Friday 29th May 2009

Toyota F1 Parts Up For Grabs

Toyota's German F1 race team puts used parts for sale online

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What with 'elf and safety gone mad', these days it's all but impossible to gate-crash a team garage after a significant motor race and pilfer yourself a decent bit of bodywork or a 'spare' wheel.

At F1 events your chances are nil, with prison-style fences making sure grubby rampaging fans don't spoil the post-race TV pictures. However, Toyota has stepped in to fill the void with a range of components from its past F1 cars now available for sale on its website.

Carbon fibre wings, brakes and light alloy wheels are all up for grabs at the Toyota F1 web site with prices ranging from £175 to £4,400.

At the bargain end of the market there are wheels, brake discs and suspension parts from less than £200, while front and rear wing assemblies can be yours for between £700 and £2,000.  A complete rear wing, engine cover and underbody section – virtually half a car – is available for 'just' £4,400, says Toyota.

'While stocks last' promises to be an apt sales pitch as F1 fans rush to snap up a rare bargain the company maintains, although whether the F1 team in Cologne welcomes the distraction of having to rootle through its cast-off bits and pieces for the sell-off is probably a moot point.

Knowing Toyota as we do, this could easily be an attempt by the motor sport division to show bosses in Tokyo they're making an effort to save a few quid as the cold economic outlook continues to send shivers through the organisation globally.

We quite fancy half an F1 car in the PH office. If only we could afford to help out!

 

[jon-]

£200 for a magnesium wheel. That's not actually that bad!

[Mat Hammond]

But it's used...

I bet an F1 wheel has a very short working life, ie 25-50 laps maybe.

It's an expensive ornament!

[CypherP]

I agree, that is a good price for one of those wheels. I'm more concernced about why i don't have £2500 for that complete rear wing. I want!!

[Jackal2k9]

i can c it now....some boy racer with a cavie and a toyota rear wing on the back of it

[AngryApples]

Wow

A piece of automotive history.............not

Who the feck would pay 4k for bits of a Toyota F1?

[JRM]

Jackal2k9 said:

i can c it now....some boy racer with a cavie and a toyota rear wing on the back of it

That's just what I was thinking, I nice Ford Orion with that wing on the back

[Stig]

Blimey - what about the Brembo calipers at €300 a pop or the carbon disks at only €200 - that's CHEAP.

Then again, it'll cost a vit to fit them to a 1.2l Corsa

[dirty boy]

jon- said:

£200 for a magnesium wheel. That's not actually that bad!

Until you try and find suitable rubber to shod them in !

[raceboy]

Usually when an F1 team is done with wheels they drill a big hole in it somewhere so it can't be used again, so I wouldn't expect to be seeing a Yaris on F1 rims anytime soon.
They are only any good as coffee table stands.

[angryS3owner]

I like the idea of buying the discs and calipers and trying to fit them to a road car

[MasterKush]

I have from years ago a rear alloy wheel from a Jordan F1 car, think i paid 100ish for it at the time - probably looking at 6 or 7 yrs ago now.. still the best bit of furniture i have!..
Interesting to see the back of the alloy, that there are just 4 prongs sticking out.. line em up in the holes and then the nut screwed on just holds the wheel in place.. its all pretty cool stuff.
Painted Black, O.Z , Jordan GrandPrix painting on it.. looks great still!

i dont think alloys last that long in real use, mine has an "OK" mark on it (wouldnt see the mark with the tyres on!) so i assume they are all tested after each race, and maybe reused for practise if they are ok?

If anyone does buy an alloy i can highly recommend getting a round bit of glass cut and insert it at the top of the alloy for a nice table!.. its what i use at home in the gamesroom for my beers.
The glass is just held up high (flush at the rim) by Alloy wheel stick on weight balancers, few of those round the edge of the alloy and slap the glass ontop. sorted.

[mk1fan]

Hhmmmmm F1 bits.

[Tinohead]

More to the point - what the hell is with those comdeically cheesy model photos on the front page of that site!!

[robm3]

Tinohead said:

More to the point - what the hell is with those comdeically cheesy model photos on the front page of that site!!

Those are actually Mclaren designers in disguise rushing in methinks...

[robm3]

Wow, a cruddy wishbone for 200 OR a full brembo magnesium alloy caliper for a 100 more...let me think now.

[gilla]

jon- said:

£200 for a magnesium wheel. That's not actually that bad!

make a nice table with a piece of glass over it

[gilla]

bks - beaten to it

[jayfish]

Hm that half a car would make for a great video games chair with a little work.

[Cassius81]

For a minute there I thought it was April 1st...(especially when looking at the web page!)

[pimpin gimp]

wouldn't mind getting as much as the body as i could and making myself a bike engined kit car with it. my own little f1 style car with a screamer of an engine!

If only my credit card limit was a little higher...