Toyota has been known for decades for making some of the best built cars in the world, cars that are reliable, well-thought-out and offering attention to detail that is difficult for other manufacturers to rival.
The various sports cars from Toyota over the years have all of these qualities but deliver them in a way as to engage the enthusiast. Some critical say that Toyotas lack soul, but this is as much to do with the excellence of their designs and their overall quality. To me, this does not equate to lack of soul but instead raising the expectations of what a high-quality sports or GT car can be.
The first mass-produced Toyota that accomplished this was the Supra. The first-generation car was good, and the second was quite an improvement, but the third generation Supra really showed what Toyota was capable of, competing strongly in what was then a crowded segment.
The Pick of the Day is one of the third-generation cars, a 1990 Toyota Supra Turbo, and a very special time-warp example showing just 3,199 miles on its odometer. The Sudbury, Ontario, dealer offering this Supra on ClassicCars.com says it is a 100 percent factory original.
The only changes made to this Supra since it was purchased are a new battery and BBS 3-piece wheels that were added when the car was new, the dealer says. The car includes its original window sticker, keys, toolkit and owner’s manual.
The Supra is finished in Black Ruby Pearl with a Burgundy-leather interior, and options that include the Sport package with an electronic modulated suspension, and a Leather/Power packages that includes leather-faced seats, leather door trim, power seat package and antilock brakes.
The Supra Turbo was a performance car that could hold its own against the best of the world with its 3-liter DOHC turbocharged straight-6 putting out 230 horsepower and 246 pound-feet of torque. This made the Supra capable of 0-60 times as low as 6.4 seconds and a top speed according to Toyota of 156 mph.
With its third-gen Supra, Toyota was making a direct assault not only against Nissan 300ZX and Mazda RX-7 but the upmarket Porsche 944, whose top Turbo model was able to cover 0-60 only 4/10th of a second faster than the Supra Turbo, and with a top speed of 155. Combine this with the increase in service costs for the Porsche and the increased money needed to buy one when new, and Toyota had a winner.
With the popular fourth-gen Supras often commanding prices in excess of $70,000, this 3,200 mile third-gen coupe with an asking price of $59,000 looks to be a fair ask for a true future collector car.
To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Enough of the Japanese & foreign cars. I don’t consider 30 year old cars collectibles. If you look around on your daily commute every other car would be a collectible!
Please, than just don’t read the article much less take time to post. I found it enlightening and enjoyable.
I strongly disagree with your comment Tom.
I do not collect Japanese classics however with only 3,200 miles, this Supra is DEFINITELY a solid investment (if kept in this condition). With that said, Sudbury Ontario Canada has tons and TONS of salt dumped on their winter roads so a very detailed inspection is an absolute must before spending that kind of money on a car from Northern Ontario.
59K for a 31 year old “Fast & Furious” car does not qualify as a collectible car IMHO. For that kind of money give me a real Detroit muscle car!
Yeah, it’s very obvious that Mr. Reid here is a fan of foreign cars. Nothing wrong with that. If you follow him, you can tell he believes they are superior to American cars AND, he’s not even a millennial ! But personally I don’t think (nor am I interested) in run of the mill, everyday foreign cars, especially Toyotas. Their neither classic or collectable. Jut my opinion.
I’m not a fan of foreign cars either, but I remember being in high school when these Supra’s were sold new and at the time they were an incredible sports car! At the time, and even now I would have much rather had a 1990 Mustang or Corvette. I do think it’s great that the performance cars from the 80’s and 90’s are now being recognized by some as legitimate collector vehicles! This is the era in which I grew up and was becoming the car nut that I am, so these cars have left a lasting impression on me.
Toyota makes the best cars on earth.
Bold statement for some folks, but once you own one, work on one, and come to appreciate their manufacturing mastery, you might just agree.
I’ve never cared for their choice of shock valving, but that’s easily solved.
I own a Boxster, a 500SL, BMW 325is, and a Cadillac Deville.
All with their own charms, but real PITAs. I also own a very rusty 2001 Tundra, with the V6, with 230k miles on it.
Brought it back from the dead, and it is lovely!
Are you sling. If so how much and where are you?,
I want to buy.
What’s price.
The price is listed in the story. Just click on the link to find the sell ad and seller info.
I want to buy.
What’s price.
Please.