Welcome back! Today, we’re looking at a couple of sad, abused cars in desperate need of a good loving new home. These poor things have had a hard time of it, and both of them deserve better. Won’t you help?
But before we cue up the sad Sarah McLachlan song, let’s close the books on yesterday’s luxury cars. I had a feeling the Lincoln would win; Mark VIIs have historically done well here. And I agree: the “Gentleman’s Mustang” is an awfully nice car, and I don’t mind that this is the slower, flabbier Bill Blass model instead of the LSC.
But between these two, I’ll take the Caddy. It feels more honest, more straightforward. And I’m one of those weird people who actually really likes boxy cars.
I guess you could say I like a good underdog. I’ve always had a soft spot for things that need me – I can totally see why Charlie Brown chose that Christmas tree. Sometimes the underdogs I champion are literal, actual dogs – that’s my old dog Luna in the top image. She was a rescue, abused, scared of everything when we got her, but she latched on to me right away and ended up being a fantastic companion for years.
The point I’m trying to make – other than an excuse to show a cute dog – is that you shouldn’t count cars like these two out just because they’re ugly and abused. They might just surprise you. Let’s take a closer look.
1980 Toyota Celica Supra – $2,350
Engine/drivetrain: 2.8 liter overhead cam inline 6, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Odometer reading: 90,000 miles
Operational status: They claim it runs and drives
The Toyota Supra became a legend in later generations, but it all started here, with what was not much more than a Celica with a big nose. Under that elongated hood is a fuel-injected inline six in place of the Celica’s four-cylinder truck engine. The inline six became the Supra’s calling card, all the way up until the current generation, which is available with a four.
This Supra has only 90,000 miles on the odometer, but from the look of it, they’ve been hard miles. The seller says it runs and drives, but adds the unnecessary caveat that it’s “in project condition.” Yeah, we can tell. But it’s got the right transmission: a five-speed manual. And if you can at least limp it home, that’s half the battle right there.
The inside is a mess: cheap aftermarket steering wheel, power leather seats of undisclosed origin that don’t even look like they’re bolted down, and a dashboard that’s more cracks than good vinyl. And I don’t even know what to make of that rat’s nest of wires under the steering column. Here’s hoping the seller actually has the title, and the right to sell it.
You may have guessed this, but purple was not an original color choice on the 1980 Supra. It looks like this car was originally silver, though some parts came from a blue car. At least it’s reasonably straight. Those hideous wheels will have to go, of course.
1991 Honda Civic Si – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6 liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Ontario, CA
Odometer reading: 230,000 miles
Operational status: Has massive oil leak, not drivable
Here we have a car that may have suffered more greatly than any other from the whole “tuner” craze: the fourth-generation Honda Civic, in two-door hatchback form. Countless Civic hatchbacks of all trim levels were mercilessly modified and trashed in an effort to make them faster and/or more furious, to the point where there are almost none left. This started out as an Si model, the most desirable version, then and now.
The beauty of the fourth-gen Civic Si was a suspension system that punched well above its weight, combined with a revvy four-cylinder engine and a five-speed stick, and not a whole lot else. It had a purity and a straightforwardness that just doesn’t exist anymore, at least not in compact hatchbacks. Sadly, this one is not well. It sounds like it might start and run, but it has a massive oil leak, and the seller suspects it may even have a cracked engine block. In any event, it isn’t drivable as it sits, and will have to be towed.
This car actually hasn’t been messed with all that much it seems. It’s lowered and has aftermarket wheels, but it’s the original color, except for the lower third which has been coated in Plasti-Dip. If this car were anywhere else than inland Southern California, I would suspect it was done to hide rust, but in this case I think it might just be a style choice or a half-assed attempt to protect it from rock chips.
Inside, it’s acceptable, and stock except for the steering wheel and seat covers. I imagine after 230,000 miles, the seats are pretty well toast under those covers. But who cares? This is never going to be a show car anyway; fix the engine or find a good one to swap in, and just enjoy having a cheap Civic Si to bomb around in.
I don’t know what drives people to do some things to some cars. I know, we’re supposed to be positive and accepting of all forms of car culture, and I think generally I am. But this sort of half-assed modification that never gets finished and ruins everything nice about what the car used to be just feels wasteful to me. Undoing the damage will take some work but it can be done, and in either case you could have a pretty cool old car at the end. Which of these strays are you willing to take home and feed?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Dial it back to 1995, i was 17, and there was a 1991 Civic Si for sale close to me. White with black tint all around. I wanted to get that thing, put a couple of Kicker 12s in the back and go beaver hunting in my local swamps. So bad, but I didn’t pull it off. I have droven them though and owned multiple CRX Sis. Here is why you want the Civic and not the Celic.. uh Supra. Because the Supra is a crusty piece of shit. It is a janky example of an afterthought converted model of a malaise Era turd from the beginning of time. It was a slow, ugly POS off the lot, brand new. If you know, then you know that Honda stuck a serious suspension setup under these Civics that belie thier innocent mission statement. Steering feel? How about there isn’t any power steering, it doesn’t need it. Driving position? I think your ass sits about 8″ off the tarmac, stock. Visibility? The belt line is down by your tallywhacker. You can see EVERYTHING. They really just don’t make cars like that anymore, literally. And there’s half a dozen engines you can grab for nothing and throw in it that will have it run like a raped ape. Supra? Please. Who wants the worst example of the worst one ever made? It’s no MKIV, III, or even II. It sucks.
I voted Civic because I just like the way it looks. Plus, the interior looks a lot better than that poor abused Supra. Either choice will take some work, but I like my chances better with the Civic.
I’ll take the Civic for sure
Either of these would be well beyond my limited restoration skills, so I’ll take the Supra. I’ve always liked those and the purple is cool. (And am I the only one here who thinks the wheels on the Honda are appalling?)
For the sake of voting, I’ll take the straight six. But I’d rather spend more and get a nice A60.
The only Celica Supra to me is the second generation A60 version. The first gen has just such an unfortunate design.
If I was going to ship across country (which I’d have to in order get an example of either of these
in unrotted conditionany form), I’d spring for a better example that would be cheaper in the long run and good to go when it rolls off the transport truck. Honda, I guess, because engine swaps are easy, the interior’s complete, and most of what needs to be done is just returning to OEM(ish), like the suspension, which would be expected to have to be replaced on an unrestored 230k-mile, 33-year-old car. All that will be far easier to find than anything for the Supra and the Supra needs a lot more. Even assuming a lot of the trim pieces are shared with the Celica, I haven’t seen either of those in junk yards in ages, so it’s going to be hunting and overpaying for every part online or spending a lot of time and aggravation on crap like restoring the dashboard and, in the end, it’s just a 1st gen Supra. Interesting for how rare it is now and would be a rare treat for Supra aficionados to see around this area today, but I’m not a Supra aficionado.Parts may be more of a challenge, but we’ll take the Supra and bring in components from the second generation to make the best of both cars.
I voted for the Supra. Once fixed up, it will be a more interesting vehicle than the Civic.
I dig the wheels on the Honda.
K-swap that Civic and thrash it some more!
The Civic is fugly. The Celica is in sad shape too, but since I would have to put money into both to actually want to drive it, the Supra seems the better choice, simply because it is far more rare to see these days. Also Six in a row, ready to go, and RWD.
That Civic is overpriced for a non-runner, but it’s kinda cute. Love the color, love that it hasn’t been THAT modified, and the wheels are even kinda cute. Plastidip sucks to remove, but you can, and any half-assed mods that suck are usually easier to take off than whole-ass mods.
Two of the types of people that really piss me off are those that abuse animals and those that try to get this kind of money for shit like these cars. Today’s read has not put me in a good mood.
Nope. Just nope to both.
Even free is asking too much. You would literally have to pay me to take either of these.
The Civic wins ,also those wheels are great.
The Supra is cool as well,though there doesn’t seem to be much left of it.
Uffta May! I don’t especially want either of those … although I actually do kinda like the purple, so Supra … I guess.
I’ll take Chunky Big-Nose Six. I’ll bring 15 or 16 hundos with me on the test drive and if that ain’t enuf, I’ll go find a Cressida.
Both are trash, and I’d keep my money. I’ve surprised myself though, by realizing I actually kind of dig the wheels on the Honda, for a retro 80’s build.
Take the “2” off the price of the Honda, and mayyyybe, for a project. Donut Media got a running one for 500 bucks and did a series on it not too long ago. Well, a project for someone else, these cars do absolutely nothing for me.
I don’t really want either, but I’m voting Honda just for those wheels, they look great! Find clean center caps and they’d look fantastic.
I saw this Supra posted up on Discord last week and cringed. I’d still take it over that Civic, though.
The seats are sport seats from it looks like a BMW e46, but could be e36. I’ve owned a Celica of this generation, and build quality isn’t a strong point. The seats are probably replaced because very few original seats are left since the seat backs tend to break. I think I had to go through 3 driver’s seats in mine. I also had the next generation of Celica and it was a much better car. Also while a 6 cylinder, it’s bog slow compared to modern cars, probably a 0-60 time over 10 seconds. The Civic has it appears decades of abuse as a ‘tuned’ car by a succession of teenagers. Just like the worthless primary in my state, I’m going to abstain from voting today.
Yikes! These are both hot garbage, but I would take the Supra. The Honda has all the signs of being mercilessly hooned, whereas the Toyota has merely been neglected. The wheels are awful, but it’s actually sitting close to its original ride height and the engine looks original. I’m from the midwest, so any rust-free car of this vintage looks amazing.
They are completely trashed. I like both of these cars, and I agree that it is a waste when people butcher cars like this. I think for classics, so called enthusiast’s half assed butchery probably claim almost as many as rust or accidents do. They just make me sad to look at them. I could not bring myself to vote for either of them.