A Celica in name only, this IMSA GTO racer is the result of a fruitful collaboration between Toyota and Dan Gurney’s All American Racers.
Toyota teamed up with the legendary racing outfit in 1983 to compete in IMSA’s GTU class. By 1985, the team had won 10 races.
That same year, the decision was made to move up to IMSA GTO, and compete against Ford Mustangs, Porsche 911s, and Chevrolet Corvettes–with a Celica.
Naturally, the GTO racer–chassis 86T-002–bore little resemblance to the front-wheel-drive compact sold to the masses, instead constructed out of a tubular space frame and powered by a four-cylinder Toyota T engine that sent nearly 600 horsepower (before restrictions) to the rear wheels through a rear-mounted Hewland transaxle.
One of only three examples ever made, 86T-002 went on to secure the 1987 GTO championship and 19 podium finishes.
Find this 1986 Toyota Celica IMSA GTO for sale from Canepa, price available upon application.
