Generations

Seven Toyota Celica generations, 1970–2006

From the rear-wheel-drive coupé of 1970 to the front-wheel-drive liftback that left the line in April 2006: what changed from one generation to the next.

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1st1970–1977Coupé, then liftback · rear-wheel drive2nd1977–1981Coupé and liftback · rear-wheel drive3rd1981–1985Coupé and liftback · last rear-drive Celica4th1985–1989Front-wheel drive · first GT-Four5th1989–1993GT-Four ST185 · World Rally titles6th1993–1999GT-Four ST205 · liftback and convertible7th1999–2006Liftback only · 1ZZ-FE and 2ZZ-GEGen 7 Garage →

At a glance

All generations in one table

Years, model codes, body styles and layout. Small numbers lead to the source; the generation pages have more detail.

GenerationYearsModel codesBody stylesLayout
1st1970–19771TA20, TA22 (coupé); RA25, TA27 (liftback)23Two-door hardtop coupé; three-door liftback from April 197323Front engine, rear-wheel drive1
2nd1977–19811RA40, TA42, TA41, TA404Coupé, liftback; Sunchaser convertible by Tropic41Front engine, rear-wheel drive1
3rd1981–19851RA63, SA60, TA63, TA615Notchback coupé, liftback5Front engine, rear-wheel drive6
4th1985–19891ST162, ST160, AT160; GT-Four ST16567Liftback (hatchback coupé); convertible from October 198768Front-wheel drive; GT-Four with full-time four-wheel drive67
5th1989–19931ST182, ST183; GT-Four ST1859Liftback; convertible from August 1990, converted by ASC in the US910Front-wheel drive; GT-Four with full-time four-wheel drive1112
6th1993–19991ST202, ST203; GT-Four ST20513Liftback (hatchback); convertible from September 199414Front-wheel drive; GT-Four with full-time four-wheel drive1516
7th1999–20061ZZT230 (1ZZ-FE), ZZT231 (2ZZ-GE)1718Liftback only117Front-wheel drive only1718

Sources

  1. CarScoops: Toyota Celica Turns 50, A Look Back At The Seven Generations Of The Japanese Sports Car (Cristian Gnaticov, 18 October 2020)
  2. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica, 1st generation (1970)
  3. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica Liftback, 1st generation (1973)
  4. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica Liftback, 2nd generation (1977)
  5. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica Liftback, 3rd generation (1981)
  6. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica Liftback, 4th generation (1985)
  7. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica GT-Four, 4th generation (1986)
  8. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica Convertible, 4th generation (1987)
  9. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica Liftback, 5th generation (1989)
  10. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica Convertible, 5th generation (1990)
  11. toyota.jp catalogue archive: Celica GT-R, 5-speed manual (September 1989 – August 1990)
  12. toyota.jp catalogue archive: Celica GT-FOUR (September 1989 – August 1990)
  13. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica GT-Four, 6th generation (1994)
  14. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica Liftback, 6th generation (1993)
  15. toyota.jp catalogue archive: Celica SS-II, 5-speed manual (October 1993 – August 1995)
  16. toyota.jp catalogue archive: Celica GT-FOUR (February 1994 – August 1995)
  17. Toyota, 75 Years Vehicle Lineage: Celica Liftback, 7th generation (1999)
  18. JDMBUYSELL: Toyota Celica T230 Buyer's Guide (Christopher Weydert, updated 11 October 2026)

Checked on 20 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to hello@liftbacklegends.com.

Compare

Put two Celicas side by side

Power, torque, weight, size and production of 40 versions, from the 1970 1600GT to the 2ZZ-GE SS-II. Every figure links to its source.

Quick picksThe three GT-FoursFirst and lastRear drive to front driveGT-Four in Japan and the UK5th gen: GT-R or GT-Four7th gen: SS-I or SS-IISS-II or T Sport

Open the comparison

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The 7th-gen Celica buyer's checklist

One page to take to a viewing: what to look at on a 1999–2006 Celica before you pay, with the known documented issues from our Gen 7 Garage table.

  • What to check on the car, the papers and the test drive
  • Documented issues with their sources
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