--- title: "This Midnight Purple S2000-Powered 1977 Toyota Celica Rolls JDM’s Greatest Hits Into One Car" description: "This Midnight Purple 1977 Toyota Celica has a Honda S2000 engine and Nissan paint, making it a JDM triple-threat." date: "2023-10-08" modified: "2023-10-08" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-midnight-purple-s2000-powered-1977-toyota-celica-rolls-jdms-greatest-hits-into-one-car" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Toyota News" tags: - "sports car" - "Toyota" --- # This Midnight Purple S2000-Powered 1977 Toyota Celica Rolls JDM’s Greatest Hits Into One Car ![]() *Bring a Trailer* The first-generation Celica is one of the best looking cars [Toyota ]()ever made. Its proportions are near-perfect and it gives off enough first-gen Mustang vibes to have earned its "Japanese Mustang" nickname. This one that's for sale on [Bring a Trailer]() is more desirable than most but for a weird reason—it has a [Honda S2000]() engine. OK, so Toyota fans won't be happy about seeing a Honda engine in one of Toyota's most beloved classics. However, for casual car fans, this build is killer. It isn't just a Celica with an S2000 motor, it's a JDM greatest hits album packed into one gorgeous car. ![]() **Bring a Trailer** ![]() **Bring a Trailer** ![]() **Bring a Trailer** It started out life as a 1977 Toyota Celica, which was the final year of the first-gen Celica. It was then stripped down to its bare shell and walnut blasted, rust repaired, and painted in Nissan's famous Midnight Purple. Under its stunning skin is a laundry list of parts that will make every car nerd drool. The S2000-sourced 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine has a J's Racing tubular header, a Koyo aluminum radiator, and 48mm Jenvey individual throttle bodies. The six-speed manual is from an S2000 but its limited-slip rear diff is from an AE86-gen Toyota Corolla GT-S. It also has AccuAir air suspension, Addco sway bars, Wilwood brakes, Bride bucket seats, an NRG steering wheel with quick-release hub, and BBS RS wheels. ![]() **Bring a Trailer** ![]() **Bring a Trailer** ![]() **Bring a Trailer** With a Toyota chassis, a Honda engine, Nissan paint, this build is a JDM triple-threat and a great looking one at that. So much so that it was actually on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles in 2018 and 2019. ![]() **Bring a Trailer** ![]() **Bring a Trailer** At the time of writing this, there are four days left on the auction and the bid is up to $15,500. With breathtaking looks, a high-revving S2000 engine, and the sort of suspension mods to make it handle as well as it looks, there are going to be many interested bidders. So if you want this rolling JDM greatest hits album, you're going to need a quick mouse button finger and deep pockets. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.co*m ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()