Highlights
- Only three keepers with previous one for 35 years
- Highly preserved factory-original condition throughout
- Undersealed from new and garaged all its life
- Regularly serviced with a cam belt change in February 2025
- Large history file with extensive invoices
- Reported £5,000 spent in recent years on maintenance
- MOT valid to December 2026 with no advisories
- Eligible for Historic Vehicle status from April 2027
The Appeal
If you’re thinking ‘Carlos Sainz’, then we’re with you. He memorably campaigned the brilliant fourth-generation GT-Four Celica to 1990 championship glory. This car is the more real-world-focused 2L GT, but drivers still get the balanced, engaging drive informed by that rally pedigree.
This 1986 GT is one of the best-preserved and most original we’ve seen in a long while. And it is a while since we’ve seen one, because these Celicas are now exceptionally rare. This car remains factory-standard and unmodified, right down to the period stereo. It has had just three keepers in its 40 years, including two lady owners, the second of whom hung onto it for 35 years. We’re told that it has always been garaged and spent a large part of its life in sunny Spanish climes.
The history file is impressive, showing a large number of servicing and maintenance invoices. The stamped service book is shown in photos and detailed below The vendor tells us that in recent years it has received £5,000 of maintenance. That includes the all-important cam belt change in February 2025. The current MOT runs to December 2026 with no advisories. Based on the car’s first registration date, it is eligible for Historic Vehicle status from April 2027.
The fourth-generation Celica has many fans, fuelled no doubt by that rally heritage. So we expect this highly preserved car to be popular, and rightly so.
Key Information
- Mileage: 105,601 miles (unverified)
- Country of registration: United Kingdom
- Technical inspection status: MOT to 22nd December 2026 with no advisories
- Technical specs: 1,998cc four-cylinder 122bhp 3G-FE petrol engine, 4-spd automatic
- Paperwork: Comprehensive history file with extensive invoices reportedly present
Service history (further details in photos):
- 06/10 - 98,28 miles - self serviced
- 04/08 - 93,180 miles - as above
- 12/07 - 92,220 miles - as above
- 08/07 - 90,682 miles - as above
- 06/07 - 87,053 miles - as above
- 03/02 - 83,502 miles - as above
- 12/99 - 88,760 miles - as above
- 03/98 - 73,156 miles - as above
- 09/94 - unknown miles - as above
- 09/93 - 56,000 miles - as above
- 10/91 - 58,043 miles - as above
- 09/89 - 31,511 miles - Sidcup Toyota
- 01/89 - 24,940 miles - as above
- 03/88 - 15,574 miles - as above
- 06/87 - 10,728 miles - as above
- 10/86 - 5,767 miles - as above
- 03/86 - 799 miles - as above
- 12/85 - 15 miles (PDI) - as above
Notable recent maintenance:
- 06/25 - £60 - Jenica - timing belt kit
- 03/25 - £338 - ME Hill Garage - cam belt change (105,116 miles)
- 02/25 - new battery
The Detail
- Factory standard car in red with well-kept paintwork as shown
- Due to age of car buyers, they should be realistic about the paintwork and bodywork condition
- Polished factory alloys in good condition with light marks as shown
- Vendor states car is mechanically original with no aftermarket upgrades
- We are told that every component works as it should
- Vendor describes the car as requiring no work whatsoever
- Grey fabric interior in very good condition with many original features, including stereo
- Factory spare wheel
- Clean carpets, including boot area as shown
- Cam belt and new battery in 2025
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