The fifth-generation Toyota Celica, while retaining the grille and pop-up headlights of its immediate predecessor, showcased a new organic design language that appeared on the Previa minivan the same year, and the Camry for 1992, ultimately appearing on the entire Toyota lineup.
While the fourth generation Celica was also sleek, it displayed a much more angular profile. With the 1990 model, a very smooth, rounded appearance was apparent from every angle. US-market Celicas were initially available in ST, GT and GT-S coupes, but starting in August of 1990, a convertible became available. Built by American Sunroof Corporation (ASC) in the States, it came in a GT model, utilizing the 5S-FE inline four.
All Celicas received a driver’s side airbag. The base ST model received the 4A-FE 1.6L engine, while the uplevel GT and GT-S received the 5S-FE 2.2L four cylinder engine. The GT was good for 130 horsepower, while the GT-S version got an extra 5 hp. Transmission choices included a five speed manual or four speed automatic.
I always thought these Celicas were pretty attractive, but hadn’t seen one in a long time. I was surprised to see a rare convertible version show up on a car lot known for having pretty cool old cars in stock. Normally I don’t care for aftermarket wheels, but these are pretty nice looking. This would make a nice summer cruiser for somebody but that ‘Fast and Furious’ exhaust tip has gotta go.
Nice example.— that cloth top looks quite fit for the age of the automobile.
I have fond memories of these Celicas. My best friend’s mom in grade school, in Tulsa (we moved alot), had a red Celica coupe. In 3rd grade we were rally drivers in the Celica, shifting and pushing the clutch (luckily we never put the handbrake down) in the garage. Then we’d off-road in his dad’s Cherokee. My parents had a Sable wagon and SHO sedan (seemed pedestrian at the time), a red coupe was pretty awesome.
Ironically, the only Matchbox from those days I have left is a white Sable wagon.
Sorry for shooting off on a tangent, but I think the Previa is still one of, if not the best looking minivan ever. Still very fresh-looking even today. Has anyone done a CC on one yet?
No CC yet…at least not that I can find/remember.
There’s a ’97 Previa S/C at the beater lot in my town, though! Pics might be necessary.
I have some pictures of one, and some of the others may too. There are a few minivans higher on my list, but I may get inspired one of these times.
I’m with you 100%. I saw a Burgundy and Silver S/C that’s a Mini Van I wouldn’t mind owning.
I agree that those wheels look nice. They add some tasteful flash to what is otherwise a fairly mundane design, excepting the headlight “belt.”
This generation of Toyotas really lost the funk; or maybe they wasted it all on the Previa. I do remember thinking they looked pretty “modern” and “cool” when they debuted—presaging the blobs that would dominate the rest of the 90s—but they were soon lost in a sea of ZX2s, Paseos, Del Sols, and *shudder* Luminas.
Bring the funk back!
Some would argue that Celica brought back the Funk in 2000.. Maybe a little too much though.
The 2000 Celica seemed so cool when it was introduced – then again, I was in elementary school. However, I don’t think the styling has held up well over time – it’s just too gimmicky.
The styling of the 2000 version seemed to scream “Hey! Hey! Look at me! I have high insurance rates!” to me.
It was a little over the top. The GTS wasn’t a horrible driving car though, if you wound it up just right it’d put you back in your seat.
Celicas were always very popular here in Australia, but the 2000 wasn’t really. By the time it came about everyone who used to buy them had moved on to WRX’s and Evo’s, which were in about the same price range, but a lot more potent, even if they did have two extra doors.
Now that’s a mighty fine looking Celica/Supra. Definitely my favourite generation.
Saw a nice 83-84 Supra the other night, I’d much rather have one of those than this model Celica which was bigger/heavier/softer than the previous model.
The MR2 was the ‘Yota sports car I most liked of this era. My father had an 86 for a few years in the mid 90s until it was totaled by a careless fool running a red. Man could that thing corner!
Actually they were cool a lot longer ago than that. When I went to Panama in 72, one of the radiomen had a celica. That might actually have been 73 or 74. Old timers disease rearing it’s ugly head again.
It was fast and cornered good. One of the guys raced rally with a TR and the celica would eat it up. Before long it was full of drunk bumps but it did survive it’s owner’s shore duty. Didn’t look like much but ran good. That’s probably the fate of a lot of bulletproof cars with young owners.
I always thought of this as the “Pillsbury Doughboy” design language. But then I was still in love with my ’87 Celica!
Still plenty of Toyotas from this era in the wild here very popular cars they can be fun to drive and as long as you replace the cambelt regularly bullet proof. This shape fitted in with the Camry perfectly with the organic shape NZ being the first export market with the new Camry so the whole line up looks a piece no strange square 80s leftovers still being warmed.
Y’know, it occurs to me that you guys could probably do an interesting overview of ASC. They were involved in a lot of stuff, including the revival of retractable hardtops in the nineties.
good take.
I love these! Well, maybe not this particular car (the curvaceous rear roofline of the liftback models was my favorite detail, and there’s none of that to see here), but the fifth-gen Celica is probably my favorite piece of automotive styling of all time. I could go on and on, but it’s difficult for me to talk about these cars without getting sweaty and delving into language that sounds like sex.
A ’92-’93 GT-S liftback in bright red is my dream automobile.
To me, the Toyota styling of this era has held up very well. The cars themselves seem to have held up well, too, despite some rust in my region. The ’90 Celica, ’90 LS400, ’91 MR2, ’91 Previa, ’92 Camry/ES300, ’92 SC300/400, and ’93 Supra were all quite original and forward-thinking. Heck, even the ’93 Corolla, despite its blandness, set new standards for compact car refinement (I can’t say the new ones are really that much better two decades later, though).
Toyota lost its creativity later on in the decade, though, with the exception of the RX300.
Our Toyotas from this era are galvanised rust simply does not exist in the cars the utes are are a different story but the cars after years of complaints the Japanese made them properly at last
Long time Celica-freak here. I have never owned this generation. I’ve had a 78 liftback 5-speed, two 86 GTs: one hatchback, 5-speed, and one coupe, automatic – that thing had the smoothest shifting automatic I’ve ever driven; one 85 GT coupe automatic, and currently own an 84 GT-S liftback 5-speed. While not mint, it’s in pretty good shape for the year, and gets some looks and comments. Certainly not a lot of these left where I live – I know of two other ones of my generation. The fifth gen ones are still fairly common though.
I’d gladly relieve you of the 85 GT coupe! 😀
Really I’ll take almost any 81-86 Celica/Celica Supra…
In our wealthy neighborhood here in Gallup (roughly triangulated by the hospital, golf course, and branch of the state university) there is one of these (in the same colors no less) sitting in front of one of the nicer brick homes. It belongs to the teen driver who lives there. The top is quickly falling into disrepair; Perhaps our favorite convertible lover (Zachman I’m looking at you) should school them on convertible care?
My sister’s ex-husband had the hatchback version, in white. I thought the styling was ok but bland, and inferior to the previous generation. When my sister divorced him (long story…) he got the Celica, she got the Rav4. I think she won!
Used to joke with car buddies that the rear end of these look a lot like the “Whale” 1991-6 Caprice!
Also, this is true from above post: “Hey! Hey! Look at me! I have high insurance rates!” This is #1 reason coupe sales tanked and there are hardly any new ones. Young buyers simply can’t afford them, or are not interested, they want utility of 4 door or truck.
good take.
my 19 yr old traded his 98 Camaro for a 93 Fleetwood (definately NOT a D body whale!)!