Celica glossary

Body and chassis

Liftback

A body style with a sloping rear hatch that opens together with the rear window. The 7th-generation Celica was offered only as a liftback. More →

Coupé

A two-door body with a separate boot lid. In Japan the first three Celica generations were sold as coupés. More →

Convertible

A soft-top version. The 2nd-generation Sunchaser was built by Tropic; from the 4th generation, Toyota sold convertibles converted by ASC in the US. More →

Model code

Toyota's code for a model version, such as RA63, ST165 or ZZT231, also called the chassis code. Each generation also has a short series code, such as A60 or T160. Codes help you find the right parts. More →

ZZT230 / ZZT231

Chassis codes of the 7th generation: ZZT230 with the 1ZZ-FE engine, ZZT231 with the 2ZZ-GE. More →

Drivetrain and engines

Rear-wheel drive (FR)

Engine at the front, driven wheels at the back. The first three Celica generations used this layout. More →

Front-wheel drive (FF)

Engine and driven wheels at the front. The Celica switched to it in August 1985. More →

All-wheel drive (AWD)

All four wheels are driven. On the Celica only the GT-Four versions had it. More →

1ZZ-FE

The 1.8-litre four-cylinder in the 7th-generation base models, such as the Japanese SS-I. More →

2ZZ-GE

The higher-revving 1.8-litre four-cylinder in the sportier 7th-generation versions, such as the Japanese SS-II and the North American GT-S. More →

VVTL-i

Toyota's variable valve timing and lift on the 2ZZ-GE. At high revs it switches to a second, more aggressive cam profile: the “lift”. More →

Rocker shaft

The shaft that carries the rocker arms in the valve train. A rocker-shaft bolt that can separate on the 2ZZ-GE is the subject of Toyota bulletin EG010-03. More →

Service bulletin (TSB)

A technical note from the manufacturer to its workshops about a known issue and its fix, such as Toyota's EG010-03. More →

Rally

GT-Four

The four-wheel-drive Celica built for rallying, from the 4th to the 6th generation: ST165, ST185 and ST205. More →

ST165

The first GT-Four, from the 4th generation, launched in Japan in October 1986. More →

ST185

The 5th-generation GT-Four, with a 225 PS turbo engine in Japan. More →

ST205

The 6th-generation GT-Four, launched in February 1994. More →

WRC

The FIA World Rally Championship, where the GT-Four won drivers' and manufacturers' titles. More →

Group B

A rally category of the 1980s. Toyota built 200 Celica GT-TS cars to homologate the 3rd generation for it; the rally car is known as the TA64. More →

Homologation

Approval of a car for a racing class. Rally rules required road cars to be built in a minimum number: Toyota built 5,000 GT-Four RC cars in 1992. More →

Markets

JDM

Japanese domestic market: versions built and sold for Japan, such as the 7th-generation SS-I and SS-II. More →

Celica Supra

A six-cylinder model sold under the Celica name before the Supra became a separate model. In Europe the 3rd generation included a Celica Supra 2.8i. More →

Sunchaser

The 2nd-generation convertible, built by the coachbuilder Tropic. More →

23 terms. The facts behind them are on the linked pages, with sources. A term is missing? Write to hello@liftbacklegends.com.