The Toyota Celica is the name given to a series of coupes made by Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. Derived from the latin word coelica (meaning "heavenly" or "celestial") the Celica has a reputation as one of the best vehicles in its class.

Throughout it's long history (the first generation of the Celica was released in 1970) the car has seen various makeovers and facelifts, and has been powered by a variety of engines and drivetrains. The first three generations were rear-wheel drive (RWD) coupes, but it was in 1986 with the arrival of the 4th Generation Celica, the ST160 series that Toyota made the switch to front-wheel drive (FWD) and also introduced a new model that would become legendary in the world of rallying.

The ST165, or "GT-Four" as it was known, gained full-time all wheel drive (AWD) and a turbocharged version of the standard car's engine. This new engine, the 3S-GTE, would see various revisions and would be used in all subsequent GT-Fours and even the turbocharged version of Toyota's other sports car, the MR2.

In 1989, the 5th Generation of Celica was shown to the world. The ST180 series also bore the arrival of the ST185 - the 2nd Generation of GT-Four. This was again powered by the 3S-GTE engine and kept the AWD layout of the ST165. The ST185 saw even greater success in motorsport to it's predecessor, and in 1994 Toyota was ready to show off its latest and greatest model, the ST205.

Based off the 6th Generation Celica, the ST205 was the most powerful Celica to date (and still is) with a highly tuned 3S-GTE engine and AWD with a new type of suspension, known as Super Strut. This 3rd Generation GT-Four saw some success in motorsport but its career was cut short before it could reach its prime.

The GT-Four name was not brought out of the cupboard again until 2002, when Toyota released the Toyota Caldina GT-Four (known as the ST246). This used an updated version of the 3S-GTE engine found in the Celica GT-Fours (and certain previous Caldina models), and unlike the Celica GT-Fours was a four-door sports wagon, in a similar vein to Subaru's Impreza WRX Wagon. Production of the Caldina GT-Four ended in 2007, and saw the demise of both the 3S-GTE engine and the GT-Four name.

• 1985: The GT-Four concept is displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show. Interestingly, this concept is a convertible and not the liftback model we know today.
• 1986: The ST165 begins production in October, going on sale shortly after.
• 1987: ST165 receives a minor facelift in October. The GT-Four goes on sale outside of Japan, marketed as the Turbo All-Trac in the US and the 4WD Turbo in Canada.
• 1988: The WRC Tour de Corse sees the ST165s World Rally Championship debut, but it isn't victorious.
• 1988: 21 prototype ST185s are built in December for testing.
• 1989: The first WRC victory for the ST165 at Rally Australia.
• 1989: Production of the ST165 ceases.
• 1989: The ST185 goes on sale in Japan in September, with delivery a month later. Three models are available, including a Rally model with a close ratio gearbox, steel wheels and no power windows.
• 1990: Driver Carlos Sainz wins the WRC Drivers' Championship in his ST165.
• 1990: Wide-body ST185s go on sale worldwide, with a new 10-speaker sound system as standard.
• 1991: A rally model of the Wide-body ST185 goes on sale. This is the rarest ST185 model. The ST185 RC goes on sale as part of WRC Group A homologation rules. The RC is known as the Carlos Sainz Limited Edition outside of Japan, except for Australia where it's known as the Group A Rallye.
• 1992: The ST185 wins the WRC Safari Rally, its first WRC victory. It goes on to win four more events this year, and the Drivers' Championship.
• 1993: The ST185 takes home the WRC Manufacturers' and Drivers' Championships, beating other rivals easily.
• 1993: Production of the ST185 ceases.
• 1994: The last GT-Four, the ST205, goes on sale in Japan in February, with other markets following mid-year. 2,500 of them are WRC models produced for homologation purposes.
• 1994: Repeating its 1993 success, the ST185 again wins both Manufacturers' and Drivers' championships.
• 1995: The ST205 becomes Toyota Team Europe's official WRC rally car, winning one WRC series.
• 1995: Toyota Team Europe are banned from the WRC for 12 months after it is discovered they used an illegal modification on their ST205 rally cars.
• 1996: The ST205 returns to the WRC but enjoys limited success, with no more victories and only a handful of podium finishes.
• 1996: The ST205 receives a facelift, gaining side skirts, projector headlights and a redesigned rear wing.
• 1997: Another minor facelift for the ST205 sees the return of the high-rise WRC rear wing and silver effect interior.
• 1997: The ST205 leaves the WRC for good, being replaced by Toyota's Corolla WRC.
• 1999: Production of the ST205 ceases, ending the GT-Four line of Celicas.
• 2002: The Toyota Caldina GT-Four (ST246) is released in Japan, with tiptronic transmission and an e-handbrake.
• 2007: Production of the ST246 ceases, closing the book on the history of the GT-Four name... for now.