Pre-bids

1989 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165

Highlights

  • Recent £20,000 restoration by Celica specialist MK Auto 
  • Suspension upgraded to BC fully adjustable coilovers and polybushed
  • Very rare and highly regarded rally-to-road crossover
  • Believed one of only 25 remaining on UK roads 
  • MOT to December 2024 with no advisories 

The Appeal 

The path from rallying to road is a well-worn one. Many manufacturers have either homologated cars for rallying or brought gravel-tech to the tarmac. None have done it quite so well as Toyota.
The Celica GT-Four dominated world rallying in the late 80s. The road cars were just as good. Borrowing much of the technology from its dirt-scrabbling siblings, the GT-Four is one of the greatest AWD road cars of the last 40 years. 
And yet just 25 remain road registered in the UK. They are a rare sight, which makes the arrival of this car a welcome one. Recently subject to a £20,000 restoration by Celica specialists MK Auto, it is in very good condition indeed. It is largely standard too - only some useful and desirable upgrades to the mechanicals and suspension deviating from factory standard. 
This is an enthusiast-owned car and it shows. The condition across the refurbished cosmetics is very good. There are recent upgrades to the suspension and a new rocker cover gasket. As a desirable facelift car it benefits from tweaked cosmetics plus a gearbox oil cooler and better brakes compared to earlier cars. 
With an advisory-free MOT to December 2024, this car is a great find and ready to use and enjoy. 

The History and Paperwork

  • First registered 1st July 1989 
  • Eight registered keepers 
  • Current keeper since September 2019 
  • Previous keeper stored the car for 10 years unused
  • Current keeper spent £20,000 on ‘glass out’ restoration post-COVID
  • Car has covered 3,000 miles since completion 
  • Most of the work was done by Celica specialist MK Auto 
  • Factory handbooks
  • Photographs and invoices for the restoration work 
  • Some of these are shown in the photographs 
  • Various spares included such as original airbox and turbo actuator 
  • Full engine gasket set included which is now obsolete
  • Current MOT to 18th December 2024 with no advisories
  • 90,786 miles showing on test and now showing 91,228 miles in photographs 
  • Vendor states that only 25 GT-Fours remain road registered in the UK 
  • This car is reported to have been one of the last GT-Fours built 
  • Clifford Cat 1 alarm system is installed (shown in photos) on the car for peace of mind and works as it should with two fobs

The Condition

  • Recent £20,000 bodywork and paintwork restoration 
  • Refinished in factory red which presents in very good condition 
  • No reported issues or marks to paintwork 
  • Paintwork treated to 5 year paintwork protection coating 
  • Bodywork presents well following recent restoration 
  • No structural advisories on current MOT 
  • Facelift car with lightly revised aesthetics 
  • Sits on OZ alloy wheels with white finish and good condition 
  • Vendor will supply original refurbished alloy wheels with car
  • Largely standard interior in grey cloth with good finish to seats and trim 
  • Some minor accessories added to interior as shown in photos 
  • We are told the a/c system has been removed but is supplied with the car
  • The sunroof has stopped working, the vendor suspects it may be related to the switch, a new one will be provided
  • No reported electrical issues and all functions said to work correctly 

The Mechanics 

  • 1,998cc 4cyl turbocharged 3S-GTE engine developing 185bhp 
  • 5spd manual gearbox 
  • Car restored and renovated by Celica Specialist MK Autos
  • Extensive invoices for mechanical overhaul shown in photographs 
  • Water to air intercooler similar to Celica rally cars
  • Full time AWD system 
  • Facelift car with improved brakes and gearbox oil cooler 
  • New BC fully adjustable coilovers 
  • Recently polybushed suspension 
  • Rocker cover gasket recently fitted 
  • Vendor advises that slight oil weep to engine could do with cleaning off
  • We are told there is a small exhaust blow at the manifold that vendor believes requires bolts tightened
  • Otherwise no reported driving or running issues
  • No mechanical or running gear advisories on current MOT 


BEFORE YOU BUY 
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 
The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions.. 
We request that a non-refundable fee  be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates. 
This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind. 
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing. 
We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence. 
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own  full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle. 
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection 
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. 
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Auction Details

  • Year1989
  • MakeToyota
  • ModelCelica
  • ColourRed
  • Odometer91,228 Miles
  • Engine size1998cc
  • Seller TypePrivate
  • TownPreston
  • CountyLancashire
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • Auction ends

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