1st Gen (1971 to 1977)

The Toyota Celica, manufactured globally from 1971 until 1977 in its first-generation form, was Japan’s definitive "pony car" response to the American Ford Mustang, successfully blending exotic European-inspired lines with legendary Toyota reliability. Known by its A20 and A30 chassis codes, this rear-wheel-drive icon was offered in both the sleek "slant-nose" coupe (TA22) and the later "flat-nose" liftback (RA28), the latter of which earned the nickname "Mustang Celica" due to its triple-bar vertical taillights and fastback profile. In the 2026 Australian market, the first-gen Celica has transitioned from a budget-friendly project car into a premier blue-chip investment, with a massive surge in desirability fueled by the official confirmation of a high-performance 2026 GR Celica revival. The local buyer pool is a high-energy mix of nostalgic Gen-Xers and a new wave of "Restomod" builders, as evidenced by custom builds recently appearing at Summernats 38, which showcase the car's timeless appeal at national roll racing events and hill climbs. While the base ST and LT models remain popular for their ease of maintenance, the 1.6-litre 2T-G and 2.0-litre 18R-G twin-cam GT variants are the most aggressively sought-after by serious collectors. Consequently, the market value of the first-gen Celica in Australia has remained exceptionally firm; while project shells are becoming increasingly scarce, pristine, matching-numbers survivors or elite-level custom builds now command premium prices that reflect their status as one of the most culturally significant Japanese sports cars ever to hit Australian shores.

The Toyota Celica, manufactured globally from 1971 until 1977 in its first-generation form, was Japan’s definitive "pony car" response to the American Ford Mustang, successfully blending exotic European-inspired lines with legendary Toyota reliability. Known by its A20 and A30 chassis codes, this rear-wheel-drive icon was offered in both the sleek "slant-nose" coupe (TA22) and the later "flat-nose" liftback (RA28), the latter of which earned the nickname "Mustang Celica" due to its triple-bar ve… Read more