Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST185)
The ST185 Celica GT-Four carried Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol to four consecutive WRC drivers' titles (1990–1994 era) and made Toyota the first Japanese manufacturer to win the world championship.
History
Toyota Team Europe under Ove Andersson built its Group A challenge on the Celica GT-Four line: the ST165 drew first blood (Sainz's 1990 title), but the ST185 of 1992–94 became the definitive car. Its 3S-GTE 2.0 turbo, permanent four-wheel drive and — crucially — TTE's relentless reliability engineering suited the era's brutal calendar, from Safari to 1000 Lakes.
The record came fast: Sainz's second crown in 1992, Kankkunen's fourth in 1993 alongside Toyota's first manufacturers' title (a Japanese first), and Auriol's championship in 1994 — three different champions in three seasons in the same car, a feat unique in WRC history. Safari and Monte Carlo wins bookended its range.
The ST185's story carries an asterisk-shaped sequel: its ST205 successor was excluded from 1995 after TTE's ingenious illegal turbo-restrictor bypass was discovered — a scandal that retroactively burnished the ST185's clean dominance. Homologation road cars (the Carlos Sainz/Group A Rallye editions) built in 5,000 units are now sought-after Japanese modern classics, and genuine TTE rally chassis are documented, collected and increasingly seen at historic rally demonstrations.
Palmarès
WRC drivers' champions 1992 (Sainz), 1993 (Kankkunen), 1994 (Auriol); manufacturers' champion 1993 and 1994; 16 WRC wins for the ST185 including Monte Carlo 1993, Safari 1992–93 and 1000 Lakes — with the model's three-champions-in-three-years run unmatched by any other rally car.
What to check before you buy
Road GT-Fours: verify the genuine 'Carlos Sainz'/RC homologation edition (water-to-air intercooler, specific plumbing) versus standard ST185s; rust hides in rear arches and strut towers, and 3S-GTE turbo/head-gasket history matters. For competition cars, TTE chassis records and period entry lists separate real Group A cars from tribute builds — the works cars are known. Group A replicas are excellent historic-event tools; price follows drivetrain spec (genuine TTE transmission parts are rare) and shell preparation quality. Whichever tier you buy, budget for the 3S-GTE's cooling system — the engine's one persistent weakness under competition load — and confirm the transfer box has seen gearbox-oil discipline, because neglect there is the classic GT-Four failure.
Did you know
- TTE's Cologne workshops later became Toyota's F1 factory — and today build the GR Yaris Rally1; the ST185 sits mid-genealogy in one unbroken competition lineage.
- The ST205's 1995 restrictor cheat was called by FIA inspectors 'the most sophisticated device ever found' — discovered only because the assembly was machined too beautifully to be stock.
- Kankkunen's 1993 title made him the first four-time world champion — each title won in a different make, ending in the Celica.
In the marketplace now
View all →No exact Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST185) listed right now — here is closely related machinery on the market.
Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta
1967 Lotus Elan s3
1985 Lola T711 Corvette GTP Race Car
1968 Chevrolet Nova
2026 Ferrari 296 Challenge – Never Raced – 908 KM
LMP3 FOR SALE
Lancia Beta Coupé 2000
