Wanna learn the right way to deck you car out widebody? Please, let us introduce you to Bernard Ling and his monster ZZT230 Toyota.
For more than thirty years now, Toyota Celicas have been finding their way into the hearts of modifiers and driving enthusiasts around the globe. Since the very first model was rolled out, there has always been something special about the Celica; always something that grabbed peoples' attention. While there may have been some models that captured more hearts than others, you can be sure that for every single generation of Celica released you will still be able to finddie hard enthusiasts blasting away on Internet forums about where they might source that rare set of wheels or a replacement bumper for their pride and joy.
For each generation of Celica, Toyota has aimed at breaking ground in one particular engineering aspect of vehicle design: during the ‘70s they worked on creating accessible rear drive sports cars and developing great twin cam engines, while during the ‘80s and ‘90s they broke a lot of ground in making cost effective and sporty 4WD and FWD drivetrains.
From its very beginnings, the ZZT230 model was designed to pave new way in automotive styling. Toyota wanted to try and show the world what could be done to make a car look completely futuristic and yet at the same time be able to age gracefully. They wanted to deliver a shape that would capture people’s hearts and hopefully be looked back on in years to come as another great Celica. What they were aiming for is so very, very difficult to achieve, however: capturing that winning exterior design is like the holy grail of automotive manufacturing and not many styling teams ever get to drink from that mystical cup.
Now, if Bernard Ling's dedication to this particular ZZT230 is anything to go by, we think Toyota may just have come very close to their goals of capturing hearts with their sleek automotive styling. Bernard purchased this Celica almost six years ago and in that time has added to it with only his personal take on the ultimate looking ride. Since being in his possession, this car has grown by about double in size thanks to some of the most extreme aftermarket metalwork you are likely to see on the streets today. The car is wide - and as we all know, wide is good.
Bernard is the kind of modifier that we here at ASM really enjoy. To look at this hardcore, decked out Celica you may think that he has been modifying for decades, building a new project car every year; but in actual fact, the reverse is true. This here 2002 Celica is Bernard's first car and he has told us that prior to starting on this project he didn't know the first thing about cars. We guess then, that their must be something hardwired in certain people's DNA that predisposes them to wanting to take a car and push it to the very edge of what is possible with modification. So, six years ago, Bernard rolled out of the Toyota showroom with a brand new ZZT230 Celica and the journey of customising began.
For more than thirty years now, Toyota Celicas have been finding their way into the hearts of modifiers and driving enthusiasts around the globe. Since the very first model was rolled out, there has always been something special about the Celica; always something that grabbed peoples' attention. While there may have been some models that captured more hearts than others, you can be sure that for every single generation of Celica released you will still be able to find
For each generation of Celica, Toyota has aimed at breaking ground in one particular engineering aspect of vehicle design: during the ‘70s they worked on creating accessible rear drive sports cars and developing great twin cam engines, while during the ‘80s and ‘90s they broke a lot of ground in making cost effective and sporty 4WD and FWD drivetrains.
From its very beginnings, the ZZT230 model was designed to pave new way in automotive styling. Toyota wanted to try and show the world what could be done to make a car look completely futuristic and yet at the same time be able to age gracefully. They wanted to deliver a shape that would capture people’s hearts and hopefully be looked back on in years to come as another great Celica. What they were aiming for is so very, very difficult to achieve, however: capturing that winning exterior design is like the holy grail of automotive manufacturing and not many styling teams ever get to drink from that mystical cup.
Now, if Bernard Ling's dedication to this particular ZZT230 is anything to go by, we think Toyota may just have come very close to their goals of capturing hearts with their sleek automotive styling. Bernard purchased this Celica almost six years ago and in that time has added to it with only his personal take on the ultimate looking ride. Since being in his possession, this car has grown by about double in size thanks to some of the most extreme aftermarket metalwork you are likely to see on the streets today. The car is wide - and as we all know, wide is good.
Bernard is the kind of modifier that we here at ASM really enjoy. To look at this hardcore, decked out Celica you may think that he has been modifying for decades, building a new project car every year; but in actual fact, the reverse is true. This here 2002 Celica is Bernard's first car and he has told us that prior to starting on this project he didn't know the first thing about cars. We guess then, that their must be something hardwired in certain people's DNA that predisposes them to wanting to take a car and push it to the very edge of what is possible with modification. So, six years ago, Bernard rolled out of the Toyota showroom with a brand new ZZT230 Celica and the journey of customising began.
Widebody conversions have been prevalent in our scene for a good while now and considering we are all die hard engineering fans, this is something we've been very pleased about. Increase your car's track, throw in some good suspension, plus some wide rolling stock, and you will be well on you way to racing nirvana . But, while it is all well and good to slash up your original guards and throw on some overfenders, how good would it be to actually maintain your car's original lines throughout the new design? This is exactly what Bernard has been able to achieve with this six year project and we have to say that it looks simply amazing.
To achieve the widening, each front and rear fender was carefully and precisely cut and new metal inserts welded in (60mm was added at the front and 80mm was added at the rear). This is the sort of process that can be very tricky, but as you can see from the results, theteam at Racing Project has done the job very well. When it came to sorting out a front bar, rear bar and sideskirts, the guys had to once again get the cut and shut tools out to custom fit the Veilside pieces; which were originally designed for a much skinner Celica. Finishing everything off is the rear spoiler moulded into the tailgate with custom numberplate lighting, as well as custom door handles with electric solenoid door release, and a shaved rear windscreen wiper. For those that might be wondering about the colour scheme, Bernard selected a Candy Apple Red base and then went with black for the bonnet scoop, diffuser and tailgate lining.
Look at the car from a few different angles and it still looks so very much similar tothe original gracious and flowing lines of the standard model, but catch it in full view of the massively increased track and it looks like you are standing in front of a supercar. To fill the enlarged guards, Racing Hart are the wheels used - 19x8-inch on the front and 19x10-inch on the rear – matched with adjustable Zeal Function B6 coilovers.
As is fitting for a car that looks like it is just about to hit the track, the stoppers on this here Toyota are nothing short of insane. Peeking past the massive rims you will spy 8-piston Brembo calipers and 15-inch slotted rotors up front, while in the rear lies a set of 4-piston Brembo calipers and slotted rotors. What is especially great about Bernard and the way he has built this Celica is that he has been able to have the whole car fully engineered, even with the use of a braking setup that would be just at home on a V8 Supercar.
As you’d expect, the stereo system that Bernard has had fitted to the car is pretty much as extreme as the work he has done with the widebody kit. There is some serious kit hiding away in the dash, and some adequately powered subs ensuring that the car can be heard coming. For all you audio tech heads, check out the specs box for more info.
While engine modifications haven't so far been drastic from Bernard, we think that considering Toyota's original aims were primarily of breaking new styling ground, then this is rather fitting. Toyota wasn't trying to build the most ball-tearing of ultimate performance vehicles, but rather they were trying to make new, interesting and hopefully influential statements about their ideas in car design. Had they gone and decked the car out with an insane powerplant and uber-complicated-electronic 4WD system, it would have no doubt been rendered out of the 'accessible'tag and would have been a rarity on the roads. Thanks to tuners like Bernard though, we can see just how insane a car the Celica can be when given the right treatment.
To achieve the widening, each front and rear fender was carefully and precisely cut and new metal inserts welded in (60mm was added at the front and 80mm was added at the rear). This is the sort of process that can be very tricky, but as you can see from the results, the
Look at the car from a few different angles and it still looks so very much similar to
As is fitting for a car that looks like it is just about to hit the track, the stoppers on this here Toyota are nothing short of insane. Peeking past the massive rims you will spy 8-piston Brembo calipers and 15-inch slotted rotors up front, while in the rear lies a set of 4-piston Brembo calipers and slotted rotors. What is especially great about Bernard and the way he has built this Celica is that he has been able to have the whole car fully engineered, even with the use of a braking setup that would be just at home on a V8 Supercar.
As you’d expect, the stereo system that Bernard has had fitted to the car is pretty much as extreme as the work he has done with the widebody kit. There is some serious kit hiding away in the dash, and some adequately powered subs ensuring that the car can be heard coming. For all you audio tech heads, check out the specs box for more info.
While engine modifications haven't so far been drastic from Bernard, we think that considering Toyota's original aims were primarily of breaking new styling ground, then this is rather fitting. Toyota wasn't trying to build the most ball-tearing of ultimate performance vehicles, but rather they were trying to make new, interesting and hopefully influential statements about their ideas in car design. Had they gone and decked the car out with an insane powerplant and uber-complicated-electronic 4WD system, it would have no doubt been rendered out of the 'accessible'
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