Is the 1985 Celica FWD or RWD?
The 1985 Toyota Celica was rear-wheel drive in its standard form. All-wheel-drive variants existed later in the Celica lineup as higher-performance models such as the All-Trac/GT-Four in select markets.
This article outlines how the 1985 Celica was configured, how drivetrain options varied by trim and market, and when AWD versions began appearing in the Celica family.
Drivetrain basics for the 1985 Celica
The standard configuration for the 1985 Celica was rear-wheel drive (RWD). The all-wheel-drive option did not accompany the baseline 1985 model year, but the Celica line later introduced AWD variants for higher-performance applications.
- Standard Celica models from 1985 were rear-wheel drive (RWD).
- All-wheel-drive variants (often labeled Celica All-Trac or GT-Four in various markets) were introduced later in the decade, beginning with rally-inspired versions in select regions.
In summary, the baseline 1985 Celica was RWD, with AWD becoming available in later Celica iterations as a special/performance variant.
Market variations and late-career AWD variants
Drivetrain offerings could differ by market and trim. While the early 1985 model year depended on RWD, several markets later welcomed AWD versions of the Celica under different names, typically aimed at performance enthusiasts and rally homologation.
- In Japan and some overseas markets, high-performance AWD variants (Celica GT-Four/All-Trac) appeared in the late 1980s, expanding the drivetrain options beyond RWD.
- Many markets continued to offer the standard RWD Celica through the same generation, reserving AWD for limited-edition or performance-focused models.
These developments show how the Celica lineup evolved from a traditional RWD layout into niche AWD configurations in the late 1980s, while the 1985 model itself remained RWD.
Summary
For the 1985 Celica, the default drivetrain was rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive versions did not exist on that model year but were introduced later in the Celica family as All-Trac/GT-Four variants in certain markets. If you’re shopping for an 1985 Celica, expect RWD unless you're looking at a late-1980s All-Trac/GT-Four edition.
