Stock #5942
Stock#5942
Defining luxury in the 1990's, Toyota's Celsior came out swinging from the start. Winning numerous car of the year awards and striking fear in the eyes of European manufacturers, the UCF platform proved to be timeless, reliable, and flat out joyful to drive. For 1997, Toyota gave the chassis a slight facelift, and our UCF20 is a tastefully modified example of this timeless platform. Finished in Black Pearl, this Celsior is set off by an OEM front lip, OEM rainguards, smoked tail lamps and a fitting set of 19" AME alloys. The exterior shows well overall, although we should note the front left fender was also replaced in Japan. Still, very few chips and dings are present along the body, and Cusco coilovers eliminate unsightly wheel gap. Further sweetening the deal, the 47k miles on the clock are verified, documented, and this trusty Toyota is barely broken in as far as we're concerned. Reliable, comfortable, and devilishly good looking, we're proud to call this Celsior a Japanese Classic.
The interior follows suit with the black on black color scheme, and is trimmed in executive leather with real wood accents. For safety conscious drivers and passengers, Dual SRS airbags are present in the front and sides of the power front seats, and the driver additionally benefits from a fully electric tilt and telescoping steering column to dial in the ideal driving position. As you'd expect from a luxury unit, the interior upholstery is top quality. The heated seats have resisted any serious wear and tear on the leather, and the sweeping dash is still in good nick. Positioned in the center stack, dual-zone climate control comes standard, and an adjacent Carrozzeria audio system functions without a hitch. Sound quality is quite good, and Bluetooth functionality allows you to jam out to your own tunes if you insist. If you prefer a more open air experience to having ice cold A/C on tap, all four windows are automatic, and power locks, power folding mirrors, and even a power moonroof are operable and make daily driving a bit more enjoyable for all. Toyota was even nice enough to make the seatbelt height power adjustable to accommodate drivers and passengers of all shapes and sizes. The headliner and carpets are in above average shape overall, and dark privacy tint helps keep any wandering eyes and peeping toms away from your cargo inside. As a whole, it's evident this Celsior was well cared for by its prior owner.
Every time we crank over a 1UZ-FE in our showroom we're always surprised with how smooth and unobtrusive this V8 engine is. This should come as no surprise to those who have googled the infamous champagne glass test, but it really stands as a strong testament to the brand's dedication to producing quality powerplants that are as easy to drive as they are to maintain. Ours is fresh off an oil and filter service and cranks to life care of a new 12v battery installed in house. Toyota enthusiasts will rejoice, as we've replaced the timing belt and water pump on this unit already, and installed a new front main seal and oil pan gasket to keep the 4.0 topped up on lubricant. A new radiator helps with thermal management and this V8 runs cool as a cucumber. With the maintenance performed this one is well equipped for the road ahead and the power increase from the 1UZ's VVT-i refresh is evident as you hammer on the throttle. All eight cylinders make themselves known through the custom exhaust without presenting too much drone on the highway. The automatic transmission was given an extra cog to keep power delivery responsive and highway cruising a bit smoother, and we've performed a transmission fluid service to ensure smooth operation. The coilover suspension is surprisingly soft and comfortable over larger road imperfections, and new pads and rotors on the front ABS brakes aid stopping power when needed. The 19's were wrapped in good all season rubber, and a fresh alignment was performed to keep this one tracking straight as an arrow when you take the keys!
*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB compliant first. CARB certifications will have to be performed within the state. Depending on the vehicle and any existing modifications will affect the pricing. Typically CARB compliance will range between 5-10K. Additional information can be found on the California Air Resources Board website.
