While it’s hard not to get excited about the ultra-high-performance of the latest and greatest sports cars and supercars, a great many of today’s now-adult driving enthusiasts and gearheads still hold a special place in their heart for the “poster cars” that adorned their walls as kids. And, alongside the Lamborghini Countach, Dodge Viper, McLaren F1, and Porsche 911 (or RUF Yellowbird), another very fondly remembered ‘90s poster car was Toyota’s fourth-generation A80 Supra — a near bone stock Turbo-spec, manual transmission example of which is currently going under the hammer on Bring a Trailer.
Still wearing its original black-on-black color scheme, the Supra features a gloss black exterior with a removable Sport Roof Targa panel and integrated projector fog lamps matching the recently-reupholstered black leather interior — which boasts a power-adjustable driver’s seat, AC, cruise control, a CD stereo, and power windows and locks. Like all 1997 Turbo-spec models, this example sports a Targa roof, polished 17” alloy wheels, the model’s trademark rear wing, and special “Limited Edition 15th Anniversary” badging. Powering the A80 is a recently-refreshed twin-turbocharged and intercooled 3.0-liter 2JZ-GTE inline-six engine that’s mated to a six-speed manual transmission paired with a limited-slip differential and is good for 320hp and 315ft-lbs of torque.
And, while well-into six-figure territory may seem an insanely exorbitant amount for a ‘90s-era Toyota, there are several factors that make this particular ’97 specimen so special. As objectively sporty and high-performance cars, a slew of examples were either driven into the ground or wrecked. Furthermore, these vehicles were produced during the height of the tuner car movement, making unmolested, bone stock (or even nearly stock) fourth-gen Supras incredibly rare. Combine these factors and couple them with the A80’s immense popularity and the fact that fewer than 1,800 units were produced for the American market, and you should at least start to get a better sense of why these cars command such steep figures.
Presently residing in Scottsdale, Arizona, this 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo six-speed (Chassis: JT2DE82A7V1000062) – which is being offered without a reserve price — is sitting currently sitting on the online auction block of Bring a Trailer where, as of the time of writing, bidding has reached $155,555, with six days remaining on the sale.
