Description
The Toyota Celica ST165 was released in October 1986. This was the first road-going version of Toyota's 4wd WRC car and at the time had Japan's most powerful 2L engine. Powered by the 1st revision 3S-GTE engine, which pumps out 185 bhp, the ST165 goes from 0-63 mph in just over 8 seconds. Like the rally car, the road car also has the water-to-air intercooler and fulltime all wheel drive, which improved the handling a lot. Like all Celicas, the ST165 too got a facelift in August 1987. The later spec. models had a boost gauge, better brakes a gearbox oil cooler and some minor exterior tweeks. This 1989 model is one of the last to cross the production line and boasts all the facelifted upgrades. This current car has 7 previous owners.
As of January 2024 it’s believed that there are fewer than 25 GT-Fours currently registered for use on British roads. The number of SORN’d GT-Fours is also small but has been steadily growing since the early 2010s, a sure sign that solid examples are being squirrelled away for restoration and investment. It’s a safe investment too because the interest in historic Japanese thoroughbreds has only been going one way for many years, not just in the UK, Europe and the US but also in Japan where the followings for specialist, relatively small-run cars ike the GT-Four routinely grow to cult levels.
I bought the car in September 2019. I found it one day when I was randomly searching on facebook marketplace, not even looking for a Celica! It was over 3 hours drive away and it was in a sorry state, but something told me to take the journey over there and take a look. The car had been sat on the previous owners driveway for nearly 10 years, they didn’t want to sell it as he used the car to get married in, but thankfully realised it was time to go before it became beyond repair. I could see it needed a lot of work but that didn’t put me off, it felt right to do what the car needed which was to be saved! Thanks to covid there was a delay in getting the car to the bodyshop but it eventually underwent a full windows out restoration. As you can see from the photos, this completely transformed the car! Shortly after adding the OZ alloy wheels the car was complete and ready to enjoy (original alloys come with the car freshly refurbished). To keep the fresh paint in the best condition I applied a 5 year ceramic coating on it to protect it from all the elements, makes washing the car a lot easier.
I have spent around 20k to get the car to where it is at now. The list of things done to the car is extensive, but all the invoices and paperwork will come organised in a folder. A lot of the big work was done by a Celica specialist based up in Blackburn (M. K autos) who is renowned all over the UK for his work on these cars. Along with the folder, all the books that came with the car from new are also still present. The last big job was replacing the tired suspension with brand new BC fully adjustable coilovers, along with some polybushes, done in April this year. A full engine gasket set kit comes with the car (now obsolete), along with many other engine spares including the original air box and turbo actuator should you want to revert back to standard. The aircon system is currently removed from the car but again that can be added back should you want.
The next job on the list would be to clean up the oil that is visable from underneath the engine, I have had this investigated by my local garage and they have changed the rocket cover gasket as they discovered this to be leaking slightly, so there should be no more oil leaks. The exhaust seems to be blowing from around the manifold, the manifold has been repaired in the past so it is not cracked, the bolts just need tightening up where it meets the downpipe, this is a common issue and over time the bolts do come loose.
The car was on around 88 thousand miles and has only covered less than 3 thousand miles in my ownership, its only ever been taken out in the dry, driven to numerous shows and been on the odd prom duty too.
Main reasons for sale is due to lack of storage I now have, also I’m looking to inject money into my businesses.
Price is negotiable but I am reluctant to budge so please don’t expect to buy the car for a lot less. As the old saying goes, find me another in this condition in this country! I am also open to part exchange for a more modern car, something I can use all year round that will also hold its value.
Thanks for reading and I’m happy to chat to anyone with serious interestI purchased this particular model as my dad owned the same model Celica, in the same colour when I was growing up. Ever since I have been able to drive I have been on the lookout to buy one in the same colour/ spec, but up until a few years ago I never found the right car at the right time.
I found it one day when I was randomly searching on facebook marketplace, not even looking for a Celica! It was over 3 hours drive away and it was in a sorry state, but something told me to take the journey over there and take a look. The car had been sat on the previous owners driveway for nearly 10 years and was rotting away, they didn’t want to sell it as he used the car to get married in, but thankfully realised it was time to go before it became beyond repair. I could see it needed a lot of work but that didn’t put me off, it felt right to do what the car needed which was to be saved!
Thanks to covid pandemic there was a delay in getting the car to the bodyshop but it eventually underwent a full windows out restoration at my local bodyshop. As you can see from the photos, this completely transformed the car! Shortly after adding the OZ alloy wheels the car was complete and ready to enjoy.
A few months later, my dad came over from Spain to visit me, which is when I revealed the Toyota to him. I had kept it a secret that I bought the car and was doing it up as I wanted to wait until the car was in presentable condition to show him. It was one of happiest moments of my life and his! My favourite moment in the car to date is driving to MacDonald’s with him in the passenger seat going through the drive through, just like we did all them years ago in his!
This car stands out! Due to the new red paint that is on the car and the fact I have had it polished up, it really does turn heads. I've had the pleasure of doing a couple of proms in the car, one of which you can see in the photos. The rarity factor adds to the appeal as you just don't see any around at all especially in this condition. The pop-up headlights also make people smile as you just don't see them anymore and for me it is one of the best features of the car.
