- 6,632
- Portugal
StarLight presents an legendary rally car, the Toyota Celica Twin-Cam Turbo TA64 Group B
from 1984. A car also known as the King of Africa.
The Toyota Celica was also the last RWD Celica rally car. The drivers behind the wheel were mostly Juha Kankkunen or Bjorn Waldegard between 1983 and 1986.
Bjorn Waldegard was the first man to win the WRC Drivers Championship in 1979.
Car suggestion by CostasDrifter.
A tribute to
Bjorn Waldegard
R.I.P.
12/11/1943 – 29/8/2014
Bjorn Waldegard
R.I.P.
12/11/1943 – 29/8/2014
The TA64 was the product of one of the most exciting phases of rallying. Between 1983 and 1986, the World Rally Championship adopted its Group B regulations, which required car manufacturers to produce and sell 200 units of a model in order for it to achieve homologation for the new formula.
Working in conjunction with Toyota Team Europe, Toyota devised a plan to build 200 road cars, 20 ‘evolutionary’ versions for rallying and a powerful new engine. Some rival manufacturers opted for four-wheel drive, but the Celica Twin-Cam turbo retained a rear-wheel drive powertrain. The 2.1-litre engine could produce up to 390bhp, making the TA64 one of the most powerful two-wheel drive rally cars ever built.
The car made its debut on the 1983 1,000 lakes Rally and was driven by Juha Kankkunen to a sixth place finish. On its next outing it was an outright winner, piloted by Bjorn Waldegard to victory on the 1984 Ivory Coast Rally.
The Celica proved to be particularly strong and reliable, a testament to the high standard of preparation achieved by TTE. This made it ideal for the gruelling African events and between 1984 and 1986 it won a clean sweep of three Safari and three Ivory Coast rallies, earning its regal nickname. The car’s dominance was only ended when the Group B format was dropped at the end of 1986 in favour of the lower powered Group A cars.
The experience gained in developing the TA64 proved perfect preparation for Toyota’s next generation of four-wheel drive rally cars, which succeeded in delivering Toyota three WRC manufacturers’ titles and four drivers’ championship titles.
The Celica also competed at the Middle East Rally championship in 1986, 1987 and 1988,
all won by Mohammed Bin Sulayem.
Specifications
Country: Japan
Year: 1984
Engine
Engine: 2.1-litre Modified 4T-GT, EFI
Type: 4 cylinder
Valve: 2 per cylinder
Displacement: 2090 cc
Compression ratio: 7.1:1-8.0:1
Lubrication: Dry-sump
Bore: 89
Stroke: 84
Torque: 324 Nm @ 5000 rpm
Power: 390 hp @ 7500 rpm
Specific: 217,8 hp/l
Transmission: 5-speed
Drive: Rear-wheel drive
Dimensions
Length: 4250 mm
Width: 1785 mm
Height: 1310 mm
Wheelbase: 2500 mm
Track front: 1410 mm
Track rear: 1440 mm
Weight: 1020-1100 kg
Performance
Power to weight-ratio: 2.6 - 2.8 kg/hp
THE OTHER TOYOTAS ARE HERE
Last edited:
