For some the A80-generation Toyota Supra turbo—a non-targa, left-hand drive, manual version, natch—is the holy grail of Radwood-era performance cars. The iconic 2JZ turbocharged inline six engine is known for its ability to make irresponsible power, and that engineered-in stoutness also translates to longevity. Perhaps proving that beyond a shadow of a doubt is this 388,000-mile example currently up for bid on Bring a Trailer, and it’s going to go for some serious dough, considering its condition and mileage.
Often car collectors will value originality, low-mileage, and preservation as being of the utmost importance. This car has none of those, as it has an odometer reading high enough to be considered a high-mileage example four times over, a modifications list that reads like a circa 2006 Super Street Magazine cover story, and some significant rust concerns. I personally value a driver-grade enthusiast car much more than a low-mile trailer queen, but this car is nearly to the point where it should be considered more valuable for its parts than as a whole.
Bidding, as of this writing, is approaching $50,000, and has already exceeded the base $46,440 MSRP of a brand new 2024 GR Supra. If you look at the MKIV Supra market, fifty grand isn’t exactly unheard of for one of these. A low-mile 1994 Supra Turbo sold for $232,000 at the peak of the collector car frenzy in September of 2022, but recently a decent condition example with 45,000 miles sold for $75,000, and it would take at least $25,000 to make this blue meanie as nice as that one. The rust, the poor paint, and the totally tattered interior all need a bunch of work, and none of that is cheap.
I’ll admit, I’ve never spent even close to $50,000 on a car, but if I did and it was this level of clapped out with a “clean Florida title,” I’d be seriously disappointed. Not only with the car, but myself.