Pick of the Day: 1980 Toyota Celica GT liftback

After over four decades, the original owner of an unmodified Japanese sports coupe is ready to finally part ways.

The Pick of the Day is a 1980 Toyota Celica GT liftback listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Bellingham, Washington. (Click the link to view the listing)

“I am the original owner and selling my 1980 Toyota Celica GT L/B 5-speed with the 2.2-liter 20R 4-cylinder engine,” the listing begins. “The vehicle has been very well cared for and kept garaged since 1988.”

The Celica model first made its debut in 1970 at the Tokyo Motor Show and was exclusively offered as a three-door hardtop coupe that first year. A liftback variant came out a year later, around the same time the Celica first went on sale in North America. Popularity grew in the years that followed, and when the second-generation launched in 1978, it offered additional power, safety, and fuel economy benefits. Motor Trend awarded that car the title of Import Car of the Year.

Aside from the installation of an aftermarket CD player, this Celica from two years later is all-original and unmodified. While the five-digit odometer shows just under 60,000 miles, it has rolled over twice, so the seller attests that true mileage is about 260,000. The replacement motor reportedly has 123,000 on it, and mechanical upkeep has been fastidious: Within the past year, the car received replacement components for the water pump, radiator clutch fan, thermostat, front brake calipers, and fluids. The listing details additional parts replaced within the last 20,000 miles.

A key benefit of having a sports car is a raw driving experience. With that in mind, this Celica brings plenty of “manual” features including the steering, windows, and sunroof. There is also no air conditioning. At its core, this was designed to be a no-frills “driver’s car,” after all. And clearly, the seller enjoyed it immensely based on the fact that it racked up over a quarter of a million miles.

“This was the first car I ever bought new, and I have done my best to keep it well maintained. It is my hope that I can find a buyer who will love it, care for it, and enjoy it as much as I have over the last 42 years,” the listing concludes.

The seller is asking $7,800 for this one-owner liftback Celica, which comes with a set of rear window louvers for max 1980s flair.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.