I was disappointed when the Celica name ceased to exist after the 2005 model year, making it's run a total of 35 years, or about 10 years longer than the MX-5. Wouldn't it be terrible if the MX-5 gets axed in 2026? Well, let's get to the specs.
Toyota Celica 1600GT (TA22) '70
1.6L
114 hp / 6,500 rpm
105 ft-lb / 5,000 rpm
940 kg (2,072 lbs)
348 pp
I'm loving the low curb weight and call me a fanboy but I prefer 60s and 70s Japanese cars over their American counterparts.
Maximum speed on track: 106 mph
Minimum speed through Turn 1: 68 mph
Cars within 0.500 seconds:
1:36.549 - 364 - Daihatsu Storia X4 '00
1:36.627 - 339 - Nissan Exa Canopy L.A.Version Type S '88
1:36.652 - 349 - Fiat Punto HGT Abarth '00
1:36.668 - 338 - Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale '63
1:36.669 - 348 - Peugeot 106 Rallye '03
1:36.723 - 342 - Isuzu 117Coupé '68
1:36.839 - 349 - Isuzu Piazza XE '81
1:36.842 - 348 - Toyota Celica 1600GT (TA22) '70
1:36.918 - 343 - Mini Cooper '02
1:36.918 - 344 - Renault R8 Gordini '66
1:37.019 - 347 - Isuzu Bellett 1600 GT-R '69
1:37.168 - 352 - Peugeot 307 CC Premium AVN '04
1:37.215 - 351 - Mitsubishi Galant GTO MR '70
1:37.284 - 342 - Toyota Vitz RS 1.5 '00
Lots of Japanese classics finishing within mere tenths of a second of each other. I found the Isuzu 117 to actually be faster around Mid-Field than the Bellett GT-R. Might need to revisit those at some point.
A wild Galant appears! With popular acronyms like GTO in its name, and MR which has been in use even as recently as the sadly-deceased Lancer Evolution. Anyhow, it comes within 4 tenths of the Celica. Just 4. They are perfect rivals.
Both cars have 1.6L engines, and the Galant makes 9 more horses at 7,000 rpm than the Celica does at 6,500 rpm. Torque stays equal at 105 ft-lbs but the Galant is heavier, by 40 kg (88 lbs.) In other words, it's a close call.
Compared with American muscle cars that are many seconds quicker around Mid-Field than the Celica, it's easy to dismiss it as a beater, but if I were in high school in Japan in the late 70s or whatever, I'd definitely take a hard look at the Celica.