Looking at a 70's Celica GT. I need your HELP.

[mech]

Hello everyone,

I just moved to Greece, from california 2 months ago.

I have been looking for a Celica GT to restore, and by sheer luck i found one. (pics below)

My questions to you are:

Do you know what year it is? Should i buy it? Is it worth it to restore?

I can get this car real cheap 300-400 dollars, maybe even free.

I pulled these numbers off the plaque on the firewall above the master cyl in the engine bay.

TA23L-MQG-YYL

TA23-027230

023 KB23

I was pressed for time, and forgot to write down the VIN #. unless the first line TA23-MQG-YYL is the VIN? It as also stamped ( TA23 etc) on the firewall to the left of the plaque.

i havent researched the numbers yet, (I thought i would ask you as guys first). Although, this would be the first time i have had to research numbers in order to find out more information on the vehicle. so i am not sure on how to go about it.

Ok, so the guy who owns the car, tells me it 78, but he not entirely sure. from what i have been reading, 74 is the most desirable year? i'm wondering, if it is in fact a 78, maybe i should look for the 74, or a year close to it.

I was told that the car has sat for 2 years, and was running prior to sitting.

The car is almost entirely complete. Its only missing a few things:

-air cleaners assembly? (stolen) ( the intake boot that attaches to the air can is there) Just has nothing on the carbs, to the boot that attaches to the air can.

- and a side maker signal, and a couple little interior parts maybe.

The car seems 99 percent complete.

The worst of the RUST is in the trunk, in the spare tire well, and the cavity's on both sides of the spare tiire well, where all the water collects. Its pretty bad there. Ate right through. But i have seen worse. Id say maybe 30-40 percent of that area is going to have to be cut out, and re-done. Trunk lid also has a decent amount of rust on it.

other than the trunk, the rust isnt that bad, Frame rails look great, floor pans etc. only a few spots of rust here, like on the edges of the doors etc.

The interior is suprisingly decent condition, and looks complete. Everything mechanically, suspension brakes etc seems to be there, and in decent condition.

Thanks for the help.

[streetrider]

I just read that you can get it for free to $400, GET IT!!!

Worst case scenario you can make your money back plus some parting it out and scrapping the body.

In my opinion it is definatly worth restoring. I'd pick that thing up in a heartbeat.

Good luck, keep us posted.

BTW 1970-1977 was when they made that body style, so I would say it's not a 78'

[mech]

street rider:

most likely i am going to get the car soon.

I have de-coded the VIN thanks to this site....


http://www.classic-celica.nl/



T = Engine series
A = Celica RWD
23 = 1st gen celica. Coupe. The 22 successor. Built Sept'75 through Late '77. Most significant change is the slightly longer nose section.
L = Left hand drive

M = 5 speed manual gearbox
Q = GT suspension, brakes sport package
G = Rearranged enginebay to suit the twincam engines.

YYL = Combination GT ET trim package

The only thing i dont know is the exacy year. But it has to be with either a 75-76-77

im guessing its a 76, because i found an old registration form in the car, but i could barely read it because it was so old, and it looks like it says 76 on it.

[hevster1]

I believe that is an 18r-g engine. very rare and a great performer. Watch for unibody rot.

[mech]

hevster:

i do believe that you are correct when you say that the engine is rare. DOHC head and two solex carbs.

i have looked at many pics of 76 celica GT's, and most have the single cam, and some crappy looking air filter, with who knows what kind of carbs on it.

The trunk seal was missing, so water sat in the trunk and there is quite a bit of rust in there. The rest of the car, frame rails, floorpans, supports, pillars, doors etc have very little to zero rust.

heres some more pics....
















Functional hood flutes...

[stepho]

The information at http://www.classic-celica.nl/ is actually a copy of my website
http://members.iinet.net.au/~stepho/oldcodes.htm

T=T series engine
A=Celica
23=coupe (Aug 1976 to Oct 1977) with 2T engine
L=LHD
M=5 speed manul gearbox
Q=sports suspension
G=twincam engine
Y=Euro GT exterior
Y=Euro GT interior
L=LHD

TA23-027230
From http://members.iinet.net.au/~stepho/celframe.htm
The car was built in May 1977.

023= KB23

The engine is a 1600cc 2T-G.
A good high revving engine.
The missing air cleaners can be replaced with Weber 45DCOE air cleaners.
I have a few spare pieces for you (eg side markers) but postage might be expensive from Australia

- Stepho

[mech]

Awesome Stepho, thanks!

Do you know how many were produced? Do you think this is a rare celica?

[stepho]

There were 29142 TA23's made.
Unfortunately there are no public records for how many were GT's (ie twincam engines)
In the same years as the TA23 there were also the following:
- RA23 coupe with 18R engine
- RA24 coupe with 20R engine
- TA28 liftback with 2T engine
- RA28 liftback with 18R engine
- RA29 liftback with 20R engine

And of course there was the earlier models that looked very similar:
- TA22 coupe with 2T engine
- RA20/21/22 coupes with 8R/18R/20R engines
- RA25 liftback with 18R engine
- TA27 liftback with 2T engine

You can look up their details here:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~stepho/celframe.htm (frame numbers by month)
http://members.iinet.net.au/~stepho/index.html (index to all my Celica info)

Your Celica was not very common in Greece when it was new.
And I'm sure you know that it is very rare today.
I may be able to put you in contact with some other Celica owners in or near Greece.
I will try to contact them for you.

- Stepho

[mech]

Thanks stepho,

well some bad news.

The car was bought as a parts car. The guy who bought it owns a shop/small junkyard. Even though its not really a junkyard.

so technically, the car is in a junkyard, and cannot ever be registered to drive on the streets again. I tried to see if i could obtain antique plates/registration for it, but under the laws here, if its going to be registered as an antique, it has to be restored to exactly as it was brand new, and can on be driven on "special ocassions", so its not really worth it.

the only other option for me, would be to turn into a race car, and tow it around to tracks.

Stepho. Are parts for these cars highly sought after? I might be able to strip it down, and sell the parts. but only if can make some money on it.

[stepho]

They are quite hard to find but there are only a small number of people looking for them.
I will ask around for you but I'd guess you won't make a lot of money from it in it's current condition.

- Stepho

[mech]

Well, i bought the car. unfortunatly, i can only use it for parts.

But i got it to RUN today

Now, i just have to fix the brake and clutch pedal that have no pressure, and i can drive it a little around town and have some fun with it.

Grand total for what i paid for the car, and the cost to tow it to my house came out to 250 dollars.

[MatthewGT]

Hello there mech

Are you interested in parting ( sell some of the parts )out the car because i am willing to buy some parts from your celica........

Matthew

[MatthewGT]

Hello there mech,

Are you interested in parting out youre celica, because there are some parts that really interest me....

Matthew

[CELICAPOWER]

Hello Mech.i'm A New Member, And I Have A Ta23 Too.i Don't Know Where Are You Now And If You Still Live In Greece,but I'm Verry Intresting Too,to Buy Many Parts Of Your Car,or All Of It If You Still Have It.if You Agree, Please Answear And I Will Give You My Email To Contact With Me And Talk About It!

[mech]

i sold the car some time ago..sorry..