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
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Vehicle specification
- Year 1989
- Make Toyota
- Model Celica
- Colour Red
- Odometer 91,228 Miles
- Engine size 1998
Listing Details
- Seller type Private
- Town Preston
- Location Lancashire
- Country United Kingdom
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