Rising up with desires of turning into a automotive designer, the first-generation Toyota Celica coupé was one in every of my all-time favorite designs.
In actual fact, I nonetheless have an A3-sized drawing of a inexperienced Celica GT, full with over-fenders, stashed away someplace. However I don’t suppose my 10-year-old self may have ever imagined a construct fairly just like the 1976 Celica ‘GTV12,’ dropped at life by Shawn Bassett and his crew at Attacking The Clock Racing, and on show on the 2024 SEMA Present within the Toyo Treadpass.
Gone is the unique four-cylinder engine, changed by a surprising 1GZ-FE V12 from a Toyota Century. With billet rocker covers, particular person throttle our bodies, tubular exhaust manifolds, and a cultured CSF Race radiator, the setup appears like a valuable jewel set within the metallic inexperienced engine bay.
The transmission swap is simply as spectacular, with the Century’s torpid 4-speed auto changed by a ZF 8-speed from an A90 Supra. However that’s not all.
Peek inside, and also you’ll spot a sequential shift lever and a clutch pedal within the OBP adjustable pedal field. That’s as a result of the automated ZF transmission has been cleverly programmed to imitate the texture of a handbook gearbox, with digital ‘clutch management’ enhancing the sequential shifting functionality.
The suspension is equally bespoke, reworking this old-school mini-muscle automotive into one thing extra fashionable and agile. The entrance finish now runs S13 Nissan geometry, whereas the rear encompasses a customized pushrod association. The crew at Moton Suspension crafted a one-off setup for the Celica, full with inverted dampers and particular anodising to tie in with the inexperienced color scheme.
Talking of which, I have to admit, I’m a sucker for inexperienced on tan. The theme for the construct was to create a scorching rod utilizing as many Toyota components as doable, proper right down to the metallic British Racing Inexperienced paint borrowed from a special-edition JDM GT86. Rivet-less overfenders circulate into deep aspect skirts and a fair deeper chin spoiler, giving the little coupé unmistakable IMSA vibes.
The cherry on high is the set of BBS E55s wrapped in Toyo Proxes R888R tyres – a combo that will make any split-rim fanatic go weak on the knees.
The paint job is damaged up by customized ‘spread-tow’ carbon fibre accents, seen within the daring sq. weave sample.
Inside, it’s a sea of Lamborghini ‘Kela Brown’ leather-based and suede. The solar visors, roll bar, and steering wheel had been all expertly reworked by the trimmers at E3 Upholstery, as had been the carbon shell bucket seats fitted with Willans harnesses.
This occurs when a store specialising in Pikes Peak competitors vehicles is requested to do one thing extraordinary. And extraordinary this Celica is – a lot in order that it’s arms down my favorite Toyo Treadpass construct this yr.
Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn, mariochristou.world
mariochristou.world
Pictures by Darrien Craven
Instagram: _crvn_