1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four

In the seller’s care since 2015, this 1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four arrived in the UK from Japan in 2003, therefore benefitting from the best possible start in life having dodged a decade of salt-laden winters.

This instantly elevates it above the 300 Euro-spec examples that have had a ten-year headstart in the corrosion stakes.

Resprayed in 2021 to freshen it up, ‘L516 NNK’ has also been judiciously upgraded with a few choice components including a carbonfibre fuel tank, which isn’t something we’ve come across before.

North Dorset Car Repairs carried out a bare-metal respray in its original colour of black in 2021 at a cost of £3,500. Obviously, being new paint, the vulnerable corners and door mirrors are all still pristine and it’s got a good shine to it, but a professional machine polish would elevate it still further.

The bodywork also aligns nicely, and there is no obvious rust to the outer body panels either, although there are dents on the bonnet and the offside rear wing.

The lamp lenses are good and try as we might we couldn’t spot any cracks or chips to their lenses. It’s also worth mentioning that all four headlamp lenses are genuine Toyota items too.

The badges might be a bit faded but they’re still presentable, and the glazing is free of chips and scratches.

The sunroof seals tightly within its aperture and operates smoothly. The headlining is taut and clean, including around the sunroof, which suggests it doesn’t leak, either.

The 16-inch alloy wheels, with their TRD centre caps, are free of scuffs and scrapes. Their design also allows you to admire the bright red brake calipers and ventilated and slotted brake discs that sit behind.

Tyres are matching 225/50R16 Infinity INF-05. While all have good tread on them, they were made in 2013 so the winning bidder should budget to replace them.

Other jobs to do include replacing the cracked rubber trim between the bonnet and front bumper, sorting out the scuff on the nearside front wheelarch and the chips on the rear spoiler supports, removing the glue that’s showing on both outer sills, and perhaps rectifying the paint on the door shuts, which isn’t to the same standard as everywhere else.

The rear numberplate plinth is the smaller Japan-market version too, although that may not bother you if you’re a fan of JDM-spec cars.

The grey fabric interior, trim code 20, is in a very good condition, including the heavily bolstered front seats that you’d expect to show considerably more wear than they do.

They’re also still firm and supportive with almost no softening of the outer seat bolsters: All-in-all, we can’t see anyone finding too much to complain about with the front seats, not even the fact they’re manually adjustable because that simply means they’re lighter and more reliable than the electric seats everyone thinks they want.

The two rear seats – there is a centre lap belt, but no-one is going to want to sit there for more than a few minutes – are in great shape and very shapely.

The controls and switches are still vividly marked and continue to operate with the sort of precision we all used to take for granted in Japanese and German cars.

The boot contains a space-saver spare wheel beneath the original ply cover. The floor of the wheel well appears to be solid with only a few spots of rust.

Problems inside appear to be limited to a worn Nardi steering wheel and similar patination to the handbrake handle. There is also a split in the top of the dashboard, and the gearlever, boot struts and mounting brackets are rusty.

Aftermarket Razo carbonfibre pedal covers are fitted, along with an alloy gearknob, speakers in the rear parcelshelf, a JVC headunit, a Clifford alarm, and a bracket on the nearside edge of the transmission tunnel.

Oh, and not forgetting a rather lovely set of JDM overmats.

May 2025 saw €1,100 invested on a fuel tank from Carbon Microsystem in Latvia, closely followed another for £1,814 for fitting it along with a few other bits and bobs.

Previous invoices show the following routine service work:

· 19.04.2004 and 79,798 miles – service by Loders Toyota

· 10.09.2004 and 85,465 miles – service by Loders Toyota

· 01.09.2005 and 92,120 miles – service by Loders Toyota

There are also receipts on file from Loders Toyota for various suspension, brake, and ignition components in 2004-06.

The engine now breathes through a foam air filter and exhales through a big-bore stainless-steel exhaust system. A Blitz breather is fitted too, and the battery looks recent.

As the video demonstrates, the two-litre turbocharged engine starts willingly and idles well. It revs smoothly and enthusiastically, and the exhaust note is a thing of joy.

There are no warning lights illuminated on the dashboard either, nor any odd noises or excessive smoke.

The engine bay is a bit dirty, and corrosion is evident on both steel and alloy components. The underbonnet sound-deadening pad is also worn and has been mended with silver duct tape.

Areas such as the front strut top mounts look good and solid, although there are a few spots of rust on the inner wings.

Other issues seem to be limited to a few light scuffs to the underside of the front bumper.

The underside looks to be good and solid with a combination of underseal and paint continuing to provide good protection. There is a small amount of rust on the sill seams but this is limited and appears to be nothing more than surface-deep. More urgent are the heavily corroded steel brackets at the front of the car, but even these would wait until you are sufficiently motivated to take ‘em off and paint them.

The suspension and steering bushes have been uprated, and their colour matches the red brake calipers. The front struts look recent and boast bright green springs. The fuel tank is made of carbonfibre.

The Celica’s MoT certificate is valid until February 2027 and its only advisory is for the condition of its rear numberplate, which could be sorted with a trip to Halfords.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar a marker for being an imported vehicle, and it comes with two keys and fobs.

The history file includes MoT certificates dating back to 2003, a couple of expired tax discs, and some invoices.

Cars from this era offer a beguiling blend of performance, reliability, and safety; factor in analogue engineering that’s easy to understand and repair and it’s no wonder prices are on the rise.

And yet, they are, for now at least, still accessible although who knows how long that will last.

This Celica will appeal to two distinct sets of enthusiasts: Those who like its lightly-modified status and fast-road specification; and those who intend to maximise its future value by returning it to factory-standard condition.

As a result, we wouldn’t be surprised to find representatives of the groups slogging it out in the final stages of the auction, after which we suspect the virtual hammer will drop around the £16,000 mark.

But, in the spirit of allowing the market to find its own level, the seller is happy to offer it with no reserve, so it’ll be going to a new home once the very first bid has been placed.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £12,000 - £16,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.