Your post reminds me of some "survival" stories. We used to cross from Douglas to Agua Prieta when we were younger, because they aren't quite as strict on the drinking age there. Our only hard and fast rule was "don't get caught by the Mexican police." Some friends who did were down there until they could be bailed (bribed) out. (Parents weren't real happy.)

That fun ended after we did get chased once, and thanks to the psychotic driving of a friend of mine, ended up crashing the border gate in Nogales.

Never considered a Celica an offroad vehicle, but those 70s models could sure take a beating.