1992 ST185 Carlos Sainz #4353 - code name ICICLE

[SAS0662]

I've always found that life is too short to be driving boring cars and God - and my ex-wives - know, I have had my share of 'interesting' rides! As I came out of my mid-life crisis - which lasted longer than of anyone I know - I thought it' was time to 'settle' at one last (?) interesting ride! Thought hard about the meaning of this and the criteria for my choice: had to be something that would not cost crazy money to buy nor upkeep, something sporty but not temperamental, something to be used regularly but be different! And finally, since I work for Toyota, ideally something from the home stable...
So I soon had a shortlist: 4th Gen Crown hardtop coupe, 1st Gen Celica Coupe, 5th Gen Celica CS, MK4 Supra TT.
I was living in Japan at the time and started looking at some of the JDM cars; was actually ready to pull the trigger on a black Supra when I got word of my new assignment back in Europe! Back to the drawing board, as RHD cars were not really my thing for European use...
And then I focused on the 4WD Turbo Carlos Sainz! The ST185 model was offered in the early Nineties; the years that I had joined Toyota! A white Carlos Sainz was actually driven as a company car by our HR Director back then and I remember how much I coveted that car! It was a car that can be had in Europe in fairly good numbers but not always in good condition! I wanted the 4WD for snowy, winter driving but did not want the sunroof! And it had to be White because everybody knows that the white CSs were faster!
So, I started searching online and while still in Japan I found #4353 in Spain! White, no sunroof, 125k Kms, all original, good shape, right price! Pulled some strings and had a local Toyota dealer check the car and provide me with a technical and cosmetic report. A few scratches on the body, nothing serious! No rust, straight and dry! Good leather interior! A few technical little things to take care of: rear hatch shocks, sticking hazard switch, blocked rear washer, small hole in exhaust, sticking radio buttons. But, thermostat, water pump and engine stutter in 2nd gear and between 3000-4000 rpms!
Anyway, I agreed that the owner would pay for the small repairs and decided to buy the car! He dropped it off at the dealership, send me the papers and they did the work needed! I arranged for transport of the car from Spain to Germany and the long wait begun!!!
The dealership took some time to finish the work and the transport company had to wait to fit it in their delivery schedule to Northern Europe! No biggie though; I was still in Japan and while there I started collecting JDM parts that I planned to put on the Celica! Day after day, our Japanese-size apartment filled with car parts and accessories! And then, it was time to relocate...
Within 3 weeks, at 7:00am of a grey Saturday morning, my good friend and genius mechanic Uwe (his story to follow) sms'ed me a distant photo of a delivery truck full of brand new SEATs bound for Denmark! Right in between the Spanish metal, I could barely make out the white silhuette of a Carlos Sainz! "Your car is here!" was the message! "On my way!" I answered back...
...and so, the ICICLE (my son's nickname for the Celica) saga begins!
Thanks for your patience - if you stayed with me so far!
More to come...

[Mr Alltrac]

Welcome, Great looking car!
Looking forward to seeing what you have planned for it.

[msanders2]

It's beautiful.

[pintoBC_3sgte]

Congrats! Looks like a great find!!

[SAS0662]

Well...

visited the 'garage' again today - that's Uwe's 'hand-built' Supra overlooking the CS - and started looking at some of the various add-ons...


The TTE roof air vent...

Trial fit of the TTE Light Pod...

Fitting the HKS AFK...

Unpacked the Amplifier...

Door Speakers...

Tweeters...

and Subwoofer!
And, before you know it, it was time to fly back to the North!
Back in 2 weeks for more! Plan to take out the interior then...

[underscore]

Beautiful car! I wonder how it ended up losing the rear badge.

[SAS0662]

Rear badge???

[pintoBC_3sgte]

Rear RC badge I assume he is talking about

[SAS0662]

RCs are the JDM cars; in Europe, the Carlos Sainz Limited Edition did not have a rear badge...

[CSAlltrac]

She's beautiful. Congrats. I like where the mods are going as well.

[Locker]

That car is beautiful

[underscore]

RCs are the JDM cars; in Europe, the Carlos Sainz Limited Edition did not have a rear badge...

Ah derp I forgot, I was thinking of the Aussie Grp A's with the yellow badge and ended up thinking Europe got a yellow CS badge.

[XLarge]

Let me know when You´re at Uwe´s garage again. Maybe I could manage it to meet You and your CS in Person.

[st182er]

I would not even touch this car. so beautiful

[CMS-GT4]

Looks like it was a good find.