Toyota built a one-off Star Wars car in 1977 but it’s become an automotive mystery after vanishing decades ago
Published on Feb 27, 2026 at 7:57 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 02, 2026 at 10:08 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
In 1977, Toyota built a one-off Star Wars Edition Celica in partnership with a California workshop – but then the car disappeared, seemingly for no reason.
No one knows where it is, and the car has been missing for nearly 50 years.
But there are at least two theories surrounding its disappearance.
The first one is bleak, and the second one is sad.
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Why Toyota created this one-off Star Wars car
In 1977, Toyota unveiled the Celica GT Star Wars Edition.
It was built as a prize for a Star Wars-themed sweepstakes, and it was customized in California by Delphi Auto Design.
Among other things, it featured a body kit from a Toyota pace car, a sunroof, and a custom airbrushed paint job.
The hood also displayed the iconic movie poster art, and the flanks featured scenes from the film.
It was also famously photographed with Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO as part of a promotional tour.
But then it disappeared.
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What really happened to it?
Both Toyota and Lucasfilm – which owned the rights to anything Star Wars-related – have been trying to locate the Celica Star Wars Edition for about 50 years.
To no avail.
If we gloss over conspiracy theories and unconfirmed – and let’s face it, ‘unconfirmable’ – hearsay, there are two theories.
The first one is pretty bleak.
The owner of Delphi was convicted, and the aftermath of said conviction was terrible.
This happened while the sweepstakes was still running, which also meant that Toyota quickly distanced itself from the whole thing.
Because Delphi ended up involved in some very serious crimes, the car may have been seized by the authorities and lost in a maze of bureaucracy.
The second theory is a lot less dark, but sadder.
Assuming the car was indeed delivered to the owner, it may be unrecognizable today, or it may have been crushed altogether.
After years of driving, the custom airbrushing likely chipped, faded, or rusted.
Or maybe the owner grew tired of the attention or the deteriorating paint and had the car resprayed a neutral color.
The car may still exist in a garage or scrapyard today, completely unrecognizable under layers of cheap paint.
Pity.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
