SP Rides: She’s a Flawless Beauty
By Michael Kitchens
Name: Brian Mikami
Age: 59
Occupation: Self-employed Upholster
Hobbies: Restoration, body boarding, music
Year/Make/Model: 1972 Toyota Celica GT
Color: Honda Black
Engine Toyota 18R-G 1968cc DOHC inline-four, TRD Group 2 spec head, factory 40mm Solex carburettors, Techno Toy Tuning velocity stacks, Toysport headers, Magnaflow stainless steel muffler
Exterior TRD front chin spoiler, GT grille/emblems, Hella H4 headlights, shaved front side markers, front turn signals delete/JDM corner/park lenses and turn signals, rechromed bumpers and door handles, PPG Honda black color Interior
Interior: All original OEM equipment, white vinyl upholstery
Drivetrain: Toyota W50 5-speed gearbox, Toysport clutch cover and disc
Suspension: Toysport front coilovers, KYB gas shocks
Wheels/Tires/Brakes: Riverside Riverge 14×7.5-inch wheels, Yokohama ADVAN tires, Front disc brakes
Car lover Brian Mikami is not a fan of the age of disposable products. He loves old stuff — things you fix when they break or modify when you want them to work better. He’s owned several classic imports, including a Chevy Chevelle and a Nissan Datsun (which he was able to maintain for more than 20 years), but more recently has been smitten by a cherished ’71 Toyota Celica.
“Back then,” he says while reminiscing of the good old days, “cars were simpler. If you needed something, you could find it at a junkyard and fix it yourself.”
Brian is right though —times are different now. The junkyard is a relic of the past, and the majority of today’s transportation is maintained by dealerships and maintenance shops. Finding parts is extremely difficult if you own a classic car. That’s why he decided on having Toysport build the car of his dreams. Toysport is owned by Joel Luz, who had one of the most impressive lists of available parts for building a flawless machine such as this 1971 Toyota Celica GT. Brian wanted the car built to exact specifications, which resulted in a hefty price, but Joel was so enamored with the car that he went the extra mile to make it the best Celica he’s ever built.
After a two-year build and show circuit, the car was finally delivered into Brian’s appreciative hands. The car is absolutely exquisite. Most notable is the pristine body layered in Honda Black. A bit ironic, but Brian prefers the color to Toyota’s. The clean lines really show of that muscle car feel early this model was trying to grasp.
Brian prefers the ’70-’71 thanks to several features including the longer hood flutes, the one-tail light, the gas cap placement as well as the smiling front and rear bumpers. Gorgeous original emblems and fender mirrors grace the car while the front grill and headlights strike hard in the visual aspect.
This model features the Japan-only Toyota 18R-G, 1968cc DOHC inline-four, fitted with a TRD Group 2 spec head. Opening up the clamshell hood reveals an incredible display of engineering. This stunning example has been fitted with a bronze Techno Toy Tuning velocity stack, Toysport headers and factor 40mm Mikuni Solex carburetors. A Magnaflow stainless steel muffler handles exhaust duties. The engine really is quite stunning to say the least.
A Toyota W50 5-speed gearbox handles the shifts while a Toysport clutch cover and disc handles transferring the power to the bronze the Riverside Riverge 14×7.5 inch wheels. They’re fitted with Yokohama ADVAN tires, some of the best you can buy for an import of this style. Toysport font coilovers and KYB gas shocks dampen the ride for Brian.
The interior is fully restored and spec’d out in white vinyl. It’s all OEM original and in amazing shape. One could easily find themselves transported to a different time by getting just behind the wheel of this beauty.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then one look at this pristine Celica will have your jaw dropping like a stack of books. Brian really regretted selling his first Celica, so it’s understandable why he feels so blessed to have this car back in his life. The fact that it’s a flawless beauty is simply icing on the cake.
