1985 Toyota Celica

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Stretched timing chain and broken guides 1983–1985 One source so far

  What to check: Listen for chain slap or a rattle from the front of the engine, and ask when the timing chain was last replaced.

  LCE Performance, which sells a conversion kit, says the 22R's single-row chain from 1983 on stretches, and that its plastic guides break and can let the chain wear through the timing cover or snap. It cites Toyota's advice to replace the chain every 80,000 miles.

  Sources ⁶

Rare catches

Rare options, colors and interiors to look out for, and whether finding one is good news.

• Rare GT-S convertible Package

  200 or 250 built for 1984, by different sources^3,5,2

Recalls

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: GT-S All years One source so far

  Two members of a Grassroots Motorsports thread on 1980s cars want a GT-S: one names an '85, and the other likes them, though he says people mark them down for being heavier than the Corolla.⁷

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.