TOJ
TOJ
Founded
1974
Founders
Jörg Obermoser
Country
Germany
Headquarters
Germany
TOJ
Founded
1974
Founders
Jörg Obermoser
Country
Germany
Headquarters
Germany
About this brand
Discover the history
TOJ, a relatively niche sports car manufacturer, was founded by Jörg Obermoser in the early 1970s in Germany. TOJ, standing for “Team Obermoser Jörg,” came about after Obermoser transitioned from racing saloon cars to sports cars and open-wheel racers. Prior to founding TOJ, Obermoser was involved in distributing race car parts, including GRD vehicles, in Germany. As he delved deeper into the racing world, he decided to start his own venture, and TOJ was born.
The early years of TOJ were marked by experimentation and the evolution of car design. The brand’s first significant entry was the TOJ SC02, a 2-liter sports car derived from GRD designs, followed by the SC03, which featured more custom bodywork. While TOJ initially shared a close relationship with other manufacturers like Modus, the cars started to gain their own identity, thanks in part to the work of designer Achim Storz.
By the mid-1970s, TOJ expanded into the Formula 2 and Formula 3 categories, creating cars that competed in various European championships. Notably, TOJ’s involvement in Formula 3 saw cars like the F301 and F302 compete on tracks throughout Germany. Drivers like Peter Scharmann and Keke Rosberg piloted these vehicles, with varying levels of success. Scharmann’s 1977 F3 campaign resulted in a German Championship win, with the F302 proving to be a reliable contender in that season. However, despite some promising results, TOJ cars struggled to consistently compete against dominant manufacturers like March, Chevron, and Ralt.
In addition to their Formula efforts, TOJ cars were also known for their presence in endurance racing, particularly in the World Championship of Makes and at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. The SC series sports prototypes were TOJ’s main competitors in endurance racing, facing stiff opposition from manufacturers like Porsche. However, TOJ’s participation in such grueling events helped build the brand’s reputation as a manufacturer of durable and high-performing race cars.
Despite early promise, TOJ’s racing efforts began to decline by the end of the 1970s. After the 1977 season, which marked the peak of TOJ’s success in Formula 3, the brand gradually scaled back its operations. Obermoser eventually moved away from constructing cars, and TOJ faded from the racing scene. Nevertheless, TOJ remains a notable footnote in the world of motorsport, remembered for its brief but impactful stint in the 1970s, especially in German racing circles.
Throughout its existence, TOJ cars were known for their engineering innovation, especially in terms of aerodynamics and bodywork design. Although the brand never achieved widespread success on the international stage, its contributions to Formula 3 and endurance racing solidified its place in motorsport history, particularly in the context of 1970s European racing.
