At the Retrospective event by Revworks, I stumbled upon a Toyota Celica from 1984 that I had also spotted at Ultrace. While it wasn’t entirely new to me, it’s a car I know little about, simply because it’s the only one I’ve ever seen in person. This particular generation of the Celica GT Coupe was unfamiliar to me, just as it was to its current owner before he imported it from Germany. Gijs Spierings, a devoted enthusiast of 1980s cars, found this Celica in Germany and instantly fell in love with it.
In 2018, Gijs brought the car over and began a full restoration. But of course, the Celica wouldn’t be featured at Retrospective if it hadn’t been modified in some way. The most striking change is the addition of Advan A3E 3-piece wheels. These 14-inch wheels, with new barrels in 9 ET at the front and 10 ET at the rear, fit perfectly into the 1980s aesthetic.
The car has also been lowered, thanks to an Air Lift Performance 3P management system with a compressor and Seamless 5-gallon tank, along with custom OEM front struts and AirREX air springs built by StreetCustoms. To top it all off, Gijs added Auburn window louvers on the rear window and a front lip from a Toyota Cressida.
This Toyota Celica is a true blend of 1980s nostalgia and modern modifications, making it a standout at both Ultrace and Retrospective. It’s always a pleasure to be surprised by a model I knew little about, but with the right modifications, it has earned its place in my top 10 at Retrospective.
Owner; Gijs Spierings
