The Classic Sale At Silverstone Festival 25th - 27th August 2023

+ buyers premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15% incl VAT) on the first £300,000 of the hammer and 10% plus VAT (12% incl VAT) thereafter 25 We are privileged to be able to offer for sale one the very last surviving ex-Toyota Team Europe 1979 Toyota Celica GT RA40 Group 4 WRC rally car, the actual example driven by Björn Waldegård, the WRC’s first drivers’ champion, on the 1980 Lombard RAC Rally. This car is thought to be one of just a handful of such examples built and campaigned by Toyota for only a six-month period or so whilst competing in the WRC. This car, chassis #TA40000100666, as the last of its kind has, in recent times, inspired the creation of a faithful well-respected replica example, which is very well-known to the historic rallying fraternity, and is regularly campaigned and seen at such places as the Goodwood Speed Week. The original works car was built by Toyota Team Europe (TTE) in Cologne and first registered in Germany, bearing assigned ‘K-AE 3460’. The car’s international rallying career began in May 1980 at the WRC Acropolis International Rally, with Andersson Ove and Liddon Henry finishing sixth overall. The car was then used in August 1980 by Tapio Rainio and Erkki Nyman on the WRC 1000 Lakes International Rally in Finland to finish 7th overall. The car’s next outing in November 1980 saw the, then, reigning World Rally Champion, Björn Waldegård, drive it in the WRC Lombard RAC International Rally of Great Britain accompanied by Hans Thorszelius. A competitive drive saw them leading until their retirement in the Grizedale stage, and records show that they set fastest time on four of the 70 special stages. In early February 1981, the motoring press announced (see attached article) that Toyota GB would be opening their own motorsport programme, based in their new competition department and preparation workshop in South London. They announced that they would enter Per Eklund in the full Group 4 Celica in all rounds of the Open Championship. The article went on to further confirm that the car to be used throughout the season was the same car that Björn Waldegård had used on the previous year’s RAC Rally. Initially, #TA40000100666 was assigned the UK- registration ‘FYY 48W’ and competed in the 1981 Mintex International Rally driven by Per Eklund with Spjuth Ragnar, who were third overall but were dropped down to 11th overall due to penalties awarded by the organisers. The car was subsequently assigned the Guernsey registration ‘G-23484’ and competed in the following events (in addition to the 1981 Rally Sprint): 1981 Circuit of Ireland International Rally (Per Eklund/Frank Main) to sixth overall, 1981 West Park International Welsh Rally (Per Eklund/Frank Main) Retired, 1981 Lombard Scottish International Rally (Per Eklund/Frank Main) to ninth overall, 1981 Rothmans Manx International Rally (Per Eklund/Frank Main) Retired, and Pace Petroleum National Rally (Per Eklund/Frank Main) to sixth overall. Our vendor purchased #TA40000100666 over 30-years ago and has lovingly maintained it, preserving its original body panels/components and curating its history file. Considering the international events it competed in, it maintains most of its original features, including its bodyshell. Despite competing on some of the roughest events of its time, such as the Acropolis and Scottish rallies, it remained solid with only a little TLC required. Over a period, it has been sensitively restored. Over the past ten years or so, #TA40000100666 has been used for non- competitive demonstration events, such as the Donington Park Historic Festival, Rally of the Midlands, Oulton Park Gold Cup, Lombard Bath, Mintex Rally Yorkshire and Rally Day. The engine fitted is a lightened and balanced, 18RG in-line, four-cylinder unit with twin overhead camshafts with fully adjustable pullies, competition pistons, polished rods and a gas-flowed head. It’s fitted with twin 45 Webers, a custom exhaust manifold, a bespoke six-paddle clutch and a heavy-duty starter motor/alternator etc. Previous rolling-road printouts show approx.193bhp. The car is accompanied by a photo album relating to period rally events and vehicle restoration and also included is a letter from TTE relating to the history of #TA40000100666 whilst managed by them, plus an extensive history file including bills for work carried out. One of the last surviving WRC Toyota Team Europe (TTE) Celica RA40, highly original, sympathetically restored and offered to market for the first time in over 30 years. Lot 316 1979 Toyota Celica GT RA40 Group 4 Ex-Works WRC Rally Car - Ex-Björn Waldegård Registration: BPA 857Y Chassis No.: TA40000100666 Estimate: £120,000 - £140,000 Specialist: Joseph Watts Telephone No: 07779 082707 More Details Lot 316 Bid On Lot 316