1977 Toyota Celica Liftback SJ Style Build by Shoreline Racing Founder

Brian Karasawa

1977 Toyota Celica Liftback

Instagram: @briankarasawa

Photographers: Marvin Recinos

Instagram:  @mr2mivin

Performance Stats

150 HP from 2.4L 2R/22R hybrid motor with forged high-compression Arias pistons, ported and polished head, dual 44mm Mikuni side draft carbs.

"It has been a labor of love and a return to my street racing roots from the 1970s." – Brian Karasawa

Street Racing Roots and SJ Style Legacy

Brian Karasawa is one of the original members of Shoreline Racing car club out of Long Beach, California. Back in the day (BITD), he drove a 1977 Toyota Celica Coupe, and today he's brought that era back to life with his meticulously restored 1977 Toyota Celica Liftback.

"I restored this car to the old school 'SJ Style' popular with Japanese Americans of the 1970s and 80s," Brian explains. This isn't just a restoration—it's a time capsule, a tribute to a specific moment in automotive culture that shaped an entire generation of enthusiasts.

Brian has owned this car for close to twenty years and did all the work himself except paint. "It has been a labor of love and a return to my street racing roots from the 1970s."

Where It All Started: Hot Wheels to Street Racing

"Have always been a carhead since a small child," Brian says. "It all started with Hot Wheels from 1969." That childhood fascination evolved into a lifelong passion, eventually leading him to become part of the 1st Gen Celica Community and the leadership team for both the Japanese Classic Car Show and Toyotafest.

As part of the 1st Gen Celica Community, Brian was invited to take part in their photoshoot with Marvin Recinos, capturing the essence of what makes these cars and this era so special to those who lived it.

The SJ Style Aesthetic

The car was built in the classic Japanese American "SJ Style" from the 1970s and 80s. This distinctive look combines lowered stance, period-correct wheels, and subtle but purposeful modifications that defined a generation of West Coast Japanese car culture. The JDM smiley bumpers and banana tail lights are signature touches that instantly transport you back to that era.

The House of Kolor sunset pearl paint catches light in ways that modern paints can't replicate, giving the car a depth and warmth that's pure 1970s California cool.

Complete Build Specifications

Engine and Performance

• 2R/22R hybrid motor (2.4L)
• Forged high-compression Arias pistons
• Ported and polished head by Rick Kemph Cylinder Heads
• Oversized stainless steel valves
• LC Engineering cam
• Dual 44mm Mikuni side draft carburetors
• Doug Thorley header
• 2.5" exhaust all the way back to Summit Racing turbo muffler
• 150 HP

Transmission and Drivetrain

• Tilton aluminum flywheel
• Competition clutch

Suspension

• Lowered stance
• ADDCO sway bars
• Tokico Blue shocks

Wheels and Tires

• 14" Hayashi Racing Command 500 wheels
• Yokohama S.Drive tires - 185/50/14

Exterior

• House of Kolor sunset pearl paint by Kono's Autobody
• JDM smiley bumpers
• JDM banana tail lights
• Classic SJ Style aesthetic

Interior

• Fully restored interior
• MkII Supra seats

Who Did the Work?

Brian did all the work himself except paint and headwork. Paint was completed by Kono's Autobody, and cylinder head work was done by Rick Kemph Cylinder Heads.

Twenty years of ownership and personal craftsmanship have gone into every detail of this build, from the engine assembly to the interior restoration.

Community Leadership and Culture

Beyond his personal builds, Brian is deeply involved in the Japanese classic car community. He's part of the leadership team for both the Japanese Classic Car Show and Toyotafest, helping preserve and celebrate the cars and culture that defined an era.

His involvement with Shoreline Racing as one of the original members connects him to the roots of Southern California street racing culture, while his work with modern shows ensures that history and passion get passed to the next generation.

Future Plans

"I own a number of car projects," Brian says. "But a 1988 Honda Civic Hatch and a 1974 Toyota Celica Coupe are my current in-progress builds."

The 1974 Celica Coupe is particularly meaningful—returning to the same model he drove back in his original street racing days, bringing the story full circle.

Shout Outs

@1st_gen_celicas, @shorelineracing, @mr2mivin, @japaneseclassiccarshow, @gpsjulian

Dream Car

Lexus LFA

Final Thoughts

Brian Karasawa's 1977 Toyota Celica Liftback isn't just a restored classic—it's a living piece of Japanese American car culture from the 1970s and 80s. With twenty years of ownership, meticulous attention to SJ Style details, and deep roots in Southern California's street racing scene, this build represents more than horsepower and paint. It represents history, community, and the passion that started with Hot Wheels in 1969 and continues today through leadership at Toyotafest and the Japanese Classic Car Show.

From the Hayashi Racing Command 500 wheels to the House of Kolor sunset pearl paint, every detail honors an era when Japanese Americans created their own distinctive automotive identity on the streets of California.

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UKTM no: UK00003572459