In 2000, the seventh generation Toyota Celica came onto the market, with a daring design for that time. At the 14-year-old Alessio Arena in Italy, this led to a lasting passion for cars, especially for this model.
When Alessio turned 18, he bought his first Celica. He started with the basic version of the 1ZZ-FE VVT-i (143 hp), but was later upgraded to the 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i T Sport (192 hp), which he still cherishes today. Despite his love for the Celica, Alessio always felt a little let down by its front-engine, front-wheel drive layout. He imagined how good it could be if configured in a different way.
Fast forward to 2015, when a friend offered Alessio a bare, seventh-generation Celica body. He asked to turn it into something special, and when a complete Ferrari 360 Modena drivetrain came up for sale online, Alessio knew what he had to do.
Although ambitious, this was not a high-budget, high-resource undertaking; Alessio and his father completed all the work in the family’s modest garage under the name Race prototype arena.
To create a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive Toyota Celica, the body was reduced to an outer shell and rebuilt with a custom chrome-moly tubular frame. The front end was redesigned, with a special aluminum frame supporting the bumper, headlights, radiator and air intake.
The crowning glory of this new structure is a series of carbon fiber components. While the hood, tailgate, spoiler and seats were sourced from the aftermarket, many carbon parts were carefully handcrafted by Alessio and his father.
The new suspension is built around a custom pushrod system with Öhlins TTX shock absorbers and adjustable blade-style stabilizer bars. All gold pieces on display are made with a small lathe and then finished by hand.
The centerpiece of the Celica is undoubtedly the 400 hp Ferrari V8, an engine that is a far cry from the original design intentions. The 3.6 liter engine and associated manual gearbox – still operated by the original Ferrari shifter – are suspended in the tubular chassis with custom-made supports and brackets. To streamline the installation, the water pump and power steering were converted to electric and an aluminum fuel tank was strategically placed behind the front axle for optimal weight distribution. A MaxxECU engine management system, connected to a custom-made loom, issues the firing commands.
The Celica rides on Italian-made 18-inch NTM wheels, wrapped in Hankook full slicks. Behind the wheels, Ferrari 360 hubs hold the Ferrari brakes, managed by a fully custom pedal box and brake preload system.
With a full tank of fuel and Alessio on board, the Ferrari-powered Toyota weighs 1,100 kg (2,425 lb). That is a great achievement, considering that all glass windows except the polycarbonate windshield have been retained.
After three thousand hours of relentless work, Alessio unveiled a rear-wheel drive Celica with a tire-melting engine, which is about as far removed from the original that sparked his interest in the model.
This isn’t just a multi-manufacturer repower along with whatever off-the-shelf parts. It is an entirely new vehicle, with almost every part redesigned. Alessio’s wild Celica is a testament to what can be achieved in a home garage, fueled by passion and the helping hand of family.
Alec Pender
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