early ss-3 identification (in the dark) Options

[delusionz]

hi guys, i'm interested in a 1996 celica ss-3 and the owner came round to my house tonight to give me a test drive, i'm a little confused as to what features were standard in 1996 compared to what i saw keeping in mind it was pitch black.

these were the things i noticed that were ss-3 like:
super strut suspension sticker on the bottom of the rear windscreen
jdm modern tail lights (not a pointer in itself but the ss3's do have the new tail light assembly)
abs brakes icon lights up when key is turned to on
factory toyota 16 inch wheels wrapped in 215/50/r16
steel plated pedals and foot rest similar to what altezza rs200 has

i was wondering about the absence of the following:
air bags
white dash board
beams motor (allthough i know this wasn't available in 1996 the ad stated "SSIII - 200HP" which is the output of the beams and this car had what looked like a regular 3s-ge motor with the inlet manifold curled over the top of the rocker cover -- anyone know if there a revision in hp output in 1996 aswell????)
projector headlights -- were these 1997??


The colour is dark green mica and has a modern shaped front bumper, can anyone confirm what we have here without the full chassis number?

[delusionz]

Well it is a 1996 model and the guy insisted it was an SS-III, according to wikipedia the beams motor was introduced to both the SS-II and SS-III in 1997.

I also noticed it had a red stitched gear knob, not the hardened plastic one like my '95 SS-I, The steering wheel was exactly the same as the one in my '95 SS-I and there was no rectangle cover on the passenger dash side. The spoiler was a modern 3 post wing, not the 2 post on stilts. And yes it is on trademe listed as 1996 toyota celica and no you cant have it It's mineeeeeeeee!!! Stuff the airbags eh, I survived a head on crash with no air bags and I was dinged off my motorcycle causing me to fly, I'm still here lol

If all goes well I'm taking this Celica on Tuesday

This post has been edited by delusionz: Jun 7, 2008 - 9:04 PM