Toyota has been around a long time. They know what they are doing, and they make more cars than any other manufacturer in the world. And while many of us in the car community still think of them as a relatively new company, their agility, market savvy, and attention to North American performance offerings continues to endear generations of enthusiasts to the Toyota brand. No more so than with the popular and capable Supra.
First generation Toyota Supra.
The first Supra was an updated version of the Celica line. Having established the Celica name in the early 1970s the first Supra arrived in 1979 as part of the second-generation Celica design. Keen on hitting the American market, design duties were given to American David Stollery at Toyota’s Calty design studios in California. Toyota allowed Stollery a great deal of flexibility in designing the new Celica. Using the same body, doors, and rear design as the Stollery Celica, the Supra was modified from the cowl forward with new front fenders and hood to accommodate the longer six-cylinder engine. Performance was markedly improved over the four-cylinder Celica but more importantly the Supra set a new standard for a performance car that offered Toyota reliability—luxury amenities, and notably good fuel economy.
