1952 MG TD

3S9156679 In a sport dominated by the Europeans and in an era that was coming to grips with the demise of Group B, 1988 saw the debut of Japan's first entry into the demanding World Rally Championship with the Group A ST165 Celica. An all-wheel drive, turbocharged version of its roadgoing counterpart, the Celica had a moderately successful start to its career - it wasn't until the 1989 Rally Australia before Toyota had its first taste of victory. 1990 was a different story, with Carlos Sainz taking the drivers title and narrowly missing out on defending it a year later against a defiant Juha Kankkunen in the hard-hitting Lancia Delta HF Intergrale.

The ST185 Celica debuted at the 1992 Rally Monte Carlo, went on to win four events that year and ultimately claim World Drivers Championship. Garnering further titles in 1993 and 1994, the ST185 Celica became Toyota's most successful rally car to date. Based on Toyota's fifth generation Celica, the GT4 Group A was a limited edition homologation special commemorating Sainz's World Rally Championship a year earlier.

Taking the most powerful and expensive model in the Celica line-up, the GT-Four with it's 3S-GTE 2-litre turbocharged engine, the Group A added a different intercooler, a revised bonnet with distinctive scoop and lightweight bumpers plus distinctive Group A decals. Just 5,000 units were built in total, with 1,800 allocated to the home market in Japan, 3,000 for Europe, 150 for Australia, 25 to Singapore and few made it to New Zealand. In Australia, the Celicas were marketed as the Group A Rallye and each of the 150 featured a plate bearing the number and name of the first owner.

The GT4 also featured a long list of standard equipment, including an auto tilt-away steering wheel, electric driver's seat and cruise control. The asking price in 1991 exceeded $45,000, making it one of the most expensive Celicas ever sold here. Number 108/150 of the Australian editions, this black example was delivered through Phil McCarrol Toytota in Wiatara, NSW the car has travelled 84,300 kms and remains in excellent condition throughout.

Formerly owned by a Sydney collector, the car has received regular servicing and remains in original, unmodified condition. Included are the service books, owners manuals and the car is being sold registered in NSW.