Good morning! For our final Showdown this week, I thought we’d look at a couple of cool old liftbacks. Why? Because I like them. That’s reason enough.
We were in agreement about yesterday’s Mercedes-Benz diesels; the big old S-Class battleship is the clear choice. The 190D is a neat car, and it will serve someone well, but that someone will be very sweaty by the time they get where they’re going, with the combination of black M-B Tex seats and no air conditioning.
The S-Class may look weird with its two-tone blue paint, but it’s just so much more car. It’s a bit primitive, but that just means it’s easier to work on. And the seller certainly seems to know his stuff, which is confidence-inspiring. In fact, it’s probably a good thing I don’t live in Portland anymore, or I might have to go check that one out.
Now, some of you are going to say that today’s contenders are overpriced, but I disagree. You’d have a hard time finding another one of either car in this condition for a better price. They may cost more than you’re willing to pay, but that’s different. Besides, this is all imaginary money, right? So let’s have some fun and look at a couple of neat old cars.
1979 Toyota Celica GT – $6,700
Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Odometer reading: 121,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The original concept for the Toyota Celica can be summed up in two words: “Japanese Mustang.” Like the Mustang, it was based on a family sedan: the Celica was to the Toyota Corona what the Mustang was to the Ford Falcon. It even came in two body styles, a notchback and a fastback, and offered an upscale trim called the GT. Just like the Mustang. The second-generation Celica was a whole lot more well-received than the second-generation Mustang, though.
Unlike the Mustang, however, the Celica never offered a V8. Instead, it came with Toyota’s stout R-series four-cylinder engine, in this case the 2.2 liter 20R. It’s equipped with a two-barrel carburetor and makes 96 horsepower. It drives a solid rear axle through a five-speed manual transmission. This one has had a bunch of recent work done, and the seller says it runs and drives great.
Inside, it’s in pretty amazing condition for its age. The vinyl upholstery isn’t torn, the dash isn’t cracked, and even the carpet looks clean. It has the original radio, even, but the seller says only the AM band works. AM radio does still exist, by the way, but man, are your options limited. I think I’d sacrifice some originality for a nice Bluetooth connection.
It’s rust-free, it looks like, and really straight. The paint looks a little dull, but it might be shinier in person; white paint can play tricks in photographs. The wheels aren’t original; they’re from a later Celica, but they don’t look out of place. I do feel like that big rear window is crying out for a set of louvers, though. Does anybody still make them for this car?
1987 Volkswagen Scirocco – $7,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Berthoud, CO
Odometer reading: 124,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The VW Scirocco isn’t that far off from the Mustang idea either, really. It’s based on the more mass-market Golf (Rabbit here in the US), but the Scirocco actually came out a few months before the Golf. So is the Scirocco a sporty Golf, or is the Golf a more practical Scirocco? Chicken, egg, whatever. The original Scirocco was a Giugiaro design, but this second-generation one was an in-house Volkswagen design. I like the older model better, personally, but I wouldn’t kick this one out of my garage.
In 1987, the Scirocco was available with two levels of power: VW’s good old single-overhead-cam four, or a twin-cam 16-valve version. This car has the former, which if memory serves makes 90 horsepower instead of 123. It drives the front wheels through a five-speed manual. The seller says it has been “gone through extensively” in the past year, and has all new suspension and exhaust, as well as a full tune-up and a bunch of new gaskets and seals. It still needs a professional alignment after the suspension was rebuilt, but it runs great.
This interior is in really nice shape too. The seller says there are a couple of cracks in the dash, but they’re hardly noticeable. The air conditioning “needs a charge” (of course it does) and the HVAC blower fan is noisy and probably needs replacement, but everything else is in fine shape.
This car was originally silver, but it was repainted last year in this rather striking green. It’s not an original VW color, but it sure does suit this body style. Unfortunately the door sills were not painted, which may or may not bother you. It has teardrop-style wheels which the seller says are original, but I thought those were exclusive to the 16V version. At any rate, they look great on there.
These cars could have been someone’s only car when they were new; they’re certainly practical enough. But these days, owing to their rarity, they’re better enjoyed as weekend toys. But that’s fine; daydreaming about driving either one would be a fine pastime during the week while you’re stuck in a meeting. My question for you is: which one would you rather see in your garage when you open the door on a Saturday morning?
Both cars are cool. Both cars have their flaws. The Celica weighs 350 – 400 lbs more than the Scirocco though and I don’t recall them as being known for their handling. I went with the Scircco.
It’s a both kinda day
Scirocco
I still miss my ’91
This is the worst generation of Celica – both the previous and subsequent generation cars were sleek and handsome, while these look frumpy. IIRC, this was the first design from Toyota’s US design office.
OTOH, I don’t fit in this generation of Scirocco. There is no headroom for someone much over 6′ tall. I still voted for the VW.
If the Scirocco wasn’t a color change I probably would have gone with it.
I never consider price here – it’s imaginary re: which car would I like better. These are good models. I prefer the earlier Scirocco and it’s not my favorite Celica generation. BUT, I’ve been interested in Japanese “classics” lately and for originality and a 20R I gotta go Celica. I owned a 22R in a pickup.
I voted for the Celica… I can smell the vinyl interior right now because my family had one in GT trim. Just the notchback instead, in maroon over tan upholstery. It was always just a little bit heavy for the engine output; I fear the slightly heavier expanse of all that glass in the rear of the liftback won’t help — but it’s still a fun, likeable car.
I never had much affinity for VW’s post-Beetle offerings, so Celica it is.
I like green better than cream, and so I prefer EFI over a carb, but the missing door sills is a no go for me at that price. Celica FTW
If you want to swap colors and do a repaint, then spend money and paint everything. Every time I open the door or hood I’d be upset at the cheap previous owner and feel I overpaid.
At 402 votes, cars were tied at 201 each. Then I voted for the Celica.
At 407 votes, it’s still the Celica by one.
That green is pretty snazzy, but I am going with the slightly cheaper Right Wheel Drive option.
I agree with the general consensus here: I like both, but not at those prices.
Made me remember something from my childhood. There was a little old lady that had one of those late ’70s Celica liftbacks in my neighborhood. Looked exactly like the car listed, but in yellow. Probably would have been an automatic, too. I remember she had that car for the entire decade of the ’80s. Like, it was the only car I ever saw her drive, always in that typically slow, little old lady way, coming up our side street while I was waiting for the school bus or just outside playing in our yard. Probably had it until she passed away some time in the ’90s, and then I never saw it again.
I like the Celica. Originality trumps a mediocre repaint, even if it is in a nice color. The four-spoke wheels look right at home too.
It’s always dangerous when one of these cars is nearby, but luckily it’s the one I don’t want. I’ll go with the Scirocco, despite the paint color. Just doesn’t seem to be fitting for the car to me.
Also, maybe less expensive than I would have thought based on how uncommon they are now, but still a lot more than the sub-$2000 ones I was looking at almost 20 years ago when I first found out they existed.
These are both on the pricy side for what they are to me. My vote is for the Scirocco because I like the colour and I like that it’s fuel injected.
Also that gen of Celica doesn’t do it for me in terms of looks. If it was a 3rd gen liftback, then it would swing my vote.
First hand experience with a rapidly rusting Celica of this generation. Certainly not quick and wicked oversteer. Its best feature was it started every morning and rarely needed more than an oil change.
Today I’m taking the Scirocco…its way more fun to drive and I don’t need it as my primary basic transportation. Oh yeah…green.
Love that green. Hate relying on Volkswagens, I have been let down too often. I frequently rode to high school in a friend’s first generation Celica, they are good cars.
An incomplete color change would bug me every time I opened the door.
I hardly ever see that vintage Celica on the road anymore. When I was in high school and college, they were everywhere. When I was shopping for my first car in 1980, these as a used car were out of my price range.
What if, and hear me out, the seller of the Scirocco was able to take a photo that showed the entire car? What a world that would be.
Both are great slow car fast choices, the scirocco is sweet, but sad without round headlights. the Celica is the ugly duckling vs the model before and after it, but I had to go Toyota. When the world eventually ends and all that is left is the roaches, they will be driving cars with Toyota R engines in them!
Malaise era cars at crackpipe prices? No thanks.
This one just isn’t fair…
My love for the Celica and love of Japanese cars in general came from this exact model Celica that my middle school homeroom teacher drove. Yes, she was pretty hot as well to this 7th graders eyes. Pubescent lust has its place.
The Scirocco stirs my inner VW love of anything VW before 1998.
Celica gets the win on this one.
Both are cool, but I had to vote for the VW. The interior is incredible. I haven’t seen any Scirocco in years, much less one this nice. I also love the new color. VW should have offered this as an original color. It looks great.
My mom had a 1981 Celica GT lift back, 5 speed in red. Nice enough, but really a bit boring. The Scirocco will probably not be tremendously reliable, but I’d take the gamble because it’s probably more fun to drive.
I have some serious trust issues on this site when an author claims “rust free”
We know that is code for unsaleable rust bucket – at least if the car is located in Michigan.
Or, apparently, in California.
Moving a rustbucket Michigan car to California only makes it more unsaleable.
I’ll take the Un-Super-Super-Celica, please.