- Once upon a time, the Supra was a trim level for the Celica.
- The breed started out with inline-six-cylinder power, chosen for its perfectly balanced smoothness rather than raw output.
- In this first-generation example, that six is backed up by a manual gearbox, and the car has just been treated to plenty of engine reconditioning.
A car that’s a Celica and a Supra? You bet: Long before Paul Walker hauled a wrecked Toyota over to Vin Diesel’s garage to be rebuilt as a drag-racing superweapon, the Supra was just a trim level for the Celica coupe. It wasn’t so much about speed, but about the refinement of six-cylinder power—a Celica, but a super version.
This 1981 Toyota Celica Supra is gliding into view over at Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos). The Celica Supra marks the start of the Supra legend and was a big grand tourer with polished manners. It also just happens to be a match for current Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s first car, called the Celica XX in its home market. A Toyota good enough for Japan’s Margaret Thatcher? That’s an iron-block lady.
