TOM'S
Encyclopedia
is a factory supported racing team and tuner of Toyota
and Lexus
vehicles. The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport. Their head office is located in Tokyo
, Japan
. They are currently heavily involved with Super GT
racing and Formula 3
racing. TOM'S creates aftermarket parts for current Toyota
vehicles, and have also created their own special edition of certain current Lexus
models.
and Kiyoshi Oiwa. Despite an oil crisis at the time, the two were able to show productive results and a healthy development of motorsports for Toyota. With the support of Toyota, TOM'S went into business in 1974.
In 1975 the Toyota Motor Corporation officially recognized TOM'S as an authorized tuning shop. In 1978, the firm opened a garage in the Tama
area of Tokyo
. The tuning firm expanded to Norfolk, England with branch openings in 1987.
In 1993, TOM'S produced vehicles for the Japanese Formula 3000. In 1994, the firm marked its 20th anniversary with "TOM'S Angel T01", a commemorative model. 1995 saw the lightweight sports car series T101, T082, and T020. In 2003, TOM'S modified vehicles entered the All Japan F3 Championship group of the All Japan GT Championship.
Also the aero work done to the number 36 Castrol TOM'S SUPRA (1997 GTC 500 Champion with Michael Krumm
and Pedro de la Rosa
).
Toyota Motor Corporation
, , , commonly known simply as Toyota and abbreviated as TMC, is a multinational automaker headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. In 2010, Toyota Motor Corporation employed 317,734 people worldwide, and was the world's largest automobile manufacturer by production.The company was founded by...
and Lexus
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
vehicles. The name stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport. Their head office is located in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. They are currently heavily involved with Super GT
Super GT
The Super GT series, formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC , is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association...
racing and Formula 3
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
racing. TOM'S creates aftermarket parts for current Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation
, , , commonly known simply as Toyota and abbreviated as TMC, is a multinational automaker headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. In 2010, Toyota Motor Corporation employed 317,734 people worldwide, and was the world's largest automobile manufacturer by production.The company was founded by...
vehicles, and have also created their own special edition of certain current Lexus
Toyota Motor Corporation
, , , commonly known simply as Toyota and abbreviated as TMC, is a multinational automaker headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. In 2010, Toyota Motor Corporation employed 317,734 people worldwide, and was the world's largest automobile manufacturer by production.The company was founded by...
models.
History
TOM'S stands for Tachi Oiwa Motor Sports. As cited in the TOM'S English website, TOM'S was established in 1974 by Nobuhide TachiNobuhide Tachi
is a former Japanese racing driver, and the co-founder of TOM'S, a Japanese racing team and tuner for Toyota.His son, Shingo was also a racing driver.-Racing career:...
and Kiyoshi Oiwa. Despite an oil crisis at the time, the two were able to show productive results and a healthy development of motorsports for Toyota. With the support of Toyota, TOM'S went into business in 1974.
In 1975 the Toyota Motor Corporation officially recognized TOM'S as an authorized tuning shop. In 1978, the firm opened a garage in the Tama
Tama, Tokyo
is a municipality classified as a city, located in Tokyo, Japan.Its southern half forms part of the Tama New Town project, Japan's largest residential development, constructed in the 1970s....
area of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. The tuning firm expanded to Norfolk, England with branch openings in 1987.
In 1993, TOM'S produced vehicles for the Japanese Formula 3000. In 1994, the firm marked its 20th anniversary with "TOM'S Angel T01", a commemorative model. 1995 saw the lightweight sports car series T101, T082, and T020. In 2003, TOM'S modified vehicles entered the All Japan F3 Championship group of the All Japan GT Championship.
List of TOM'S Complete Cars
- F070M Celsior (Lexus LSLexus LSThe Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Four generations of the sedan have been produced, all equipped with V8 engines and rear-wheel drive, although since 2006 all-wheel drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants have also...
400/430) - F070 Celsior (Lexus LS 400/430)
- Z382 Soarer (Lexus SCLexus SCThe Lexus SC is a personal luxury coupé that was retailed by Lexus, and built from 1991 through 2010. It features a front engine, rear-wheel drive design and seating for up to four passengers. The first generation SC debuted as the V8-powered SC 400 in 1991, and the I6-powered SC 300 was added in...
) - S741 Majesta (0-60, 4.6)
- S630 Aristo (Lexus GSLexus GSThe Lexus GS is a series of mid-size luxury sports sedans / executive cars sold by Lexus since 1993. Designed to fill the gap between the ES and LS, and to provide Lexus with a performance sedan to compete in the mid-luxury class, three generations of the GS have been produced to date...
300, GS400) - S740 Athlete
- S970 Athlete
- S972 Estate
- X540 Chaser
- E910 Altezza (Lexus ISLexus ISThe Lexus IS is a series of entry-level luxury cars / compact executive cars sold by Lexus since 1998. The IS was introduced as an entry-level sport model slotted below the ES in the Lexus lineup...
300) - Toyota Altezza (Lexus IS200)
- Land Cruiser
- V10 Mark-X 0-60, 3.8
- RX330/Harrier
- Prius
- H125 Alphard
- Isis
- W123 (MR-S)
- T020 (MR-2) 0-60, 4.9
- T111 (Corolla AE111 Trueno)
- T101
- T091
- T082
- P050 Vits 0-60, 5.8
- EP82 Starlet GT Turbo 0-60, 4.0
Also the aero work done to the number 36 Castrol TOM'S SUPRA (1997 GTC 500 Champion with Michael Krumm
Michael Krumm
Michael Krumm is an auto racing driver. At present, he competes in the FIA GT1 World Championship. Krumm married tennis player Kimiko Date on 1 December 2001 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Tokyo...
and Pedro de la Rosa
Pedro de la Rosa
Pedro Martínez de la Rosa is a Formula One driver who has participated in 87 Grands Prix for the Arrows, Jaguar, McLaren and Sauber teams, debuting on 7 March 1999, becoming one of very few drivers to score a point at his first race...
).
External links
- TOM'S English web site
- TOM'S racing web site - mainly in Japanese
- TOM'S USA web site