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The stolen multi-generational single-family 1980 Toyota Celica Supra we reported on in May has been returned to its rightful owners.
Lois writes:
Hey! The car was recovered! In Eugene OR. Plates gone, ignition messed up, but otherwise in good condition!
I am sure getting it back was a group effort! Please let your readers know. It’s garaged now waiting to go to shop to fix ignition tamper.
This is my son right after meeting with police at the spot it was left. No news on who, all prints were wiped down.
Cool note: officer told my son he remembered the model because his brother had one like it.
We’re glad you have your car back, Lois!
16 Comments on “1980 Toyota Celica Supra MkI Curbside Classic Found and Returned!...”
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Did the Stig just feel like a joyride?
Best news so far this Monday. Thanks Mark.
The first thing that came to mind when I saw the picture but before I read the headline was, “hey, that’s an odd-looking Cutlass or Century Aeroback”.
The hood-down photo looks like a LeBaron. Dislike that view!
Some low life who likes classic Toyotas got his thrill for a few hours.
*looks around* Ok so I was no where near Oregon on the dates in question.
Can we run a ‘kill switch’ this time? Maybe to the fuel pump or coil, and sets automatically. I cringe at the thought of leaving a car so easy to steal. Jeez, as easy as wiring up darn fog lights.
Datsun/Nissan 720 series trucks offered no ignition security; a simple multiple blade connector on the back of the switch could be pulled out by hand and the various connections made using an octopus of wires and blade lugs held together with a large pigtail crimp.
On several occasions over 30 years ago I casually mentioned to some friends I’d go grab some supplies and, if they worried about my car being blocked in, I’d reassure them I’d figure something out. The shock at seeing me just casually drive away using their trucks in that manner sent them on some pretty intense vehicle security paths to prevent that from ever happening again.
I blame the Niedermeyers, of Eugene OR. Paul wrote the original article, anyway!
Score one for the good guys!
So nice to get good news on this classic!
To the owners: thank you for beautifying the roads.
Well, the preacher might disagree with me, but this here’s the Good News!
Probably some Oregonian tweakers. There is a website dedicated to Datsun’s called Ratsun.net It is populated with a lot of Oregon members and it is quite frequent that a stolen thread pops up from time to time. It is usually some drugged out tweaker(s) that have stolen the car hoping for quick cash.
This is a heartwarming story. Back in the late 80’s my sister owned a 80 Celica GT 5 speed hatch in brown. She drove it most days in and around the NYC metro region. Quite a nice vehicle, one of Toyota best. It was stolen twice the 1st time it was returned after a few days after being left on a street with a jammed starter drive. The second time it was never found. Both times she had one of those steering collar locks on it. Wolo was the manufacturer and it was a quality product. I owned one and used it on several vehicles with no issues. You have to remember this was peak crack era car thievery. GM dealers and the aftermarket used to install armored steering column collars which prevented thieves from prying the ignition switch and starting the vehicle. Cadillac dealers used to spot weld the inner bumpers on full-sized DeVills and Fleetwoods to prevent theft. At least car theft is way down since modern vehicles are a lot harder to purloin and the parts have the VIN on them.
Glad to see it this car made it back home. I always appreciated the clean lines of the Celica/Supra, the first of which could be stated for any Jap car up to that point. While “surface excitment” crept back in on the Gen II, that series of Supra’s (’82-’86) are by far my favorite Toyota ever. The wedgy masculine look and really fine interior are simply outstanding. IMO a better 2+2 (albeit slower) than its contemporaries such as the 944, Z28 and Mustang GT/SVO.
New comment for an old post. Had 1979 Supra 5 speed back until 2005.
it has been stolen back in 2001. Someone confused it with Celica and took it to pull the engine out. Once they recognize that car had “extra 2 cylinders”, they dump it at the mall parking lot without any damage to it.
Next time someone attempted to steal it 3 years late, but I incorporated fuel pump kill switch in the trunk.. The thief then stole 89 Toyota pickup from adjacent lot.