JCCS Spotlight: Joseph DeMeo’s 1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac

One of the most mind-blowing cars at this year’s Japanese Classic Car Show was Joseph DeMeo’s 1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac. With just 15,200 miles on the odometer, the rally-inspired AWD coupe was basically showroom and the finest example we had ever seen, but Joseph still wasn’t satisfied with it just yet. 

According to the window sticker, which Joseph still has, the car sold for $22,863 out the door back when it was new. That’s roughly $48,500 in 2017 dollars, but may Ameratsu bless the soul who shelled out the coin for this unique car back in the day.

Whomever it was got a lot more than an average Celica for their money, though. The All-Trac came with a 190-horsepower turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive powertrain (the naturally aspirated version of which appeared in the Camry All-Trac) via a viscous coupling central locking differential, turning an affordable sports coupe into a high-tech rally monster.

Despite it’s incredible condition, Joseph said that he wanted to go over the entire body with 3000-grit sandpaper to remove any semblance of swirl. It also drove him nuts that the clamps for the turbo air hose had some rust on the surface. When a passerby said that he could simply turn the clamp so that the rusted part wouldn’t be showing, Joseph replied, “But then the clamp wouldn’t be pointed in the factory orientation.”

You’ll never guess what minute flaw he saw from this angle. If you look closely, the fabric on the cargo cover has a tiny spot of wear on the left corner, exposing the brown board underneath. In the photo above, it’s probably the size of a pixel or two. What made Joseph so meticulous about his Celica? Well, he’s a car collector and has had Lamborghinis shown at concours events. All these things are something judges would deduct points for, and he can’t have that. “I want to get this car to concours level,” he explained. That’s a good thing, because Toyota doesn’t even have an All-Trac this clean in their own museum. Fittingly, Joseph took home the Best Neoclassic Award.

permalink.
This post is filed under: events, Spotlight and
tagged: , , , , , .

10 Responses to JCCS Spotlight: Joseph DeMeo’s 1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac

  1. jamal says:

    Rare Celica.

  2. Tylenopants says:

    While I respect him for keeping this Celica is beautiful shape and being meticulous in every respect. Still just *cringe*

    • Jayrdee says:

      Totally agree. On paper, its so sick and really cool … and then you look at it …

      Toyota missed the nail on design with this one Lol.

      • Bryan Kitsune says:

        To each their own I guess. The 4th gen Celica design is probably my 2nd favorite in the Celica line. The 1st gen being #1 of course. Really miss my old ’88 All-trac: http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1725/1121/4310560028_large.jpg?v=0

        Probably the biggest car regret I have is selling that one off.

        • Joseph Demeo says:

          great picture of your car in it’s element. i’m glad you like my car..even if it will never see a dirt road. other than in a photo shoot !!!

          • Adam S says:

            This is probably my favorite Celica generation, even edging out the ST205 GT-Four. However I will freely admit to being biased as my first car was an ’86 Celica GT-S. That one lasted a little over a year under my care until my lack of mechanical knowledge resulted in a blown engine. Six months later I had somehow scraped enough together to get an ST165. I learned how to work on cars with one of these, and it was a sad day when I sold it.

            Eight years later I purchased another one. I have spent considerable amounts of time and money in getting this one up to par, and while I’m driving it probably more than I should I’m constantly reminded of how much this chassis just fits me.

  3. Colin Brown says:

    Just find me another 1971 TE/KE27 LEVIN…..thev27 coupe has thevsmall quarter panel sail skirts.. Not the weird big offset squares.. My pop bought the only one in the U.S. in June 71.IT IS RHD. and had air conditioning added at the Toyota House where he bought it and paid$2199 for it over the $1599 for the 27 with tge 1600cc 4 speed and notvthe 2.0 PEANUT head ..I still have it..he bought it.He paid 2199.

  4. Ant says:

    Stunning example, but I do hope Joseph enjoys a car like this on the road as much as he does orientating hose clamps and polishing away nonexistent swirls. I’d like to be proven wrong, but I’m guessing the majority of those miles were covered by the previous owner…

  5. Joseph Demeo says:

    thanks for the kind words..
    i happen to like this body style best of all celicas.
    it’s success in rally and is racing made it a favorite.
    yes the first owner put the first 13,000 plus mies on it..i drove the balance. it’s such a nice car to drive..especially on the freeway where the turbo adds just the right amount of torque when you need it. not to mention it’s like going back in time driving it..it’s like a new car. many people commented that even the interior smells like new..it has that un mistakable 80’s toyota nose..be sure that i won’t do anything to devalue the car in my quest to perfect it..i’m a preservationist at heart !! thanks again..!!! joseph demeo

  6. Lex says:

    Oh, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph…..Ye of OCD. Sweet, yet oddball. Just like the owner.

Leave a Reply to Joseph Demeo Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *