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Sandwiched between first Celica 1600GT and later Celica 2000GT was the Toyota Corolla mentioned elsewhere. What makes these four models of Celica interesting is the fact that they were all more or less quite the same car with various updates here and there. First body used was the more rounded 1600GT but with by far too pitiful engine, 1600cc producing only some 135 hp.
So it was abandoned and same engine fitted to smaller Corolla. Story did not end there, when engine was upgraded to full two litres and fitted with 16-valve cylinder head, it produced 200 hp. It was not this upgrade that caused TTE to switch from Corolla to Celica but order from HQ at Japan, where Celica was viewed as sports model in need of rallying programme, not the Corolla.
With bigger engine, Celica's prospects suddenly looked good. Until FIA banned multi-valve cylinder heads, dropping power outputs. This ban was lifted in early 1980's and by that time engine had been refined further, power output being now at respectable 230 hp and coupled with improved car overall, Celica 2000GT began achieving results.
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| Debut WRC event: | N/A |
| Best WRC result: | 1st by Bjorn Waldegard in New Zealand 1982 |
| Rallies contested: | 2 | (works entries) |
| WRC starts: | 3 | (works entries) |
| Outright wins: | 1 | (wins to rallies ratio 50.0%) |
| Podiums: | 11 | (podiums to starts ratio 366.7%) |
| DNF's: | 2 | (DNF's to starts ratio 66.7 %) |
| Points scored: | 194 | (manufacturer championship points) |
| Avg points per rally: | 97.0 | |
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| Group and class | Group 4 |
| Engine |
| Location: | Front longitudinal |
| Turbo: | No |
| Cylinders: | 4 in line |
| Valves: | 16 |
| Bore x stroke: | 89.0 x 80.0 mm |
| Cubic capacity: | 1998 cc |
| Power: | 245 hp |
| Torque: | 250 Nm |
| Compression ratio: | 10.5:1 |
| Dimensions |
| Length: | 4330 mm |
| Width: | 1640 mm |
| Height: | 1325 mm |
| Wheelbase: | 2500 mm |
| Front track: | 1280 mm |
| Rear track: | 1285 mm |
| Weight: | 1000 kg |
| Transmission |
| Drive: | RWD |
| Gears: | 5 |
| Sequential: | No |
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Leif Asterhag and Ove Andersson posing alongside the small 1600cc engine Celicas (TA22) before 1973 RAC Rally.
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Essentially the same car but with two liter engine (RA20).
(Photo: Slowly Sideways / McKlein)
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Third version, mechanically similar but with new body shell (RA40).
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Final version before TCT and the only one with WRC win to it's credit (RA63).
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