 litre engine received new pistons and liners as part of its overhaul, while the five-speed gearbox and differential were treated to new bearings etc. A custom exhaust system was fabricated and the wheels refurbished. Deemed by the seller to ‘look, feel and drive as it would have done in the mid-1970s’, the notchback coupe is only coming to market to make room for a new project. Worthy of close inspection having had more manhours and money lavished on it than most surviving first generation Celicas, ‘NTL 51P’ has covered a mere 100 or so post-completion miles. Offered for sale with V5C Registration Document and sundry paperwork.
