This is the 1988 Toyota 88C (chassis 87C-007). The Toyota 88C is the successor to the Toyota 87C and the predecessor to the Toyota 88C-V, and is a racing car that was entered by Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer, Toyota Motor Corporation from 1988 until 1989. This special racing car was developed by Japanese racing car constructor, Dome Co. Ltd (株式会社童夢). The 88C was used in competition in the in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, the World Sports-Prototype Championship, and the North American Camel GT Championship. The cars were styled by chief designer, and aerodynamicist, Hiro Fujimori, and the 88C made it’s official race debut during the 1988 All Japan Sports Prototype Championship. Specific to this car, chassis 87C-007 took 7th place during it’s racing debut at the Fuji International Speedway (Japan) during the Fuji 500 Kilometers, where it was driven by racing drivers Paolo Barilla and Tiff Needell. Following this, the car was then raced at the 500 Kilometers Suzuka at the Suzuka Circuit (Japan) where it placed 5th driven by racing drivers Stefan Johansson and Paolo Barilla. Following this, was a 10th place finish at the Fuji 1000 Kilometres JSPC, located at the Fuji International Speedway (Japan). Up next was perhaps chassis 87C-007’s most important appearance, which was at the 1988 Le Mans 24 Hours, located at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans (France), where the car placed 24th, driven by Tiff Needell, Paolo Barilla, and Hitoshi Ogawa. 87C-007 also made other notable appearances in racing for the 1989 season where it was ran by Dan Gurney’s All American Racers team in the IMSA series. Chassis 87C-007 saw a number of other important races, where it was driven by a wide array of prominent drivers, such as Juan Manuel Fangio II, Chris Cord, Drake Olson, Steve Bren, and others. This example is shown here completed in the stunning Taka-Q livery, as it raced the 24 Hours of le Mans in 1988.
How many made? 3
Engine: Toyota 3S-GTM 2100 cc Turbocharged Inline-4 Mid-mounted - 680bhp
Debut: March 3rd, 1988, Fuji International Speedway
Top speed: around 202mph
0-60mph: n/a
Photo Credit: @jaycm.photo
Research: @rarecarsonly