TOYOYA CELICA GT4/GROUP A
DESPITE THEIR SCARCITY IN THE LOCAL MARKET THESE POTENT TOYOTAS CHANGE HANDS FOR MODEST MONEY WHEN THEY COME UP FOR SALE
Toyota’s GT4 Celicas were superstars of world and local rallying until the company was banned for cheating. By the time Toyota Team Europe was allowed to compete again, technology had moved along and the Celica was a dinosaur. With an exemplary record of World Rally Championship wins prior to the adoption of a dodgy waste-gate design, the GT4R Celica should attract plenty of enthusiast interest and big money. However they currently struggle to do either.
The first GT4 Celicas sold in Australia were far less exclusive and expensive than the Group A version. Announced in March 1990 at a price of $44,980, the ST185 series incorporated all-wheel drive with a torque-splitting ‘Torsen’ centre differential and produced 153kW from the single-turbo 2.0-litre engine.
Late in 1991 came the first ‘Rallye’ version; the inspirationally-entitled ST185R. These came in a limited run of 5000 cars of which 150 came to Australia. Changes included different wheels and body embellishments, revised engine mapping to broaden the torque curve, a cooling system upgrade and gear linkages with more precise movement.
With a new shape and immense mechanical sophistication the Group A ST205R which appeared in time for the 1994 WRC season was a ‘homologation special’ in every sense. It could well have earned Toyota a third World Manufacturers title until it fell foul of the scrutineers.
Shorter overall but with a longer, wider wheelbase the ST205 responded faster to throttle inputs and direction changes than the previous model. Before being stripped for rally duty, the Group A justified some of its $77,000 list price by including goodies like leather seats, air-conditioning and a sound system that could easily drown the racket of rocks belting the underside at 200km/h on forest roads.
Engine capacity remained at 1998cc but maximum output soared to 178kW, developed at 6000rpm. with peak torque of 302Nm evident well before the stated 4000rpm. In WRC trim the Group A Celica could produce 50 per cent more power and double the torque of a production engine.
Improvements weren’t confined to the engine bay either. Among the most obvious external changes were a full-width rear wing with ‘GT Four’ embellishments, larger air intake at the front and 16 inch alloy wheels carrying 50 Series tyres.
MARKET REVIEW
GT4s are scarce in the current market but vendors seem reluctant to ask much money at all for these very competent cars. Good ones in road-going trim mostly sit below $10,000 and a fully-prepared ST185 rally car was recently offered for just $18,000.
Scarcity alone should dictate that ST185 Rallye versions – recognizable by their inset bonnet vent and revised nose – should generate more money than a basic version. However, when they do appear, cars in apparently excellent condition and showing around 100,000 kilometres cost less than $20,000. ‘Cloning’ is possible, so check for ID plates in the engine bay and mounted on the centre console.
Only 77 of the ST205R Celica came to Australia and are they are bound to be difficult to find. A bargain did pop up with a $35,000 asking price but it isn’t typical. Expect one in excellent condition with complete local history to be priced around $45,000.
Looking to the Japanese auction market may help if you’re impatient to find a cheap car for competition use. However the additional import costs and risk of having your car impounded for ‘asbestos certification’ are deterring many people at present and that in turn will affect prices for cars already here.