✦ Shifty Estimate
$6,300
- all time median
- $7K
- Sales, all time
- 20
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1978 Toyota Celica
1978 to 1981 · Coupe
Price history
Recent sales
20 sales
1978 · White (030) · 70,000 mi2025-11-16 · Gkonny07$4,100
1978 · Blue · 83,000 mi · manual2025-07-05 · Kurt_S$8,400
1980 · Red · 39,279 mi · manual2025-03-31 · Donnie_Gould$26,055
1980 · White · 58,000 mi · manual2024-09-06 · nucleardreamer$9,960
1978 · Gray · 64,000 mi · manual2024-01-29 · Tdaley22$8,100
1979 · White · 57,000 mi · manual2023-10-23 · Jline78$6,000
1979 · Brown · 40,000 mi · automatic2023-08-23 · markbenas$7,300
1980 · Red · 60,000 mi2023-05-21 · andce$7,300
1980 · Beige · 97,000 mi · automatic2022-08-28 · FOXYREEF$12,750
1980 · Gray · 61,000 mi · manual2022-07-21 · Grahamtna$10,500
1981 · Orange · 25,000 mi · manual2022-05-27 · Lupin123$16,000
1981 · Blue · 72,600 mi · automatic2022-03-11 · PhilipT$7,400
1979 · Blue · 39,000 mi · automatic2021-10-29 · BrianGibson79Celica$6,000
1978 · Orange · 31,000 mi · manual2021-10-16 · Tom_R.$12,250
1981 · White · 96,000 mi · manual2021-06-03 · danielh2021$3,500
1981 · Gray · 75,000 mi · manual2020-08-18 · justinbsc$5,700
1978 · Yellow · 11,000 mi · manual2020-05-12 · Eurasia_Motorwerks$4,322
1980 · Copper · 27,000 mi · manual2019-11-29 · pinmaniac$5,500
1978 · Orange · 25,000 mi · manual2019-05-08 · rotationalweight$7,500
1980 · Gray · 58,000 mi · manual2019-04-26 · rpm7000$12,000
Specifications
- Engine
- Inline-4, 2.2L
- Power
- 96 hp
- Torque
- 120 lb-ft
- Transmission
- Manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD
Common questions
How much does a Toyota Celica cost?
Across every sale we have on file, 20 have sold publicly at a median of $7,450. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $6,300. Cars have changed hands anywhere from $4,530 to $7,970, depending on mileage, color, and history.
What is a 1978 Toyota Celica worth today?
The Shifty Estimate is $6,300. That sits below the $7,450 median of actual sales because the estimate weights the most recent results most heavily, and recent sales have come in under the longer-run median. We rate confidence medium: 20 public sales in a year is a thin market, and the spread between them is wide.
What has a Toyota Celica sold for at auction?
The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:
- $4,100Nov 16, 2025White (030) · 70,000 mi
- $8,400Jul 5, 2025Blue · 83,000 mi
- $26,055Mar 31, 2025Red · 39,279 mi
The second-generation Celica marked Toyota's serious entry into the sports car arena, trading the original's Mustang-inspired lines for crisp, angular styling that screamed '80s cool. Built on Toyota's rear-wheel-drive platform, these Celicas delivered genuine driving pleasure with their balanced chassis and responsive steering. The Base trim typically came with Toyota's reliable 2.2-liter 20R four-cylinder producing 96 horsepower, paired with either a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic. While not a powerhouse, the lightweight construction and near-perfect weight distribution made it a joy on twisty roads. Production spanned over 800,000 units globally, but clean, unmodified examples are increasingly rare. The '78-'81 generation represents the sweet spot before emissions strangled performance and before front-wheel drive arrived. Collectors appreciate these as the last true sports car Celicas, with values climbing steadily for pristine examples, especially rare factory options like the five-speed manual.