Partially Restored: 1989 Toyota Supra Turbo

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While many enthusiast vehicles from the 80s and 90s are constantly going up in price, there are some outliers that seem to still represent excellent value in the marketplace. One of those cars is this one: the MK3 Toyota Supra, which came in both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged form. The boosted models have all the hallmarks of being a collector car, but for whatever reason, seem to be languishing a bit compared to other turbocharged peers. This 1989 Toyota Supra Turbo here on craigslist benefits from some major recent maintenance and is offered for sale at a reasonable $9,500.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the find. If there’s any reason for the MK3 Supra not being more sought-after, it’s likely because this version was more of a grand tourer versus an all-out sports car. Then again, there’s a tendency to assume the Supra has always been some sort of razor-edged performance vehicle when in actuality, it’s clearly been built as a straight-line, long-haul cruiser with high-end features, lots of standard equipment, and an abundance of cars ordered with an automatic transmission. This is one of those cars, and it benefits from recently reupholstered leather seats.

The big news with this car is the work the seller has undertaken to make it a reliable runner. The inline-six engine in these Supras is generally fairly hearty, but they have been known to have the occasional blown head gasket – and this car appears to have suffered that fate. The seller includes photos of the engine overhaul in process, and it’s nice to see some added attention to detail with the painted valve covers. The 7M-GTE engine makes a healthy 232 horsepower and 254 lb-ft of torque, both of which are notable increases over the naturally-aspirated unit.

The Supra also benefits from a healthy dose of 80s-era technology, including TEMS, an electronically-controlled and adjusted active suspension system that allowed drivers to set the car at their desired settings. The equalizer and stereo were also fairly advanced for the time when the Supra was new. While this Supra still has some needs – the cosmetics are certainly tired and the seller doesn’t mention whether TEMS still works – some of the heavier lifting has already been done. I would simply drive and enjoy at the point, while saving my pennies for a paint job at a future date.

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Comments

  1. Toypartman

    That interior picture tells me everything I need to know. Automatic? No thanks.

    Like 3
  2. JimmyJ

    im not sure but the turbos might have all been automatics i know toyota did weird stuff back then. i know the turbo pickups were all autos. ive never seen this generation turbo with a stick but i havent relly looked to hard either so i could be wrong. anyways no stick is a dealbreaker for me.

    Like 0
    • SirRaoulDuke

      Manual transmission was standard equipment on the turbo cars.

      Like 1
  3. Crown

    Hard to find any Turbo Supra that hasn’t been modded to the extreme, which then diminishes value.

    Like 2
    • ChasMan

      I had an original, non turbo one with a 5spd , tems, leather, and all the options and could not get anything for it. For some reason, these cars are not worth anything unless they have a turbo.

      Like 0

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