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13507 view(s) ![]() In 1982, the World Endurance Championship introduced the new Group C class, and the Porsche 956 quickly established itself as the dominant force in the category. In 1984, Toyota debuted its own Group C machine, the 84C, to challenge the Porsche for top honors at Le Mans. Featuring an aluminum twin tube monocoque frame, powerful 2,090cc twin turbo inline 4-cylinder engine, and advanced ground effect aerodynamics. Despite its potential, the Porsche just proved to be too strong and the only thing the 84C gained in the races it entered was experience.
Although Toyota's entry into sportscars and Le Mans started in 1975 with the Sigma MC75, which featured a Toyota 2.3L Turbo I4. The main flag bearers for the Japanese brand at Le Mans were Race car constructor Dome and Team Tom's (Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport.).
   After competing in the Japanese National series Toyota decided to expand their activeties and one of the first projects of the Toyota/Dome/ Team Tom's cooperation was the 1980 Celica Turbo G5. The car was ran in the Sebring 12-hour race, the Riverside 5-hour race but failed to qualify for the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Toyota's entry into sports prototypes began with the 1982 Tom's 82C which used a Toyota Turbo Inline-4 engine and a body developed by Dome.  Tom's developed the 82C into the 83C and 84c and ran the car in the national endurance races and the Riverside 5-hour race.
The 85C-L was the first time that the Toyota powered prototypes were entered into Le Mans. Piloted by Satoru Nakajima/Kaoru Hoshino/Masanori Sekiya finished in 12th place.In 1986 The Toyota was back with 2 cars, Tom's and Dome both entering their own 86C. #36 Tom's 86C-Toyota (C1 Class) - DNF (Engine) #37 Dome 86C-Toyota (C1 Class) - Not Classified (Final Lap Too Slow)
Finally in 1987, Toyota took over the project as their own factory effort (thus making the Tom's 86C into the Toyota 87C). Both cars DNF'ed. #36 ran out of fuel and the #37 blew its engine.
Development continued on with the 88C and it's Turbo V8 variant, the 88C-V (V for V8), then again continuing on with the V8 in the 89C-V, 90C-V, 91C-V, and 92C-V.
Sources: www.tomsracing.co.jp, www.dome.co.jp
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Models for Toyota 84-87C
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| Manufacturer |
Model |
Scale |
Dimensions (LxWxH) |
Wheelbase |
Front spur |
Rear spur |
| Tamiya |
Toyota Tom's 84C
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1/24 |
99.9x83.0x0.0 |
0.0 |
81.5 |
82.0 |
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