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3K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  bmwdirtracer 
#1 ·
Some of you petrol heads might like this. I decided I needed to keep the mileage down on the Z3M I was using daily, and that a cheap hatchback that would be good in the snow was a sensible option......


Here's what I found:
20150914_191256 by MattH3764, on Flickr


20150910_062725 by MattH3764, on Flickr


It's a Celica GT Four WRC special edition from 1994. The WRC was used to homologate the ST205 cars that rallied in the mid 90s so it has some rarity and motorsport heritage. It contains the plumbing for an anti lag system in intercooler cooling system that the other GT4s didn't have......


I've only had one clear run in it so far but the performance can only be described as savage. There's bags of torque, and the planted feel of 4wd makes it very useable. Early impression is that as a cheap car for commuting and track days it should be a great option. It's had minor mods including a boost controller, dump valve and exhaust. It was nice to find one with OEM wheels, although tyres in the 16" size will be a pain.....


It's my first experience of a modified Japanese car, and I'm aware of some owners somewhat looking down on the "Jap scene". Until you drive one of these cars I'd encourage anyone not to do that......and you're all such well rounded people I don't doubt that will be the case.........


There's a track day I want to attend in October, so early attention to brakes and tyres is likely.
 
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#4 ·
Thanks Chaps.


Ben - I hear you re the styling, but I recall seeing the ST165 Celica at the Lombard RAC rally when I was a young boy, and developed an affinity for the car at that point. I actually had the non GT4 version of the ST165 when I was in my 20s, and I always felt that the ST205 (the last ever GT4) was the ultimate incarnation that I would own at some point. I think that makes me see through the styling, but I can see where you are coming from.....
 
#5 · (Edited)
It's not that were not well rounded but the Japs also came up with other things like Hello Kitty and Tamogachis , they're a bit from another planet.
Does it have underbody lights , a NOS button and a Vin Diesel autographed picture on the sun visor ? :smile

The rear wing is .... ummm ... soon to be for sale ? (is that for real standard on these ?)

Other than the first Nissan GTRs (the later ones look like shot of steam irons) I'm not into 90's and later Jap cars. To me Jap classic cars are Datsun 1600, 240Z, original RX7 before they went transformers on it, original Celica (what a car for it's time) so my clock stopped on Japan 20 years ago.

I'm sure it's a great and quick car to drive and a homologation special makes it collectible. It will be worth multiples of what you paid for it 10 years from now.

Still nothing pulls big boobed Asian and Latin girls like a rice racer ... I've seen it in the movies.

Edit

I've worked out the rear spoiler is for






.
 
#7 · (Edited)
I just read up on the specifications for this car.

Very impressive for 1994 and only 400 were sold outside of Japan.

The Celica GT-Four ST205 was launched for the Japanese market in February 1994, and for the Australian, European, and British markets in the mid-year. This version was to be the most powerful Celica produced to date, producing between 242 PS (178 kW; 239 bhp) for the export model and 255 PS (188 kW; 252 bhp) for the Japanese market model from an updated 3S-GTE engine matched to the E154F gearbox. Influenced strongly by Toyota Team Europe, Toyota's factory team in the World Rally Championship, the final version of the GT-Four included improvements such as an all-aluminum hood to save weight, four-channel ABS (optional for the Japanese market), an improved (enthusiast dubbed) CT20B twin entry/turbocharger, and "Super Strut Suspension".

The 2500 units homologation cars built to allow Toyota to enter the GT-Four as a Group A car in the World Rally Championship also sported extras such as all of the plumbing required to activate an anti-lag system, a water spray bar and pump for the front intercooler, a basic water injection system, a small hood-mounted spoiler aft of the windscreen washers (also standard fit on all UK cars) and an extender rear spoiler mounted on risers. Out of the 2500 GT-Four WRC built, 2100 stayed in Japan, 300 were exported to Europe, 77 for Australia, 5 for New Zealand and a few to the general markets. The Japanese market ST205 came with a standard automatic climate control air conditioner, but ABS was initially optional and became standard from August 1996. Export WRC models only received a manual air conditioner system but all came with standard ABS.
I'd be upgrading the wheels and tyres to 18 or 19" (you can put the originals in sealed bags in the garage) then you have access to modern tyre compounds and sizes.

With different wheels and a different angle it looks alright



in your photo above it looks to me a bit like this from the back





Just pop the headlights up on the Celica to go 'full turbo' (snail)

Maybe you can put a little snail sticker on the back bumper for a bit of fun :)



Enjoy the Celica , it's good to see boyhood dreams come true !


,
 
#8 ·
Tony's absolutely right, you should mimic the air-cooled Porsche guys and bag up the original 16s (sometimes 15s) in favor of lightweight 17s. Or play the baller air-cooled Porsche owner and just run slicks on the street.

Everyone prefers the look of the smaller original wheels, but tire availability is a real (1st world) struggle in 15-16" over 225 width.

I love these Celicas, and I wish Toyota had imported them to the States. Silly bits like the WRC plumbing being installed get me all hot and bothered. I love those '90s WRC videos!
 
#9 · (Edited)
I had a Celica GT4 - the model before yours (it was a 1990 car), I got it in 1991 with 3000 miles on it.

Had the car for four years, it was awesome, but cost a small fortune to keep in tip top condition, mainly the main dealer servicing and tyres (each corner was £350 'ish even then), as I was doing circa 30k miles per year (as you do when younger and in possession of a good wage, low family overheads and very fast car).

Enjoy !
 
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#12 ·
+1

And black on gold is absolutely choice, it is the combo everyone favors on my 911.

How has this car been running?

Interested to hear your take on the PS3s. They must be good because they are popular with super OCD, whiney 911 guys :grin
 
#13 ·
Thanks for the nice comments - and black and gold was very deliberate - call it a JPS Lotus tribute.


Car has been running pretty well. It had been laid up before I bought it and I knew there would be some re-commissioning, and indeed I have had work done to brakes, suspension struts (expensive) and the thermostat needed replacing. Big one is the clutch, and it goes in to a specialist for an uprating one in about 9 days time. Then I should finally be able to use all the boost.


But the fundamentals - rust free, low mileage, homologation edition, not too modified seem to be there. Most pleasing is that the engine / drivetrain feels strong and barely uses any oil. So very happy with it considering I paid what E34 M5s were going for about 6 years ago.


I've used Ps3s for years on a Z3M Coupe and been very happy. On a wet track-day an instructor commented on how well the tyres hung on. It was that experience that persuaded over the Goodyear F1 Asymmetric.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I'm surprised this car isn't worth bonkers amounts yet with the current classic car market.

And I misread your PS3 reference, I was thinking of AS3s. We don't have a PS3 in the US as far as I know, we have the PSS and then the AS3 all-season. A cursory interwebz search shows the PSS is newer than the PS3, but who knows.

The AS3 is an all-season, but apparently out-grips nearly all other ~300tw summers from other brands, FWIW, which is why even 911 guys dig them for non-track work.

My 235 PSS on the M5 will hardly break loose at all, while the 265 Conti DW I had would slip with ease.
 
#18 ·
PSS is the evolution of the PS2, which is more sporty than the PS3. I like PS3 because it is a good everyday tyre but I suspect better track drivers than I would wear through them pretty quickly. The reviews I read on PSS are pretty unambiguous that it is awesome on the track. I have PS2s on my E34 M5, and very happy with those.

Need update re girls with big charlies.


Sadly little to report. But for amusement if you search on "E34" items in ebay you occasionally get results for oversize bras (34E), which I think is quite amusing.
 
#19 ·
Please ring my vote for the PSS as the best all around, street and track, wet and dry tire....

...3 seasons only - in snow it immediately comes to a dead stop. But on a wet racetrack or road, it is heroic. In the dry, You'll need to go to less than a 180 treadwear, to beat the PSS.
 
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