Among the cars that I found during my recent visit to Mega Web in Tokyo was this Castrol-colored ST185 Celica rally car. Now I'm not quite sure if this car is considered a "game changer" or not, but it's definitely an important part of Toyota's motorsport history, and the the history of rally racing in general.
The battered old Celica can be found on display outside the cafe on the 1st floor of the History Garage, just a few steps from the Toyota GT-One.
Throughout the early 1990s, Toyota Team Europe prepared many ST185s for use in global rally competition.
This car is actually one of the last ST185 rally cars, and one which was campaigned in the 1995 Safari Rally.
By that time the newer ST205 model was already in use, but Yoshio Fujimoto and Arne Hertz were able to claim victory in the '95 Safari Rally, giving the ST185 its final win.
The car is preserved exactly as it was at the end of the rally. "Rough" is a word that could be used to describe its condition.
The body is anything but straight.
Things like the spare tire rack on the rear further identify the Celica as a long distance rally warrior.
In some ways it looks less like a race car and more like something out of the Star Wars universe – beaten and used.
As far as I know this is one of the permanent displays at the History Garage, so if you want to see this beast in person – you know where to go.
-Mike Garrett
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
LOVE <3!
there is always something sad to see a great car put to display lying there with no life..
but i think the st185 lived a great life and aged very well..
farewell st185 a true rally monster.
Sad. The GT-ONE and the Celica are in the exact same condition and location I saw them 2 years ago. Maybe it's hard to tell from the pictures, but they are in like a semi opened area/court, outside of the historic garage, exposed to the elements, and no visible signs to tell visitors about their glorious past!
Those two cars should be in the Toyota Museum in Nagoya! Instead of being neglected here.
Well, it's not like the museum in Nagoya have anything interesting that take up all the space.
AND DO NOT PUT THEM ON JACK STANDS!!! PLEASE!!!
great to see a rally car spotlight. i wouldn't call this car a game changer as you said but still one great piece of machinery. thank you speedhunter for putting more about rallying on your site
I love this...
wow... pretty crazy! looks like it might be kinda fun to drive..
http://essracing-vmfracing.weebly.com/
I almost cried because is it with my own eyes in action during the 1995 safari rally when i was a young boy! i wish they could watch over it nicely!
No-one should ever touch or restore it.... It should be kept as/is as a tribute to the greatest, most gruesome rally ever!
I surely do hope the Safari Rally will be included in the WRC Calendar some day.
its more back to the future universe to me, just imo.
Bilstein shock, tein springs?
i love rally
I like that it's still in "survivor status". They should keep it that way at least for the remainder of the decade, then maybe restore it and bring it to Goodwood and some other vintage festivals.
Kankkunen really put the 185 through it's paces in 93. Wish I could have seen the both of them in their pinnacle.
my eyes have just watered i shook Yoshio's Hand at the parc Ferme when i was 9th, now i do rally in the national championship
man this is back when the Celica had awd and was a rally monster, what was toyota thinking with the last celica
This is the only JDM that i like
its not right that its out there semi-exposed to the elements. it should be left as is, but at least inside and have some information about its legacy around it. whats wrong with these people! i mean who owns this car? - Thanks
LONG LIVE THE 3SGTE
Sometimes the term "preserved" just means "dumped off the truck after the last race and left alone."
I think they should really preserve it (repair it)
The celica was a secret gamechanger the turbos were not acutally limited just made to look like they were and once they passed inspection a spring would open a flap and create 50 bhp more boost from the turbo.
Yes, this is exactly winning car of Safari rally in 1995 and I drove in Safari road in Kenya.
We did testing both ST205 and ST185 in Kenya beginning of 1995,
however still ST 185 had a lot of advantage for durability and maintainability,
that's why we were decided on driving ST185 in Safari Rally and
this is last rally for our factory ST185 entry for WRC.
You can feel and smell our sweating from cockpit.
You can see dust and dents after running 3000km rough savannah road in Kenya.
We had two times accident during the rally,
one is hit to Mtatu(local carryall) and had roll over!!
But fortunately we still possible to carry on competition.
So this is reason why Rally car had a lot of dents.
Yes, this is exactly winning car of Safari rally in 1995 where I drove in Safari road in Kenya.
We did testing both ST205 and ST185 in Kenya in beginning of 1995 however still ST 185 had a lot of advantage for durability and maintainability, that's why we were decided on driving ST185 in Safari Rally and this is last rally for our factory ST185 entry for WRC.
You can feel and smell our sweating from cockpit.
You can see dust and dents after running 3000km rough savannah road in Kenya.
We had two times accident during the rally, one is hit to Mtatu(local carryall) and had roll over!!
But fortunately we still possible to carry on competition.
So this is reason why Rally car had a lot of dents.
absolutely beautiful, a car worthy of being put on a pedestal and living the rest of it's life out resting and being admired of. However someone needs to build an exact replica and start rallying that
oh wow I just noticed Mr. Fujimoto himself commented on this very post. I am honored to view pictures of your car and it's beauty. I hope to see it one day in person. It was truly a win that you worked and fought hard for. I have much respect for these celica's and the times that you have raced. I wish I could of witnessed it in person.
a true rally icon better known in those days as the flying sausage as duncan won the 1994 wrc safari rally in it
that was the tte st205 not this car.
When I was a boy sega rally was the game this was the car. now im 30 and own my own.
awesome to see the legend in as was condition.
gt4 had the same amount of wrc drivers titles as the evo, all be it with 3 different drivers. and for an unchanged model the st185 with 3 titles surely must be close to the most succesful model as the evo was evo3,4,5,6 (maybe lancia hf)