1973 RA25 GT Celica Liftback

[river]

Hi,

Before the RA28 was exported to the world, the Japs had already made a 1st generation liftback, called the RA25.

It was manufacturered from 1973 to 1975.

It was built upon the long-nose JDM TA22 chassis. It had the long flat bonnet as the '22 and it had 5-lights per rear side (the RA28 had three).

It came in three flavours; namely the LT, ST and GT. The GT had the 210-head 18RG twin-cam engine, with twin dual-throat Solex side-draught carbs. It had a P51 close ration all-steel 5speed manual gearbox which was patented by ZF (Porsche) and used C-rings instead of synchro gears - as per the early-mid 70's Porsche gearboxs). It had a two-piece tail-shaft and fed into a 7.5inch 2-pinion F-series 3.909:1 LSD.

It had the GT interior trim, with overhead warning lights, power factory-tinted windows and air con.

In late 1973 one was imported by Toyota at the behest of AMI (Australian Motor Industries) for evaluation in the Australian market. The vehicle was tested for some time, but due to its high performance and lightwieght (due to lack of intrusion bars or other safety features) the vehicle was deemed to be in a high insurance category and plans to import this model were dropped.

The vehicle was used for a short time as the chariman of AMI personal transport and it was also taken to shows and demos. Then it was placed into storage for a number of years before being released to be sold (June 1982).

This particular vehicle also featured in the Wheels and Modern Motor Magazines in Jan 1974.

All those years ago I drove past the car yard. I saw the car. I bought the car - well, I actually traded in my tired TA22 LT for it. I've kept the RA25 ever since.

Except for the wheels, it is in full original JDM glory. I am getting a set of wheels to complete my restoration, where it will look like it just rolled out of the Toyota factory, despite being 32 years old. It has an original 130,000km on the clock, whcih isn't much for a car this old. All lights, swtiches, air con, windows still work as good as the day it was built.

Currently this is the only RA25 GT (model number is RA25-MQ-GG) in Australia that I know of. However, I know of someone who has recently purchased one in Japan and it should be in the country around Nov/Dec 2005. It has it's chrome bumpers painted and I am not sure how original it is. Rest assured, mine is full spec original and that is the full focus of my restoration. Also, there is an RA25 ST version in Brisbane, but it is undergoing a large restoration to bring it back to original.

Rather that fill this area with pic, here is the link. Enjoy.

seeyuzz

river

[river]

Hi,

Oops.. forgot the link.

http://www.classic-celica.com/modules.php?...=view_album.php

seeyuzz

river

[BLUEWIRE]

She looks sweet man....Not many aroud..I know there is one red one here in Adelaide.

Keep up the good work

Sean

[lucio_libre]

She looks sweet man....Not many aroud..I know there is one red one here in Adelaide.

Keep up the good work

Sean

Good stuff.....any plans on restoring it into mint condition?

[river]

Hi,

She looks sweet man....Not many aroud..I know there is one red one here in Adelaide.

Keep up the good work

Sean

Good stuff.....any plans on restoring it into mint condition?

Yes, she's going in for her final restoration in March. I think you'll find the red RA25 in Adelaide is an RA28 with RA25 rear lights. However, I could be mistaken and love to know more about it - if it is indeed a genuine RA25.

Here's a pic of it (circa Oct2005 Toyota Festival)

seeyuzz

river

Edited January 13, 2006 by river

[perthcamry]

That is a really nice car :-)

It's amazing how high tech some of the early Japanese cars were.

[Steve gee]

That is a really nice car :-)

It's amazing how high tech some of the early Japanese cars were.

Even more amazing was the bloody minded conservative AMI who said "We make these cars but don't expect them in Australia". I am the owner of the RT104GT with a roof mounted OK monitor that sensed all the lights, fluids and brake wear in the car. Not to mention an ***** kicking 18RG Toyota engine which would push the car to over 200 kph in 1976.

Toyota Australia still peddles the same old rhetoric about high performance cars. They sell enough pedestrian models to make a living. In my opinion (and I own one) the most overlooked Camry is the VZV21, all it needs is a 5 speed manual gearbox that would fit it and you would have an interesting pocket rocket narrow bodied beast. 4 w discs and good handling. Even with the auto it makes 200 kph and gets up there rapidly.

Edited August 6, 2006 by Steve gee

[69.NIX]

Love old-skool toyota's that have been restored (in fact any old car that has been restored properly)

nice paint job, I wanna inside tho! :D