Why the Toyota GT86 is a modern classic

The story of the GT86

When Toyota ended production of the GT86 last year, it closed the book on one of the great driver’s cars of recent years. A modest 7,500 found homes in the UK since 2012, but the impact of the GT86 is far greater. It marked Toyota’s rebirth as a credible sports car maker – and for that, we should all be thankful.

Read on for a brief history of the GT86, including many of Toyota UK’s racing-inspired special editions.

Looking to the past

Toyota has a lengthy sports car heritage, starting with the 1965 Sports 800 in the foreground. Its 800cc engine produced a mighty 45hp. The beautiful red 1967 Toyota S2000 is more potent, with 150hp from its 2.0-litre straight-six. A convertible S2000 famously starred in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice.

Coming out fighting

The GT86 was launched in 2012, alongside the near-identical Subaru BRZ. Indeed, its 200hp 2.0-litre flat-four engine came from Subaru, helping the car achieve a low centre of gravity. A plethora of awards soon followed, including Car Of The Year from Top Gear and Pistonheads, plus Britain’s Best Driver’s Car from Autocar.

Steer from the rear

Key to the GT86’s appeal was a beautifully balanced, rear-driven chassis. Factor in lucid steering, a snappy manual gearshift and a propensity for oversteer, even at sensible speeds, and the stage was set for a memorable driving experience. The Mazda MX-5 was its only real rival.

Getting the basics right

While other coupes majored on huge touchscreens and endless options, the GT86 kept it simple with an unadorned steering wheel, analogue dials, toggle switches and a beefy manual handbrake. Did we use the latter for going even more sideways? Our lips are sealed.

Spoiler alert

The 2014 GT86 Aero was one of the most distinctive specials launched over the years. It boasts a towering two-tone spoiler, bodykit and 18-inch OZ Ultraleggera alloy wheels. Other limited-run GT86s tended to sport lurid colours, such as bright yellow and orange.

GT86 goes rallying

The GT86 CS-R3 rally car made its competitive debut in 2014. Its boxer engine was tuned to 240hp and mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox. Privateer racers could buy one for around £80,000.

It’s a wrap

In 2015, Toyota UK dressed six GT86s in classic motorsport liveries. They’re all fantastic, so let’s look at the six race and rally cars referenced, plus reveal how the GT86s were modified to suit (yes, it goes beyond just stickers).

Seventies style

This rally replica GT86, which we spent a very enjoyable week driving, is based on the Celica 1600GT that competed in the 1972 Daily Mirror RAC Rally.

Toyota Celica 1600GT

Swedish driver Ove Andersson took the Celica to a class win, ahead of its rival Datsun 240Z. His success led to Toyota setting up a proper works rally team.

Slide ruler

Like the rear-wheel-drive Celica, the GT86 also knows how to slide – despite the wider alloy wheels and tyres fitted to these retro remakes.

Going Gran Turismo

Anyone who has played Gran Turismo on the Playstation will recognise these iconic Castrol colours. This particular GT86 celebrates the Toyota Celica GT-Four WRC rally car.

Castrol Toyota Celica GT-Four

Seen here getting some air with Juha Kankkunen at the wheel, the Celica GT-Four won the World Rally Championship in 1993 and 1994. Its reign was ended by Colin McRae’s Subaru Impreza in 1995.

In search of stance

Toyota fitted V-Maxx progressive lowering springs to its retro GT86s, in conjunction with the original dampers. These drop the cars 40mm closer to the road.

Need for speed

You can’t miss this one. The bright yellow and green GT86 is inspired by the Toyota 2000GT that set three world speed and endurance records in 1966.

Yatabe Speed Trial Toyota 2000GT

The rare and exotic 2000GT averaged a remarkable 128.76mph over 72 hours at Japan’s Yatabe high-speed test circuit. It’s also rather beautiful – as per the usual ‘Japanese E-Type’ comparisons.

It was all yellow

The alloy wheels for each GT86 were chosen to resemble the original racing rims as closely as possible. The Rota Retro 2 wheels seen here were specially sourced by Rare Rims before their official launch.

American dream

This GT86, now owned by a member of Toyota’s PR team, also evokes a Toyota 2000GT: the Shelby-tuned SCCA (Sports Car Association of America) racer.

Shelby Toyota 2000GT

In a bid to crack the American market, Toyota handed a 2000GT to Carroll Shelby, of Shelby Cobra fame. Lighter, lower and stiffer, the Shelby 2000GT finished the 1968 SCCA season in second and third places.

A clean pair of exhausts

Those fat tailpipes aren’t standard either. The cat-back exhaust system is made by Milltek Sport and offers more noise and fractionally more power.

Going for gold

This go-faster-striped GT86 is perhaps our favourite. Its livery echoes the IMSA GTU Toyota Celica racing car of 1981.

IMSA GTU Toyota Celica

The wide and wild Celica competed in the GTU (less than 2.5 litres) class of the American IMSA championship. Its best result was second place overall in 1985.

Always believe in your soul

We’re suckers for those gold wheels and oh-so-Seventies stripes. But this isn’t the wildest looking GT86 of the six.

Earning its stripes

This tiger-striped Toyota pays tribute to the Esso-sponsored Supra touring car. It’s not for the shy.

Esso Ultron Tiger Toyota Supra

The Supra competed in the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) from 1995 to 2006, winning the overall title four times. After several years of Castrol sponsorship, the car wore Esso Ultron Tiger livery in 1999 and 2000.

Put a Tiger in your tank

Unlike the other cars here, this GT86 was fully wrapped in orange vinyl before the additional graphics were applied. The positioning of the tiger stripes had to be adapted to suit the car’s shape.

Scissors at the ready

Can’t afford a real GT86? This version was built using a colour printer, scissors and glue. The template is available to download as a PDF from The Official Blog of Toyota UK website – along with the other five cars seen here.

The GT86 Le Mans tributes

In 2018, Toyota was at it again, celebrating the 86th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with three GT86 special editions – each wearing the dramatic Aero bodykit and rear wing.

Toyota TS050 Hybrid

This livery evokes the TS050 Hybrid, which went on to triumph at Le Mans 2018. It made Toyota only the second Japanese manufacturer to win the race, following Mazda in 1991. The TS050 combines a 2.4-litre turbocharged V6 with advanced lithium-ion batteries.

Toyota TS010

The TS010 was a Group C racer from 1992. It managed second place at Le Mans and won the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship. Perhaps the coolest one-off GT86, this car sports 18-inch Rota MXR alloys and 40mm lowering springs.

Toyota TS020

Here’s the car we actually drove down to Le Mans 2018 – and what a memorable weekend that was. It’s inspired by the TS020 (also known as the GT-One), which raced at Le Mans in 1998 and 1999, finishing in ninth and second places respectively. The GT86 isn’t quite as quick, but its Milltek Sport exhaust adds a few extra horsepower.

A sporting legacy

The GT86 was only judged a commercial success by the skin of its teeth. However, it helped reignite Toyota’s interest in sporty road cars, leading to the Yaris GRMN, GR Supra and brilliant new GR Yaris. Alongside the Gazoo Racing motorsport teams, it has transformed this formerly staid company into one enthusiasts can get excited about.

Bring on the GR86

So, what comes next? The good news is the GT86 will be replaced – and that car will likely be called ‘GR86’. Whether it comes to the UK still hasn’t been confirmed, however. For now, then, it’s farewell to the GT86. Gone, but not forgotten.