1998 Toyota Celica GT-Four – Classified of the Week
February 21, 2023
When discussing JDM heroes and the name Toyota is thrown into the mix most people will think of the Supra. And rightly so because the Toyota Supra is a bona fide legend of not just the Japanese domestic market but the classic car world as a whole and it has gained almost mythical status for its ability to be modified to eye-watering levels of tune. But today we want to draw your gaze to a less revered model in the ’90s Toyota line-up and a car that stands on its own two feet and with its own impressive status. That car, ladies and gentlemen, is the Toyota Celica.
It may not be as remarkable or as noteworthy as the aforementioned Supra, at least not in standard guise, but we’re not talking about a boggo grocery getter here. No, we’re talking about the sixth generation GT-Four. This is the last of the line models to bear the GT-Four name, a convention that began life with the ST165 back in ’86 so that Toyota cold go racing, culminating in this, the ST205. 2500 units were homologated and produced in ’94 to so that this newer car could continue to build upon the Celica’s motorsport heritage and compete in Group A rallying. But that’s a whole other story, and one that you can read about here at your leisure. For the purposes of today’s article though, we’re talking about this specific Toyota Celica GT-Four.
It’s one of the final production models which means it has a larger rear spoiler, projector headlights and an updated interior, which also makes it the most desirable. Not only that but it is in absolutely stunning condition inside and out thanks to its cosseted life spent in Japan where cars are not subjected to road salt in the winter like here in the UK and as such presents as a completely rust-free example. Thankfully this car has not been given the Fast and Furious treatment either and remains wholly original, even down to the factory exhaust. The only non-standard equipment is the set of 17” OZ alloy wheels but we’ll let it off because admittedly they do look great and suit the car perfectly.
Despite being been meticulously looked after since new the current custodian, renowned Japanese car import specialists Newera Imports, have fully prepped the car ready for sale after it arrived on UK shores. This included a full service with replacement spark plugs, rotor and distributor cap, oil and filters. Not only that but the shock absorbers and 8-link lower suspension joints have been replaced along with all of the brake pads. The timing belt and clutch have been replaced recently by the previous owner too, all of which means that this Toyota Celica GT-Four is fighting fit and ready to be enjoyed to the fullest.
With almost 240bhp on tap from the Celica’s turbocharged, 2.0-litre inline-four engine there should be more than enough power for most and coupled with the car’s excellent road holding manners makes for a truly exciting and capable classic. Not only that but the Toyota Celica GT-Four is ageing incredibly well. Compared to the Supra in the looks department upon its release the sixth gen model still looks good today and with so few about there’s definitely a certain level of exclusivity that comes with owning an ST205 Celica. All in all that’s a lot of boxes to tick when considering your next classic and with prices on the rise this particular slice of JDM iconography, what with its WRC heritage to boot, could be a shrewd investment on top of them all.
