1992 Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD Carlos Sainz

The "Super Red" painted car we have the pleasure to list is one of the 5000 "Carlos Sainz" limited edition Celica’s built. It is powered by the well-known 3S-GTE square engine (with a bore and stroke of 86mm) that delivers 208hp out of a 2000cc displacement. It was, as stated, built in 5000 units according to the FIA homologation rules for WRC cars while the "Carlos Sainz" moniker was chosen to honour the Spanish driver who had just won a WRC title for the marque. Aside from a Torsen differential at the rear, the air-to-air intercooler found on regular ST-185 Celica’s is replaced by a more stable water-to-air unit and various body parts are modified to better cater to the race car's needs: the hood features some air vents to better cool the engine bay, instead of an air intake to lower intercooler temperatures and a small inlet to cool the timing belt. Cooling needs aside the hood also shows two bulges where the suspension struts are located in order to accommodate the racing shocks found on the proper "WRC" car. The front bumper is also lighter compared to that of the st-185 model and hosts various air intakes to improve the cooling of both the brakes, oil coolers and whatever sorcery the race car had behind it. The gearbox was also uprated with triple-cone synchronisers for the 2nd and 3rd gear to help it survive the abuse Toyota knew it would have been subject to by enthusiasts and lower-class rally drivers alike. The Carlos Sainz limited edition also features a numbered plaque, as is expected on any limited-edition car.

The bodywork is in fair condition although it would benefit from being polished to remove some hazing and the little scratches you can see in the gallery and bring the Super Red colour back to its glossy glory. The most demanding customers would probably opt for a respray though since some minor areas are chipped and the wheel arches have seen better days. The front bumper has some scratches and shows clear signs of parking damage as well as some non-original rubber bumper guards. The rear trunk has a visible scratch near the car's emblem but, aside from this cosmetic imperfection, is in very good condition and free of the typical rear wing defects many Celica’s from that time show. The windshield and windows seals and trim are in good condition and still do their job very well. We cannot comment on what's the paint like underneath the rubber door guards the owner installed. The pop-up headlights work just as intended and the taillights are in equally good condition although they could probably benefit from a light de-hazing. The 15" wheels are in good condition but they clearly show some scratches and wear signs after 30 years of use. The tyres have some tread left but being old, would have to be replaced to properly enjoy this car's capabilities.

This car's interior is in overall good condition for its age, although some people might wish to tackle some minor repairs. Despite their 30 years of age, the seats show no excessive wear signs, aside from the typical creases that are to be expected and their padding is still perfectly functional. The same can be said about the rear ones. The three-spoke steering wheel only shows some minor wear marks despite the odometer telling us that the car covered 128.861km. The shift knob, instead, shows some signs of abuse like any Celica that has been enjoyed by its owner. The dashboard is extremely well preserved and the Plexiglas that protects the gauges is transparent and almost entirely void of defects, making the instruments easy to read in all lighting conditions. On the left sits the OEM boost gauge on top of the water temperature gauge and the fuel level meter. The round speedometer is located right at the centre, probably to prevent a driver from speeding and being fined after getting to enjoy the car a bit too much. The rev- meter is located to its right instead and contains a curious "economy" indicator. This kind of well-intentioned gift by Toyota almost makes us laugh if we think about this car's true purpose! All the other switches and instruments are in their place and show the kind of wear one would expect from a Japanese car built in the '90s. The ashtray and the panel that sits underneath the radio should probably be replaced given their current condition. The door cards are well preserved, aside from the passenger's side handle that's slightly scratched and worn. The carpets and the headliner are free of apparent tears and marked wear signs, although washing them would probably make them look 10 years younger. The phone holder that sits on the aftermarket knee pad is a mystery we couldn't crack; we cannot comment on how or when it was installed and on the condition of the panel they were installed on.

This is clearly one of the few Celica’s left unmolested by so-called tuners that profited from the Fast and the Furious craze and stands out for its level of originality. The engine bay, which should perhaps be cleaned, looks as you'd expect from a car that's been driven quite often without ever undergoing any form of restoration, opting instead for regular and methodical maintenance. There's some oxidation here and there and some superficial rust, especially near the strut towers and strut bar. Some hoses were replaced over the years and some weren't and the exhaust manifold's heatshield shows some discolouration. The water-to-air intercooler's paint is slightly exfoliated too but all these minor imperfections don't even come close to affecting the car's reliability or functionality. The undercarriage is well preserved and free of apparent rust signs. Perhaps the exhaust shows some rusting in some places, especially the manifold and downpipe but that's to be expected on a turbo car that's three decades old. Most other components show their age, dampers included. Water spray may have played a bit of a number on their appearance, that's true... however they seem to still work just fine albeit being a bit tired.

This one-owner Celica GT Four Carlos Sainz Limited Edition was first registered in Italy on July 17th, 1992. Its registration papers report that it's already been classed as a "classic car" in Italy (Veicolo di Interesse Storico e Collezionistico) by the ASI registry and therefore benefits from various Italian tax exemptions and reductions. It comes with its original "Celica Turbo 4WD Carlos Sainz Limited Edition" brochure and owner's manual. The 3S-GTE engine's workshop manual is also present. According to some papers, which however hold no legal value, the last timing belt replacement was performed in February 2022 however we cannot confirm that.

This Toyota Celica GT-Four Carlos Sainz can be considered a worthy purchase for a collector looking to buy a single-owner car to perform a surprise free restoration although a more practical enthusiast could find himself interested as well since this is a car that can be thoroughly enjoyed after performing just some regular, preventative maintenance. Both the bodywork and the interior have seen better times, that's for sure but who cares since the car's still so pretty? JDM cars from the 90s are rapidly earning a place in many collectors' warehouses and their prices are beginning to reflect that. Limited edition, single-owner cars will probably become scarce and even more expensive in the not-too-distant future so this little Toyota definitely looks like a good investment.

Price estimate for this Toyota Celica Carlos Sainz: € 21.500 - € 25.000

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located in the province of Rieti, Italy. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our “Frequently Asked Questions”.