The first Toyota sports car (in the US)?

[Bones-ST205]

Interesting outing for Jay Leno’s Garage: 1971 Toyota Celica

Although it does irk slightly with the American pronunciation: “Sell – i -ka” 

Doesn’t sound right, to me. One yank I knew, used to say “Silly-Ka” (with a straight face - he wasn't known for his humour)

For me it’s always been “Sell-EE-Ka”. If I recall correctly, it translates to “heavenly” in Japanese.
Anyone know how the Japanese pronounce it? Being a Japanese car, they get the last word. 

[GT1994]

I saw a video were the japenese say it more like we do but with alot more emphasis, I'll see if I can find it

 

Update: I found this

https://youtu.be/wnTG2iX94WQ

Edited August 6 by GT1994

[dublet]

/ˈsɛlɪkə/ or /sɛˈliːkə/

[Xanadu]

3 hours ago, Bones-ST205 said:

Anyone know how the Japanese pronounce it?

 

セリカ

[Fuppylodders]

10 hours ago, dublet said:

/ˈsɛlɪkə/ or /sɛˈliːkə/

I can barely read that let alone know how to pronounce a backwards e and backwards 3

[Bones-ST205]

11 hours ago, GT1994 said:

I saw a video were the japenese say it more like we do but with alot more emphasis, I'll see if I can find it

 

Update: I found this

https://youtu.be/wnTG2iX94WQ

I win! 

Everyone, but the US use the "long EE" in the middle. 

Bloody yanks. 

[dublet]

1 hour ago, Fuppylodders said:

I can barely read that let alone know how to pronounce a backwards e and backwards 3

Hover over the letters.

[Fuppylodders]

7 hours ago, dublet said:

Hover over the letters.

Am on thr phone, don't have a laptop/pc

[77 Liftback]

In the Jay Leno video at 14.42 (and at the very beginning) the former Toyota product planner  say " This was the first sports car that Toyota built "

 

Has he not heard of the S800  and the 2000GT ?..

 

 

 

 

[dublet]

14 minutes ago, 77 Liftback said:

In the Jay Leno video at 14.42 (and at the very beginning) the former Toyota product planner  say " This was the first sports car that Toyota built "

 

Has he not heard of the S800  and the 2000GT ?..

Perhaps with the caveat of being available in the US? https://pressroom.toyota.com/company-history/ makes no mention of some of the sportier models.

[77 Liftback]

In the video he doesnt say the Celica is the  first Toyota sports sold in the US , he just says its the  " the first sports car Toyota built " 

 

According to Toyota GB , 62 lhd 2000 GT's were built for the US market 

Toyota 2000GT for sale - now sold! - Toyota UK Magazine

 

Quote

this Solar Red example was built in 1967 and wears chassis number MF10-10100. This means it was the one-hundredth car of a grand total of 351 units made during the model’s short, three-year production run. But more than that, it is one of only 62 cars made in left-hand drive for the important United States export market.

 

Ref the S 800 , according to Toyota GB , they were never officially sold in the US althou 300 lhd cars were made for American military occupying in Okinawa 

Toyota Sports 800 - history of a sports car - Toyota UK Magazine

 

Quote

 Never officially sold or exported outside of Japan, the vast majority of Toyota Sport 800s were right-hand drive. However, approximately 300 were specially made in left-hand drive for members of the American military occupying Okinawa, a handful of which have subsequently been personally imported to the States.

 

 

 

Guess it could also be argued that the Corona 1600 GT Hardtop Coupe ( RT55 ) introduced in 1967 was also a Toyota sports car. It was launched in 1967 , 3 years before the Celica

 

 

 

 

 

[dublet]

Write an angry email to Toyota USA, tell them their PR is wrong. Maybe they'll offer you a job.

[Bones-ST205]

16 hours ago, 77 Liftback said:

Guess it could also be argued that the Corona 1600 GT Hardtop Coupe ( RT55 ) introduced in 1967 was also a Toyota sports car. It was launched in 1967 , 3 years before the Celica

 

 

 Eeeeeuuuuuuwwwww. Sports car? I think not. It looks like a custard Lada. Couldn't pay me to drive that. 

[77 Liftback]

Great looking car imho