Feature: More Show Than Go!

It was 1970 when the first Toyota Celica rolled off the factory floor and entered the California streets as a sporty, practical, and economical choice for the daily driver. An I-4 in 1970 was a different kind of sport car than North America had ever seen. While the Corvette and Shelby roadster was all about power and sheer inertia against the blacktop, the Celica was more about style, economy, and driving experience. The Latin word, Celica, itself means “the celestial heavens,” referring to its light and airy nature.

Light, maybe a bit of an understatement, considering dawning full battle gear a seventh generation model would probably weigh-in just a touch under 3,000 pounds. “It’s heavy,” says Melissa with a snicker, describing her custom modified Toyota Celica. “With all the fiberglass and audio in the trunk, it definitely doesn't move anywhere very quick.” But no matter, when you are cruising in style, it is not always about how fast you can go, but more about how many cars slow down and let you pass, just to catch a glimpse of who’s behind the wheel. “The Celica has actually caused an accident,” says Melissa. “There was a car with a couple guys looking back really hard when they ran into the back of the car in front of them—the embarrassment on their faces was priceless.”

“It never fails that someone in a Mustang or Camaro pulls up next to me and rev's his motor and wants to race,” says Melissa. “Yes, it may look fast, but people like to stereotype cars like mine to want to street race or encourage idiot behavior.”

Melissa purchased the Celica back in October of 2001, leaving it stock for a total of six months before the modify bug hit. A Toyota Celica GT came out of the box with a lean 1.8-liter Inline-4 capable of 140 horsepower, 0-60 in 7.3 seconds, and a quarter mile run of 15.5 seconds. With this in mind, Melissa has kept the performance modifications light, choosing to focus on the aesthetics of the car. The engine modifications so far include an AEM Cold-air Induction, HKS exhaust, Optima Redtop battery, and carbon fiber valve covers.

“I never went the motor swap, boosted, or super charged route because it was my daily driver for six years, and I couldn’t afford to be without my car if something went wrong,” says Melissa. Instead, Melissa lowered the car and purchased a set of wheels in 2002. This is what she considers to be the first transition of the Toyota. After striking a couple notches on her belt on the local import tuner scene, it was time to advance to stage two, which resulted in a body kit, Sparco Torino seats, Sparco steering wheel, reverse Indiglo gauges, Pioneer DVD player, Sony PlayStation 2, dual televisions, and 2300-watt “Flame Series” Autobahn sound system with dual 12-inch sub-woofers.

The extra weight screamed for a suspension upgrade, and Melissa responded to the tune of a set of KYB AGX adjustable shocks, Hotchkis rear camber links, and a Tanabe strut bar. “I started competing at shows, but soon got bored with the appearance of the car.” As the summer of 2006 rolled around, Melissa had decided it was time for the third transformation which she wanted to be big... really big. She heard through the grapevine that an APR wide body kit was for sale in the Texas area. A few more cha-ching's of her bank account, and her car was sitting at the J&M paint booth in Dallas being prepped for a body conversion and fresh coat of gold pearlescent, super white paint.

When the car emerged from its seven week cocoon, Team 16NiSS (South's hottest car crew) had taken notice, and Melissa and her Celica were invited aboard with open wrenches. The car had also picked up a few other notable upgrades along the way, including a Fiber Image carbon fiber hood, APR carbon fiber mirrors, Sparco hood pins, S2K antenna, TYC taillights, and custom Volk Racing GT-C wheels (19x8.5 front, 19x10.5 rear). “I constantly have people come up to me with compliments on the car or to introduce themselves because they've either seen the car before on an internet forum or they've heard about 'that Celica' from Team 16NiSS".

Despite all the work Melissa has put into the car, she has still pulled off more wins than actual modifications to the car. Her awards list reads longer than Lindsay Lohan‘s wrap sheet, and includes such highlights as The DUB Show (Dallas) 2007 and 2009, Battle of the Imports (Dallas) 2009, and Hot Import Nights (Dallas), 2006, 2007, and 2008. That’s over 55 “Best of” awards, including an undefeated winning streak of 23 in a row. “It feels good to go out in the same class as guys, tearing them down,” says Melissa.

Today the car stands at a hair over 100,000 miles, and runs just as strong as ever. What car is in her sights for the future? A BMW M6 dropped with a set of offset wheels. But that could be a ways in the future, considering the hefty cha-ching that would propose for her bank account.

Open Clutch: What's your favorite part of the car?
Melissa: The wide body and PlayStation 2

OC: Least favorite part?
M: As low as the front bumper is, I'm constantly having to take driveways and parking lot entrances at an angle while pissing people off because I’m taking too long to turn in.

OC: Best compliment you‘ve received?
M: The car was featured in a Radio Shack commercial in the fall of 2004, but I've also heard, Wow, what kind of car is that? That must be your boyfriends car, and You have the baddest Celica in the South!

OC: What advice would you offer the future tuner?
M: Do it right the first time. If you want new wheels but only have $1,000, just save that thousand dollars until you get the money for the wheels you really want.

Melissa would like to extend her thanks out to her team members from 16NiSS, and her sponsors for taking such good care of her, including Dunlop Tires, NOS Energy Drink, Meguiar’s, Topspeed Pro 1 Performance, Valvoline, GS Motorsports, J&M Paint and Body, and Will’s Discount Tires.