Toyota Supra

The Toyota Supra is a sports car produced by Toyota Motor Company starting in 1979. The styling of the Toyota Celica Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica. Starting in 1986.5 the Supra (in its third generation, MKIII) became it's own platform and was no longer based on the Celica. In turn, Toyota also stopped using the prefix Celica and just started calling it Supra. [1]

The Supra also traces much of its roots back to the Toyota 2000GT with the main instance being its engine. The first three generations were offered with a direct descendant to the 2000GT's M engine. All four generations of Supra produced have an Inline 6-cylinder engine (aka straight six).

The name is a combination of Celica and the word Supra. "Celica" is derived from Latin and its literal translation is "celestial" or "from the heavens". "Supra" is a word that is derived from latin that stands for "over, above, beyond, or greater than". So a translation to english would be something like "from above the heavens" for the entire term.

Along with this name and car Toyota also included its own logo of sorts. It is derived from the original Celica logo (it's just orange instead of blue). Often people think it is some sort of swan, but it more closely resembles a dragon. The logo was on Supra's up until 1989 when Toyota switched to its current oval company logo.

As of 1999 Toyota has ceased production of the Toyota Supra in the United States [1] and in 2002 Toyota officially stopped production of the Toyota Supra in Japan.

Toyota Celica Supra Mark I (1979-1981)

Mark I

Also called: MK I

Production: 1979-1981

Platform: MA4x

Engine: 2.0 L (1988 cc) M-EU I6

2.0 L (1988 cc) M-TEU I6

2.6 L (2563 cc) 4M-E I6

2.8 L (2759 cc) 5M-E I6

Transmission: 5-speed W50 Manual

4-speed A40D Automatic

4-speed A43D Automatic

Wheelbase: 103.5 in (2628.9 mm)

Length: 181.7 in (4615.2 mm)

Width: 65.0 in (1651.0 mm)

Height: 50.8 in (1290.3 mm)

Curb weight: ~2800 lb (1270.1 kg)

The first generation Supra was based largely upon the Toyota Celica liftback, but was longer by 5.1 in (129.5 mm). The doors and rear section stayed the same length as Celica but rear panels differed. The most important change was the swap to an Inline-6 instead of the stock Celica's 4-cylinder engine. Toyota's original plan for the Supra at this time was to make it a competitor to the very popular Datsun (now Nissan) 240Z.

1979

In 1978 Toyota began production of the Mark I Supra in Japan. The year it debuted in the United States and Japan was in 1979. The USA Mark I (chassis code MA46) was originally equipped with a 110 hp (82 kW) 2.6 L (2563 cc) 12-valve SOHC inline-6 engine (4M-E). Simultaneously in 1979, the Japanese Mark I (chassis code MA45) was offered with a 110 hp (82 kW) 2.0 L 12-valve SOHC inline-6 engine (M-EU). Both were the first toyota engines equipped with electronic fuel injection.[1] [2]

Drivetrain options for the Mark I are either a 5-speed manual (W50) or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission (A40D). Both transmissions featured an overdrive gear. The top gear in the 5-speed was its overdrive whereas the automatic transmission featured an overdrive gear that would engage at speeds over 35 mph. The drivetrain for the Supra retained the T series solid rear axle configuration of the Celica in the Japanese MA45 version and a larger F series (and optional Limited Slip Differential) in the MA46 and MA47. The car also came standard with 4-wheel disc brakes and featured a four-link rear suspension with coil springs, lateral track bar, and stabilizer bar. The front suspension consisted of MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar.

On the inside of the Supra you had an option of power windows and power locks as part of the Convenience Package. With the Convenience Package you also received Cruise Control and special door trim with door pull straps. Sunroof was an option that could be added too. As for standard features, in the center console there was an extendable map light and a fliptop armrest that provided storage. Some other features were the tilt steering wheel, deep zippered pockets on the front seat backs, and tonneau cover under the liftback. The dash contained a state-of-the-art (at the time) AM/FM/MPX 4-speaker stereo radio, analog clock, and tachometer as part of the instrument panel.

1980

In 1980, the Japanese Mark I (also branded with the MA46 chassis code) was offered with a 145 hp (108 kW) 2.0 L (1988 cc) 12-valve SOHC Turbocharged inline-6 engine (M-TEU). The engine was equipped with a Garrett T03 Turbo, but was not intercooled. This engine marks history as the first Toyota Engine to receive the technology of a turbocharger. [2]

The changes for the 1980 US version were different, and mostly cosmetic. The interior got a redesigned center console and a digital quartz clock. On the exterior are redesigned side view mirrors, the 14x5.5 aluminum rims, which were optional in 1979, are now standard (the 1979s had steel rims with plastic wheel covers standard). In addition body molded mudflaps become available. On the copper metallic and white cars the flaps were painted the body color while on all other colors the flaps were left black. On the rear of the flaps, painted in white lettering, was the word "Celica". [3]

The official Toyota Supra Site also notes that there was an addition of optional leather-trimmed seating and automatic climate-control.

1981

In the coming 1981 year, the Supra received an upgrade in displacement with the 2.8 L (2759 cc) 5M-E engine. It is still a 12-valve SOHC engine, but makes 116 hp (87 kW) and 145 ft*lbf (197 N*m) of torque. The cars automatic transmission was changed to the revised Toyota A43D and it gained revised final drive gearing. Because of the change in engine and transmission they dubbed a new chassis code of MA47.

Also in 1981 a new Sports Performance Package was an option that