Random # 290: 1970s Celica GT 2000 Liftback (RA28)

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You could barely hope to see a better early- to mid-1970s Celica than this outstanding example snapped recently in Australia's national capital, Canberra.  It seems probable that it's an imported JDM model, as it features the forward-mounted rear-view mirrors favoured in Japan during the '70s, a grille that appears to differ from those fitted to cars sold in Australia, plus some very distinctive rear tail-light clusters with five individual lenses per side rather than the usual three.


The headlights were protected by an impressive one-piece perspex cowl, there was an aggressive front spoiler and the front wheels were 15 inch Wattanabe-style alloys with black steel rims of similar size on the rear (for the track / competition, possibly?).  The panels and paint were nigh on perfect, as was the interior.


If the example shown here is fitted with a 2.0 litre twin-cam, it's all but certain that the car is a genuine imported GT, as Australia only ever received the garden-variety 2.0 SOHC-powered hatches.  That would make it a truly exotic - and highly desirable - example of 1970s' Japanese performance machinery, at least the equal of anything from rival car makers Nissan, Mazda or Mitsubishi.










U M P H

 (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

 All iPhone images.



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