'77 Celical Liftback cheap street

[wisdonm]

This '77 Toyota Celica Liftback cheap street racer was built by Bruce Rowell of Surfer's Paradise, Australia in 1992. Bruce was a welder by trade, a surfer on the weekends, but at night he ran with the street racers. Bruce had this tired old Celica that he had been driving for almost ten years. He had an idea to convert this car into a cheap street racer. He just needed the right donor car. One day at the beach he saw the perfect donor car and it had a FOR SALE sign on it. There wasn't much left of the body. Too many years of hauling surf boards up and down the salt water beaches took it's toll. But it had potential. Bruce found the owner and a deal was made. It was his for the sum of $450 Aus.

The next day Bruce picked up his new 1970 Lincoln Mk III. The Lincoln ran reasonably well. It would soon run better, Bruce thought to himself. The Mk III was a gold mine of street racing parts. There was the 460 cubic inch engine with 10.5:1 compression. A Ford C6 three speed automatic transmission, a large crossflow radiator, and a practically unbreakable Ford 9" rear end. In stock condition the engine made 365 HP and 500 Ft. Lbs. of torque. All that was needed was a Holley 750 double pumper carb, a new intake manifold, and cam. The Mk III weighed over 5,200 lbs and ran the 1/4 mile in 15.5 seconds at 89.1 mph. Bruce wondered what it would run in a car half the weight.

Bruce and his mates were surprised at how easily the V8 fit into a space that had been occupied by a four. They shortened the drive shaft, narrowed the rear end, and made a new rear suspension with adjustable air shocks to get just the right stance. Finally they got some free used racing tires for the back.

Bruce's friend Peter sprayed a new coat of silver paint. He then astonished them all with a new style of flames he had seen that look like the hood power bulge is on fire.

When it was all finished Bruce and Peter waited till 9:30 pm on a Friday night for it's maiden run....

[Erik Smith]

That's pretty cool. Love those "Lil' Mustangs".

[LAone]

ooooh, top notch work. that is a street bruiser for sure. light chassis, rwd and big power= what the heck just hit me..lols

[RodneyBad]

Very Cool Looking Celica.

Not gonna make any Toyota fans very happy tho

[stewart]

That is a sweet build. Very nice exhaust system. Those glasspacks look great.

STewart

[Jocache83]

ill be building a 77' celica soon. awsome build!

[crazyjim]

A little Celica with a big Lincoln engine - how cool.

[seeker589]

I Love it!

[wisdonm]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I walked into our Toyota dealership in the fall of '76 and announced that "I needed a winter car". My daily driver was an Austin Healey Arkley.

I ordered a 5-speed silver with black '77 Celica Liftback GT SR-5. I had thought about putting a small block Ford in it. I kept it ten years. I lowered it the first day I had it, installed aluminum wheels, and painted it black after seven years, but never did install that V-8.

Edited April 29, 2011 by wisdonm

[CEKPETHO BCE]

This is amazing

[Casey]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I walked into our Toyota dealership in the fall of '76 and announced that "I needed a winter car". My daily driver was an Austin Healey Arkley.

I ordered a 5-speed silver with black '77 Celica Liftback GT SR-5. I had thought about putting a small block Ford in it. I kept it ten years. I lowered it the first day I had it, installed aluminum wheels, and painted it black after seven years, but never did install that V-8.

I wonder if you and my Dad bumped into each other. He ordered the same car, then had it painted black in '87 or so. I bet you remember the "ESP" was pretty much worthless.

[Danno]

Whoa!

Wicked nice ride.

[wisdonm]

The EPS had a cool factor, considering it wasn't digital. A lot of cars have copied parts of it. It was the first car I had with an overhead console also.

[Adam deCoste]

I like it!! im going to have to get of thosse kits some time so i can make a replica of my 76 celica coupe.

[Tonioseven]

Excellent build!! I dig it!!

[Flatearthman]

Way cool build. like the cherry bombs