Toyota Celica Facts for Kids

The last version of the Celica

The Toyota Celica was a cool sports car made by the Japanese company Toyota. It was known for its sporty look and fun driving experience. Toyota started making the Celica way back in 1970. They stopped selling it in 2005 because sales were a bit low. Another car, the Scion tC, took its place. Over its many years, the Celica changed a lot, with different designs and engines, but it always kept its sporty spirit.

What Made the Celica Special?
- Celica's Rally Racing History
Different Generations of the Celica
- First Generation (1970–1977)
- Later Generations (1978–2005)
Why Did Production Stop?
Images for kids
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What Made the Celica Special?

The Toyota Celica was popular for many reasons. It was a stylish car that looked fast even when standing still. It also offered good performance for its price, making it a favorite for people who wanted a sporty car without spending too much.

Celica's Rally Racing History

The Celica wasn't just a car for the road; it was also a champion in rallying. Rally racing is a tough sport where cars race on different surfaces like dirt, gravel, and snow. Toyota used special versions of the Celica, called the GT-Four, to compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC). These cars were incredibly powerful and helped Toyota win many races and championships. This racing success made the Celica even more famous and showed how tough and capable it was.

Different Generations of the Celica

Over its 35-year history, the Toyota Celica went through seven main design changes, known as "generations." Each generation brought new looks, improved technology, and different engines.

First Generation (1970–1977)

The very first Celica came out in 1970. It was inspired by American muscle cars but was smaller and more fuel-efficient. It quickly became popular because it looked great and was fun to drive. You could get it as a coupe (a two-door car) or a liftback (a sporty car with a sloped back and a large rear hatch).

Later Generations (1978–2005)

As the years went by, the Celica continued to evolve.

The second generation (1978–1981) had a slightly more angular design.
The third generation (1981–1985) introduced pop-up headlights, which were very popular at the time. This generation also saw the Celica become a rally superstar.
The fourth generation (1985–1989) was a big change. It became a front-wheel drive car, meaning the engine powered the front wheels. This made it more stable and easier to drive for many people. This is also when the famous GT-Four model, with all-wheel drive and a turbocharger, became a rally legend.
The fifth generation (1989–1993) had a smoother, more rounded shape. The GT-Four continued its rally success.
The sixth generation (1993–1999) kept the rounded look and brought back the four round headlights. It was still a strong performer.
The seventh and final generation (1999–2005) had a sharp, futuristic design. It was lighter and more agile than previous models, focusing on a fun driving experience.

Why Did Production Stop?

Even though the Celica was a beloved car, its sales started to slow down in the early 2000s. People were buying more SUVs and different types of cars. Because of this, Toyota decided to stop making the Celica in 2005. It was a sad day for many car fans, but the Celica left behind a great legacy as a sporty and exciting car.

Images for kids

Toyota Celica coupe 1600 GT (TA22, Japan)
1973 Toyota Celica Liftback 2000 GT (RA25, Japan)
1976 Toyota Celica coupe GT (RA24, US). Notice the bigger bumpers, required by US law.
1976 Toyota Celica Liftback 2000 ST (RA28, UK)
1971 Red GT Toyota Celica, a show winner at the Australian Motorclassica Concours d’elegance
1978–1979 Toyota Celica Liftback GT (RA42, US)
1979 Toyota Celica XX 2000G (Japan)
Toyota Celica Camry (Japan)
The facelift model Toyota Celica Coupe 1600 GT-R (AA63, Japan)
Juha Kankkunen's 1985 Toyota Celica TwinCam Turbo (TA64) Group B rally car
1986 Toyota Celica GT coupé (ST161, US)
1985–1987 Toyota Celica 2.0 SX Liftback (ST162, Australia)
1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo (ST165, US)
Pre-facelift Toyota Celica 1.6 ST notchback coupe (AT180, US)
Pre-facelift Toyota Celica SX Liftback (ST184, Australia)
Pre-facelift Toyota Celica 4WS Convertible (ST183, Japan)
Facelift Toyota Celica 2.2 SX Liftback (ST184R, Australia)
1992 Toyota Celica GT-Four Carlos Sainz Limited Edition (ST185, UK)
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST205, United Kingdom)
Facelift Toyota Celica GT convertible (ST204, US)
Facelift Toyota Celica SX Liftback (ST204, Australia)
Toyota Celica SS-I (ZZT230, Japan)
The facelift model Toyota Celica SS-I (ZZT230, Japan)
Toyota Celica GT (ZZT231, UK)
Pre-facelift Toyota Celica 1.8 VVTL-i SX (ZZT231, Australia)
Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST165) Group A rally car, 1990 Safari Rally winner.
Toyota Celica at 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed
1981 Toyota Celica coupé 1600 ST (TA40, Europe)
1981 Toyota Celica SunChaser cabriolet (TA40, Europe)
1979–1981 Toyota Celica Liftback 2000 LT (RA40, Australia)
1979–1981 Toyota Celica Liftback 2000 LT (RA40, Australia)