1972 Toyota Celica

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Rust, and body parts hard to find All years Walk away if found

  What to check: Look at the sills, the trunk floor and the inner wings, and buy the most rust-free car on offer rather than a project.

  Collector Car Market calls rust the biggest issue, from thin steel that went fast in the salt belt, and says good body parts are hard to find. Goodwood warns that panels and spares are limited and that a dry-climate history does not rule rust out.

  Sources ^3,4

• Burnt valves on early engines All years

  What to check: Ask whether the head has been rebuilt, and listen for a misfire.

  Collector Car Market says early engines tended to burn valves until the head was reworked; Wikipedia calls the 8R and 18R less durable than the later 20R.

  Sources ^3,1

Recalls

• 78V017000 1972–1973

  The heater hoses may have been damaged when fitted, shortening their life. They are replaced.^5,6,7

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: 1971–1974 cars 1971–1974 One source so far

  Collector Car Market calls the 1971–1974 cars the best, and the 1974 GT with its 5-speed particularly attractive.³

• Sought after: Liftback All years One source so far

  Collector Car Market calls the 1976–1977 liftbacks desirable and, in its 2019 update, the most popular version.³

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.