The Bushido code, an ancient set of principles that Japanese samurai lived by. These were also considered to be the virtues of a true warrior, a mark of chivalry. A set of moral values that many Japanese samurai lived by, the code requires one to be disciplined through the ways of wisdom and serenity in order to be a true warrior, a samurai nonetheless. Even as the threat of death, humiliation and defeat stand before the warrior, the Bushido code reminds him not to be fearful of death. Wielding his god-sent weapon, a gleaming katana that carries the warrior’s honor and his dignifid ancestry, the said samurai charges through the carnage and horror of a feudal battlefild to uphold his beliefs and bloody legacy.

In modern and less brutish times, a handful of “modern day samurai” still exist amongst our ranks of common automotive folk. These are the “old school”, who refuse to abandon their set of wheels, even amongst massive tech-equipped wheeled robots that we call modern-day cars. REV gets the rare, once-ina-lifetime opportunity to polish the sands of time off a true Japanese classic… The origins of one of Toyota’s most prolifi models was fist cast in stone in the 1970s. During the era where “American Muscle” designs thrived, Toyota gave the world a glimpse of what it was capable of creating, a proud, sporty coupe that is uniquely Toyota’s. By the blessing and tides of time, did they get it right. The world cheered as the Japanese automotive giant unveiled its offering to the masses; the Toyota Celica, sculpted from the strong inflences of Western designs.

Before the age of electronic fuel injection and wizardry, the early Celica ancestor was powered by naturally aspirated engines that were carburetorfed. Mechanically controlled in nature, these were unrefied mechanics that many hated; and loved, for their somewhat ineffiient combustion process but awesome masculine growls. This was extremely fiting for its time, but in the modern-day of tech-wiz, the kindred sense of appreciation gradually wore out, as these timepieces were slowly replaced and scrapped. It was not long before they almost seemingly vanished out of sight and sound… until now. Keen to lay hands on the cold skin of Chris’s Toyota Celica than entertaining his handshake, only our nervous guts kept us from explicitly molesting it. Chris has had this sweet Celica GT for quite a while now. Given his age, REV is pretty sure he isn’t its fist owner.

However, his love for nostalgic Japanese cars has already taken him high on the pedestals of automotive enthusiasts. Not only was sprucing it up a tough process, it also took pains to gather the necessary tuning parts to truly give it a special touch. The heartbreaker, an original Toyota 4-cylinder 1594cc 2T-G, gets exquisite treatment from Japan, all air-flwn into our sunny island. Gaining a wealth of knowledge from the many hours spent browing classic car-relevant information online and from specifi nostalgic car magazines, Chris set his heart on a set of special pistons from HKS. You heard us right, HKS; the maker of great Japanese automotive tuning parts made pistons for the 2T-G Celica engine that helps increase engine reliability should he choose to take it for a spirited drive.

Matching the tuned engine’s state is another welcomed addition; twin sidedraft 40mm Mikuni-SolePHH carburetors that not only provided more accurate and increased airflw into the engine, but also put a sense of nostalgia; the warming and joyful sounds of a carburetor-engine. For the purpose of channeling much needed airflw, URS Power 45mm air funnels were installed, also for the additional purpose of providing visual eye-candy in the engine bay. To ensure constant and steady spark amperage for complete combustion, a set of new NGK spark plug cables replaced the old, aged stock cables.

As rusty and worn as exhaust headers would become after the effects of time and weather, Chris had this specially indented Kameari 4-1 drag header legally approved for the Celica, giving it that raspy “braaaaap” sound as the Mikuni carburetors breathe life into the engine. To take care of excessive oil vapours, a Cusco oil catch tank was installed to vent the fumes out. It isn’t hard to fiure out that Chris’s Celica’s ride height has been tampered with. The fact that the coupe sits gracefully at its present ride height is all thanks to a set of Zoom Super Down Force C 70mm lowering springs that replace the taller and softer stock absorber springs for a lowered driving position for playful cornering teases. This has been carefully picked by Chris to ensure that the Celica has no issues with entering car parks or attempting sloperelated maneuvers. For the purpose of stabilising the front end, a rare Cusco front strut bar was installed, alongside the additional purpose of adding engine bay “bling” to the ravishing 2T-G engine.

Adding to the exotic splendour of such a Japanese beauty is another specially indented product; a set of exquisite 14” RS Watanabe wheels that provide a correct, period outlook to the Celica. Taking  into consideration that past Celicas were once rear-wheel driven, the rear wheel pair was specifially ordered in R-Type 8Js for befiting fiment, while the front gets A-Type 7.5Js. All four wheels get tightened with matching nuts and wear capable Toyo Proxes T1R tyres for all-weather conditions, enough for Chris to entrust his ride onto. A complete the outlook of a muscled Japanese machine, a TRD styled front chin was installed with a matching rear duck-tailed spoiler.

Subtly classic, we’d say. The interior has been tickled with a drib-drab of various trinkets of automotive love; from Japanese stickers to teasing decals and oh, teasing items that only Chris would grin from ear-to-ear about. Although mostly stock, much of the cabin has been painstakingly restored, if not maintained as immaculate as possible, a hallmark of Chris’s dedication to his set of wheels. As with all almost-extinct breeds of classic exotics in Singapore, great care and unbelievable ends were undertaken by their respective owners to give future generations of Singapore automotive enthusiasts a glimpse of what the early decades of engineering marvels and pioneers had to offer. REV is absolutely sure that Chris’s timeless Toyota Celica is one that gets an equal amount of  head-turning alongside present day performance machines. Live on Celica GT!

Toyota Celica 1600 GT

Engine
HKS Special Pistons Set (85.3mm), Twin Sidedraft 40mm Mikuni-Solex PHH Carburetors, URS Power 45mm Air Funnels, Kameari 4-1 Drag Header, NGK Spark Plug Cable Set, Cusco Oil Catch Tank

Undercarriage
Cusco Front Strut Bar, Zoom Super Down Force C 70mm Lowering Springs 200kgf/ mm2, 14” RS Watanabe Wheels (F: A-Type 7.5J, R: R-Type 8J), Toyo Proxes T1R Tyres

Exterior
TRD-Style Chin, TRD Rear Spoiler