Hyundai Tiburon Turned Into A Toyota Celica WRC Impersonator With Cheap Mods
The car boasts the “Wimbledon Package,” a Balkan trick using tennis balls for a springy 2-inch lift
September 21, 2024 at 07:37
- A first-gen Hyundai Tiburon turned into a fake “Tojota Celika” with a “Kastrol” livery.
- The model got a large wing, off-road tires, and a roof box for extra practicality.
- Chassis mods are limited to placing tennis balls in the springs, resulting in a 2-inch lift.
The Toyota Celica GT-Four rally car has one of the most iconic liveries in motorsports history, inspiring legions of fans to kit out their own rides in homage. Yet, it appears the Castrol wardrobe isn’t exclusive to Toyotas, as evidenced by a Hyundai Coupe (Tiburon) sporting the iconic green and red.
This fashion faux pas, dubbed the Tojota Celika, is the brainchild of Adam Rejl from the Czech Republic. Adam, clearly a man of ambitious tastes, assembled this masterpiece for the GumBalkan Rally – a motley gathering for clunkers that don’t break the €1,000 ($1,110) budget.
More: Humble Hyundai Tiburon Transforms Into A BMW Coupe
It all started with a 2001 Hyundai Coupe, which is the facelifted version of the first-gen Tiburon. The vintage Hyundai coupe bears a resemblance to the Toyota Celica in terms of styling and proportions, making it a fitting donor vehicle.
Adam gave the old beater a fresh coat of paint, splashing on those curvy red and green graphics. He didn’t stop there; he slapped on custom stickers – Tojota, Celika, and Kastrol – to really sell the knockoff vibe. The bodywork stayed pretty much original, except for those DIY wing extensions tacked on the back, adding just the right touch of “race car.” A roof box topped it off, providing the much-needed practicality that turns this two-door coupe into something resembling a cross-country rally contender.
To mimic the elevated stance of rally cars, the owner crammed a bunch of tennis balls into the springs, achieving a lofty 2-inch (5 cm) lift. Affectionately known in the Balkans as the “Wimbledon Package,” this setup reportedly gifts the car with a delightfully “bouncy ride”.
The only legitimate modification on the Toyota-inspired Hyundai is a new set of grippy tires, accompanied by two spares mounted on the rear deck. It also received some underbody protection to withstand the harsh conditions of the GumBalkan Rally and make it to the finish line.
More: This Rare Toyota Celica GT-Four RC Could Be The Perfect Restoration Project
Under the hood rests the original naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, churning out a modest 111 hp (83 kW / 113 PS). Power is funneled to the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox, as AWD was never on the menu for the Hyundai Coupe/Tiburon. Jokes aside, with a hefty 245,000 km (152,200 miles) logged, this budget-friendly coupe has demonstrated its durability. The “turbo” lettering on the engine cover? Purely the owner’s flight of fancy.
Besides the tastefully modified Hyundai Coupe, Adam also owns a 2020 Nissan 370Z Nismo and a 1984 Porsche 944. You can follow his adventures on his Instagram profile.
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