I live in Japan, and when I just had to have a Celica convertible there was a long waiting list--pay now and wait. I talked to an auto broker, and he was able get me a display car from Yokohama, one of the first G6 Celica convertibles built, and they delivered it to my house a few days later, with about 100 miles on it, most of that from Yohohama to my house.

I keep it in top shape, because there is no other car I've seen at any price that I'd rather have. Just when I was going to buy another one like it new, the G7 came out. Anyway, it doesn't get a lot of miles on it, because we normally use trains in Japan to go any distance.

Unlike the U.S. versions, this car came with a 200-hp inline 4, available only with manual. And, of course, it's right-hand drive.

I had no idea there was such a thing as a G6 Celica forum or that the GT-Four wasn't sold outside Japan.

From my wife's Web site:

welcomes, and the GT4 was sold outside Japan, just not in the United States

Welcome Welcome!!
Glad to have you with us.

Yeah, GT4 was never sold to the U.S; so we spend all of our time and money converting our GT's into GT-4s lol!!

Hey, so if your in japan, can you score me a gt-4 or atleast find a place that sell's em? (i've got an idea that'll piss a few people off )

welcome!!
i think you will be of great help in this forum!! jejeje
as you can see,,, there is your first costumer !!

>


Actually, we have an inspection-certification system here in Japan, and G6 Celicas that people want to keep have to be brought up to code every three years. When the inspection runs out some people try to give their old cars away to friends, but there are few takers. And a used car can't be exported unless it has at least three months left on its certification.

So Russian sailors on shore leave in Japan were buying cars with just over three months before forced retirement to the junk yard, getting them shipped free to Russia, and selling them at a profit. The Russian government passed a law about right-hand drive to counteract that. So I don't know if that still goes on. Some Japanese wholesalers ship a lot of good used cars to New Zealand and Australia, which is said to be very profitable.

But there are some cheap GT-Fours here, probably high-milers, though.

you should help import things

High miles are fine; I'll just be doing conversions anywayz!!

Glad to know you know so much about the laws too!!

Do you know of anyone who can do exporting?

Welcome and why didn't you pick up a gt-four for yourself?

>

Because he's buying ME one...

This post has been edited by D-Man: Feb 26, 2008 - 2:35 PM

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Well, I used to have a used-car lot in California, but I've lived in Japan since '86 and really don't know much about the car business anymore. I don't even do repairs now. The last car I got rid of when moving here was a '69 Trans Am, white with blue convertible top, a pretty rare bird. I hated leaving that behind.

My wife smashed up the front left corner a few months ago, and I suggested replacing the whole front end with one from a junked GT-Four. It would have looked cool to me, at least. I assume it would fit. But she said she didn't like that and wanted to keep it stock. She took it to the body shop. I didn't have time to go with her. So it's still stock but with a complete new paint job.

The '70 Celica was the first Japanese car I really liked, actually, other than the Toyota GT.

Actually it would have fit; amongst trim model the fenders would vary; but the hood and the front bumper is the same amongst all 6g's i believe.

Can you just find an engine? i need turbo parts!! lol. (And know guys who need body parts)

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The fenders never varied amongst trim level for the 6gc.

You guys got me looking around the Web for info about the GT-Four, even though I've got the 31-page brochure from 1995 handy. I found a Japanese Web site offering a custom GT-Four hood for $1,200 and nose for $750.

http://www.c-one.co.jp/C-ONEPARTS/gtfour.html


And this Web site in English of a speciality exporter of used cars from Japan:
http://www.japan-partner.com/Auto/3658/Toy...r-for-sale.html

If you have a spare jap license plate let me know. .

geeze the guy just joined to say hi and it's like flies on, well, you know what... Where's your manners, guys!?

Hi LCars, welcome to the site... it's got a TON of useful info, a reasonable amount of useless but fun stuff, and a lot of great people. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It really is a great community.

wercome -lol jk I mean welcome. Yeah, you are lucky you all get the coolest cars out there. I envy you! Except for the fact that the women don't shave (keeping it rated G, you figure it out). LOL

-_- ^

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I thought that was in France. But I'm sure they are caught up to date with us freaks in the states.

>


In France, it maybe be everywhere, but in Japan, you may want to look lower (I love saying things like that, it makes me feel like the Cheshire Cat.)

>


x2



Welcome friend to the sh*t hole....nah im jk, ive only been on wow, i think maybe a month and everyones right nice, one of the nicest forums i've been on! U need any help, advice or want to show off some pics of the ride thats what were here for!

And if I ever need anything from you, I wont hesitate to ask

Hahahhahaah~

Oh, i suppose you I'd help ya too Of course i would.

did some one say "I live in JAPAN"

This post has been edited by toyocelic: Feb 27, 2008 - 2:47 PM

Yeah, since 1986, San Francisco before that.

I was surprised to stumble across a forum dedicated to the G6 Celica. I'm keeping the convertible I bought new. I would have bought another if they had continued making them, but instead I'm making this one last. It doesn't have a lot of miles on it, because we use trains to go any distance here, and the station is only about a mile away.

The Curren was pretty popular here. I guess they've stopped making that, too.

The overall length of 177 inches is an important point in favor of the Celica for me, since there are some really narrow streets and tight corners here, with turns you couldn't even make in a DB9 or Jag XK, not that I'd buy something that expensive for the little bit of driving I do, anyway.

I do hope they bring the Celica back! Until then, this one's getting the best of maintenance.

This post has been edited by LCARS_24: Feb 28, 2008 - 6:24 AM

any pics of the car?

It is ironic, b/c this car is made in Japan, yet we rarely have anyone that actually is from or lives in Japan post on here. I'm sure it is mostly b/c the Japanese owners have a language barrier if they come on the site.

So, are you Japanese? What do you do in Japan (job)? What has kept you there all these years, if you are not Japanese?

Welcome!

>


I asked my wife if she had any digital pix of the car. No. It looks the same as the U.S. models, except for the orange reflector in front of the front wheelwell. It's shorter, higher, and aft of the wheelwell on all cars in Japan, even imports. The engine is different, too: 200 hp stock. The model years are differnent here, too, even for imported used cars, some of which get a change of model year when registered here.

I work at home for various Japanese clients, doing technical/scientific writing, editing, whatever they need. And the reason for living in Japan? My wife is Japanese, and it's a safer place for my daughters. No guns, muggers, etc. We also have some English classes at home for neighbors. My wife teaches most of them.

We never had the G6 Celica coupe here in Japan. Like the convertible, that's a Curren with a Celica front end and nameplates. And the Curren was an obvious copy of the DB7 (except for the front end), shorter in overall length but with some rear leg room (the rear seats of a DB7 are for teddy bears). It becomes more obvious if you compare a Celica convertible against a DB7 Volante. But lucky for me, it's a great-looking car.

As a hobby, I made an alternative computer system, very different, from Windows, not well known but loved by the few thousand people who have it installed. More would like to have it but don't have a spare computer to put it on.

Here's a screenshot gallery:
http://www.startrek4u.com/index.php?page_id=12

Now, what's with the rumors about a G8 Celica in development????

This post has been edited by LCARS_24: Feb 29, 2008 - 3:05 AM

By the way, have you guys heard of a car company in Japan called Mitsuoka? They buy cars from Nissan and transform them to look like British classics, mostly. One model is a convincing but fake Rolls-Royce, and their most popular model the Mitsuoka Viewt (made from a Nissan March) looks like a '50s Jaguar sedan. I've seen lots of those on the street.

Then, there's the Mitsuoka Orochi:

You seem like a nice guy but I really envy you and your GT4!

Uw if only they sold those in North AMerica as well. But as of next year, I can legally import one since an import car has to be 15 years old to come into Canada. As of the past year we have been getting boat loads of R32 skylines from over there.

And that Mitsuoka Orochi looks really nice as well. You guys always get better things.

>

Not a GT-Four, but I might buy one if I needed a second car. Mine's a convertible, with 47,000 miles on it.

Canada certainly has better roads for such cars than Japan. By the way, I remember the "Cheviacs" (Canadian-made Chevrolets with Ponitac styling parts) and "Plodges" (half Dodge, half Plymouth cars made in Windsor).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Pathfinder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Parisienne
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plodge

This post has been edited by LCARS_24: Feb 29, 2008 - 10:49 PM