Description
I brought the vehicle from Diss, the former owner had hardly used the car but had stored it and seemingly only used it for annual trips for MOT etc. It having covered just 48, 000 when I bought it.
It came with some history, a Haynes Manual and the original Toyota Manual. The owner had cherished the car but had passed away so the family were reluctantly selling it.
The interior is in exceptional condition and needed nothing doing other than normal cleaning and wiping over (the velour seats, door cards, trim, switches, head lining are time warp condition).
The bodywork showed some signs of wear and rust but nothing like most Supras of this age. I therefore decided to have a full body respray and used a local professional restorer (as I wanted the paintwork to be showroom condition). The photos show the car after (I will be pleased to provide all the photos I have - which is dozens showing the car at all stages).
I would also be happy to provide all the invoices and receipts I have proving the investment that has been put into the car.
The underneath was wax oiled very early in its life and therefore the chassis is totally solid. Both the bodywork specialist and mechanic who have worked on it confirm I have a "very good one".
Any areas of bodywork that did have rust have been painstakingly cut out and new metal welded - I spared not expense during the restoration. The paint work colour is the original Toyota solid red. I commissioned a local metalwork specialist to make black door, wing and cill extension trims (matching the originals). I had the cill extension profiles geometry modified slightly to assist with shedding water (you would not notice the different angle but it makes the top slope down very slightly and is an improvement to the original design). In addition to the bodywork, respray and trim restoration the following is a list of other mechanical overhaul work done:
Suspension replacement (all 4 corners)
Radiator refurbishment done by Sheldrake and Wells
Prop shaft refurb by Scholar Engineering
New stainless steel exhaust (in matching tube sizes to maintain originality)
Full brake overhaul including new master cylinder, pads, rotors
Complete engine overhaul (plugs, timing belts, filters, oil etc)
New distributer cap (genuine Toyota) / HT leads
New coil (genuine Toyota)
Alloy wheel restoration (they were in good condition for age, but are now gleaming) including centre caps.
I have used the car a few times - never in the rain and the car has been kept in a secure garage with dehumidifier since I bought it.
Everything works on the car (all the dials and electrics, even the electric aerial).
It drives superbly, cruises brilliantly - keeping pace with modern traffic with ease.
I am in two minds about parting with the car but would like to make space for another Toyota or Japanese car sometime. Ideally it would go to a museum (Toyota UK) but hopefully another Toyota lover like me will be the new custodian.
It is MOT and Tax exempt (being registered over 40 years ago)I had been seeking out a classic Japanese car having loved most Jap cars since I started driving in 1990.
While not adverse to some mechanical DIY, I am not a qualified mechanic or bodyworker but felt ready for a classic (and was prepared to get professionals involved for everything that was beyond me). I had a Celica Supra in the early 90s and loved it (but could not afford to run it on a trainees salary). For years I had looked for a decent Supra when this one came up on my 50th birthday - do it felt like fate.
I always wanted the original Mk2 with analogue dials and beautiful retro alloy wheels - I understand there are only 4 registered in the UK now (most are the later wide track version with digital dash).
I can say that I think it is the best narrow body Celica Supra in the UK (possibly anywhere) and up there with the very best of any Celica Supra anywhere. This is not just my opinion but the opinion of every car enthusiast that has seen it.
