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Toyota Time Machine: 1980 Celica GT Liftback USGP Edition up for Grabs
Japanese sports coupes were still beginning their ascendancy as the 1970s clicked over into 1980, but there were a few distinct flavors by this point. A decade old, Nissan’s Z-car led the way in 280ZX form, while Mazda had debuted its upstart RX-7 in 1978. Toyota’s Celica, which first came to North America in 1971, was maturing, having rolled out its second generation in 1977. A regular sight on roads in the ’80s, spotting one of these little coupes today, particularly the Celica, is a rarity.
Which is part of what makes this 1980 Toyota Celica GT Liftback, for auction now on Hagerty Marketplace, so intriguing. The coupe has less than 40,000 original miles—remarkable for a 45-year-old sports car—and it’s equipped with the slick, one-year-only United States Grand Prix Package.
Toyota released the USGP Package for 1980 to highlight its link to the United States Grand Prix. The brand provided pace cars for the races held in Long Beach and at Watkins Glen, and it dispatched Land Cruisers and pickups as support vehicles. After sponsoring the event for a few years, Toyota decided to monetize its efforts by putting together an appearance package that was offered on the Celica for one model year.
Priced at $750, which represents approximately $2,900 in 2025, the USGP Package added a honeycomb grille, flat-black trim on the B-pillars, racing-inspired white and gold stripes on both sides, and 14-inch alloy wheels, among other features. Inside, USGP-equipped cars received Ivory-colored vinyl upholstery with black piping, a cassette player, and a graphic equalizer. The small “LIMITED EDITION USGP CELICA” plate located next to the graphic equalizer reminded the passengers they weren’t in a standard Celica.
Toyota capped production at 600 units split evenly between Red, White, and Dark Blue Metallic. And, once they were gone, they were gone; The USGP Package didn’t return to the range for the 1981 model year.
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This particular Celica GT Liftback was bought new from Jim White Toyota in Toledo, Ohio, and it remained with its original owner for 32 years. It’s equipped with a five-digit odometer, but its history is documented and the mileage is believed to be original. To put that figure into context, this coupe has covered an annual average of less than 900 miles. We spot a few paint chips and a couple of scratches on the steering wheel, and the mudflaps that were included in the USGP Package are missing, but overall this Celica looks like it’s in excellent condition inside and out.
Power comes from a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine called 20R internally. It sends 90 horsepower and 122 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The transmission’s fifth gear was a big deal in 1980— enough to warrant adding a “5 SPEED” emblem to the back end.
Bidding currently stands at $10,000 with 11 days left in the auction.
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GM, particularly Olds offered a Borg Warner 5speed in 1976 ’77. I had a 260 V8 Olds powerd ’76 Ventura that disintegrated from Montreal rust back in the early ’80s. I still have another T5 trans from a rotted ’77 Cutlass scrapped in 1982 from rust. But the 5speed was replaced with a 4speed in the downsized ’79 G Body, and overdrive wouldn’t reappear for several years. Even the X body Citation et al didn’t get a 5speed in 1980. I have 2 5speed Chrysler V6 Mitsubishi LeBarons. Really rare @ 500 or so per year C1990 ’91
My only experience with an 80s Celica GT was in the late 80s, hitchhiking in Heidelberg, Germany; a U.S. soldier picked my buddy and me up in one and gave us a ride all the way to my door. It was a twisty road home and the guy really had fun working the gears – it was a good ride.
Less well known is that these A40 generation Celicas were designed by ArtCenter College of Design grad David Stollery.
Stollery is also remembered as a child actor in films and television, particularly on the 1950s Mickey Mouse Club program’s, “Spin and Marty” miniseries.
His co-star on “Spin and Marty” was the late automotive historian, Tim Considine.
Fun cars. The car that would birth the Supra later on.
The Celica generation EVERYONE has forgotten about.
In period I read it was styled by their new California studio, it was certainly a clean design, A break from the first gen with its (occasionally) fussy details (especially the fastback).
Gen 2 must not have been a big hit internationally because the third generation which debuted in 1982, featured all sorts of “surface excitement”* details which cluttered up the design. If you don’t believe me, look at the unnecessary fairings on the rear side marker lights. Why?
* Car and Driver had a feature which attributed that styling to the fact in Japan, because of congestion, one often didn’t see a car from a distance so little styling features were done to make the car memorable.
My father had a metallic brown Celica of that era. Its appearance (at least to me) was that of a large, mechanized cockroach.