Highlights

One of the most capable Toyota sports cars of the last 30 years in rare Group 4 homologation specification
Much enhanced car with £20,000 spent in recent years including engine and gearbox rebuild, respray and retrimmed interior
Looks superb with recent full respray in grey metallic and retrimmed Nappa Dark grey leather interior
Long MOT with no advisories and limited, careful use in recent years
Vendor states that the car will need checked over before use due to limited recent use

The Appeal

When Toyota set its sights on world rally domination, in typical fashion it succeeded. In the early 1990s its ST185 all-wheel-drive GT-Four Celica was a permanent fixture on podiums and one driver accrued many of the accolades - Carlos Sainz.

To homologate the rally car Toyota built 5,000 road going versions and, naturally, it referenced its famous driver when it came to naming them. Each one carried a numbered plaque and just 440 made it to the UK.

This superb 1993 example is one of them, a carefully maintained car that has had £20,000 spent on it in recent years. As well as useful upgrades the money has gone towards a professional respray and full retrim in Dark grey leather. With little use since it looks superb and every inch the capable competition weapon. Due to little recent use the vendor states that it will need checked over before use but for lovers of 90s gravel-to-tarmac homologation specials, surely winning this car is a tempting goal.

The History and Paperwork

First registered 29th April 1993
Paperwork with the car and the engine plate states this is car number 2,545 of 5,000 - although the in-car plaque differs this is likely a mix up by the selling dealership
Extensive history file including plenty of invoices for maintenance and improvement work
We understand that the value of recent work is £20,000 according to the seller
Original factory handbooks and stamped service book, most recently on 18th October 2021 around 1,000 miles ago
2 keys
Built to homologate Toyota’s Group A WRC rally car

The Interior

Fully retrimmed in Dark grey leather, similar to the Gen 1 cars, which looks immaculate and barely used
Of its time ‘Super Live Sound System decals with later infotainment system upgrade
Sony head unit with discreet Alpine speakers fitted
Correct Sainz edition details including TRD Toyota Motor Sport gear knob
Plaque on centre console replaced by a previous owner and shows car 2,658 of 5,000 rather than car 2,545
Interior in excellent condition for a 31 year old car, only very minor scuffs on the centre console plastics being visible and not detracting
Original factory tool kit with some deterioration but complete
Momo leather four spoke steering wheel in very good condition, just a light sheen of wear visible
Good headlining with clean sunroof surround
Steel sliding sunroof
Rear seats in excellent condition and look unused
Electric windows and power steering

The Exterior

Significant recent expenditure has included a full glass-out, panels off respray in grey metallic that is in excellent condition
Discreet ST185 shape with subtle Carlos Sainz modifications including bespoke front bumper and bonnet with air ducts and Sainz signature decals
Boot floor looks good with no visible deterioration
There appears to be only slight imperfections to the exterior body of the vehicle
Lightweight fibreglass front wings
Underside has recently been POR15 treated and appears in very good condition
New 225 profile Kumho tyres fitted all round that fill the arches nicely
White Compomotive M05 alloy wheels in very good condition and fitted with 20mm spacers to improve the stance
Front RC foglights upgrade

The Mechanics

1998cc four cylinder 3S-GTE Toyota engine developing 224bhp
E151F gearbox fitted to European specification cars
Rally-inspired AWD system
Recent engine and gearbox rebuild
Thick history file and appears to have been most recently service 1,000 miles ago
Adjustable shock absorbers
BC Racing BR RA coilovers
Lightweight flywheel and sports clutch with short throw shift lever
European specification cars got water-to-air intercoolers rather than air-to-air
Custom 3inch big bore stainless steel exhaust fitted with BRD sports catalytic converter
New brake and fuel links and rear brakes recently overhauled
Large four pot brakes and new pads
ST205 Gen 6 WRC callipers and rear differential upgrade
The vendor states the car starts and drives with no obvious faults being evident other than those noted however this vehicle hasn’t had much use the past few years and is being auctioned as requiring a good going over before any use as there may be faults which are not noted.

Summary

In the late 1980s and early 1990s car companies competed to out-do each other on the gravel. With the ST185 generation Celica, piloted by Carlos Sainz, Toyota excelled.

This car is one of only 440 UK specification models and has benefitted in recent years from a huge expenditure. Said by the seller to total £20,000 it covers bodywork and cosmetic improvements, like that fresh respray and beautifully trimmed interior, as well as useful mechanical renovations and improvements, including a full engine and gearbox rebuild.

Early 1990s Japanese cars like this are becoming very collectable. This one has clearly had the money spent on it and with a little attention before use seems to offer a great prospect to the lucky buyer.

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