Toyota introduced their inaugural Supra, known in export markets as Celica Supra, in 1979. It quickly won over contemporary road testers due to its sleek lines and proved itself formidable competition for British Saloon Car Championship (forerunner of today’s BTCC).
But it was the engine beneath that really got things rolling: the A60’s race-bred 2JZ-GTE motor has quickly earned itself a place among enthusiasts for its reliability and malleability, even when modified.
The First Supra
After two decades of being absent from the market, Toyota made a triumphant return with their legendary Supra in 1986. Now available separately from Celica models, Clermont Toyota Supra could be purchased either as Performance (P-Type) or Luxury (L-Type), with former offering more horsepower and an aggressive appearance that demonstrated this car was meant for speed.
The long wheelbase Supra featured an exclusive front end design featuring pop-up headlights that folded down when not in use, improving daily aerodynamics and creating improved daily aerodynamics. Furthermore, its rear suspension was entirely separate from that found in its four-cylinder Celica sibling, making it a formidable opponent when comparison tests conducted by publications like Car and Driver took place.
This generation also saw the debut of a turbocharged Supra to customers; boasting 200+ horsepower, it proved itself as a formidable sports car.
The Second Supra
Chances are, whether millennial or Gen Xer, you have seen the Toyota Supra on both screen and off. Its fourth generation GR Supra remains an icon among car lovers worldwide due to its iconic design, power-packed 3.0L turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine and commitment to world-class performance.
In 1978, Toyota unveiled their second generation Supra (A60). A longer and wider spin off from their popular Celica liftback, its chassis featured double wishbone front and rear suspensions for top ride and handling performance. A 2.8 liter DOHC 7M-GE inline six engine produced 145 horsepower to rival some V-8 models available at that time – quickly becoming an industry benchmark and garnering praise from contemporary testers alike.
The Third Supra
After a brief retirement in 2002, Toyota’s fourth-generation Supra made its triumphant return with gusto in 2004. Now considered one of the marque’s most celebrated cars ever created, turbofans all over still seek these high-performance rear-wheel drive coupes out for sale.
The Mk3 Supra (or A70 as Toyota refers to it) marked the first time Toyota’s Celica-based sports car distinguished itself from their mainstream lineup and featured an independent chassis and various luxury and performance upgrades.
The A70 was powered by a potent 7M-GE inline six engine that produced up to 206 horsepower, yet handled like a dream; Car & Driver named it one of the top three imported vehicles of its time (behind two Porsche models and a Lotus Esprit).
The Fourth Supra
Toyota enthusiasts could not have expected more from Toyota’s fourth generation Supra. Built on the same platform as its taut, angular Celica counterpart that also debuted that year, its primary purpose was sporting GT performance over luxury comfort. A tall, hoop-style rear wing added downforce for higher speeds stability, quickly becoming a signature design feature of this groundbreaking sports coupe.
Twin-cam 2.8L inline six produced 145 horsepower that was competitive with V8-powered domestic sport coupes of its day, and its five-speed manual transmission proved superior to that offered on Celica. Furthermore, its long wheelbase body featured flared fenders and an exclusive front end design featuring pop-up headlights.
Car & Driver magazine named the Supra one of its 10 Best cars of 1983 and 1984, while UK testers raved that it was an outstanding road car with great refinement that excelled at long distance motorway cruising.
The Fifth Supra
Are You a Toyota Supra Fan? If so, then it is likely you know about its history as being born from collaboration between BMW and Toyota. What might surprise you is just how powerful, smooth and forceful it can be when driven by an experienced driver.
Toyota has long been known as a reliable car maker – one that makes vehicles suitable for purchase by those with conservative tastes, like Prius owners and teenagers – yet the Supra stands as an exception to that stereotype – one with high performance sports car credentials, expected by its many fans and ready to meet challenges as presented by customers and critics alike. Toyota does what no one else does – create cars people actually want to drive!
