We track the market history of one of Japan's most sought-after collectables
Welcome to Market Watch. For several years now we’ve been doing quarterly value guides: Australian and USA muscle cars, Japanese classics, Aussie family cars, plus European and British classics. This time we have a look at the mighty Toyota Celica Not many years ago it was easy to find early Celicas in our market, with the majority being the ‘Mustang’-shaped Liftbacks. Numbers of available cars have been waning for a while and we suspect that is largely because current owners just do not want to sell.
When they do, $25-30,000 is the usual asking price and that is a lot less than the amounts being paid by mainly US-based collectors at Japanese auctions. Cars in the typical Australian price range are virtually non-existent and those in the A$30-40,000 range are sometimes rubbish. Sourcing a good early Celica from Japan can cost $40,000-plus and that doesn’t include freight or local charges.
| Buyer’s Guide: Toyota Celica RA40
Early-shape TA22 cars spent years being ignored and undervalued and are now very scarce. Where a rusty or damaged Liftback was probably saved from the crusher there is every chance a basic hardtop was not and they are now hard to find.
| 2019 Market Review: Toyota Celica 1971-2004
(Note: price columns are for Condition 3, 2 and 1 cars, with the latter being very good original-spec examples with no work required.
I/D indicates insufficient sales data. Note the figures are based on verifiable sales.)
2018
| MODEL | YEARS | COND 3 | COND 2 | COND 1 |
| Celica LT1600 | 1971-75 | $5500 | $12,500 | $20,000 |
| Celica RA23 Coupe | 1975-78 | $7000 | $14,500 | $24,000 |
| Celica RA23 Liftback | 1976-77 | $9000 | $19,500 | $30,000 |
| Celica Coupe/Hatch | 1978-85 | $2000 | $4800 | $9000 |
| Celica ST/SX | 1986-89 | $1600 | $3500 | $6500 |
| Celica SX | 1990-94 | $1200 | $2800 | $5500 |
| Celica SX | 1995-99 | $1500 | $3700 | $7000 |
| Celica ZZR | 1999-04 | $2800 | $6000 | $10,000 |
| Celica GT-4 4WD | 1990-93 | $4000 | $9500 | $18,500 |
| Celica GT-4 Group A | 1994 | I/D | $32,000 | $50,000 |
| Celica Conv. | 1988-89 | $2500 | $5500 | $9000 |
| Celica Conv. | 1990-94 | I/D | $6500 | $11,000 |
2019
| MODEL | YEARS | COND 3 | COND 2 | COND 1 |
| Celica RA23 Coupe | 1975-78 | $7000 | $18,500 | $27,000 |
| Celica RA23 Liftback | 1976-77 | $9000 | $22,500 | $33,000 |
| Celica Coupe/Hatch | 1978-85 | $2000 | $5700 | $10,000 |
| Celica ST/SX | 1986-89 | $1600 | $3500 | $6500 |
| Celica SX | 1990-94 | $1200 | $2800 | $5500 |
| Celica SX | 1995-99 | $1500 | $3300 | $6000 |
| Celica ZZR | 1999-04 | $2000 | $4500 | $7500 |
| Celica GT-4 4WD | 1990-93 | $4000 | $9500 | $14,500 |
| Celica GT-4 Group A | 1994 | I/D | $32,000 | $50,000 |
| Celica Conv. | 1988-89 | $2500 | $5500 | $8000 |
| Celica Conv. | 1990-94 | I/D | $6500 | $10,000 |