Minneapolis Street Sighting: Toyota Supra Mark IV

In my years of carspotting, there have always been a select few of my favorite cars that have somehow eluded me. Maybe it has to do with rarity, or simply because of where I live; the Supra falls into both of those categories I'm afraid. Marketed as Toyota's halo car when it went upmarket, the last-generation Supras are quite rare compared to earlier cars.

First established in 1978, the nameplate was made into a separate model in 1982; it is Toyota's answer to Mazda's RX7, and Datsun/Nissan's beloved Z-car.  Like its two main competitors, the Supra has always relied on one main powerplant--variations of an inline-six cylinder engine, which, in later years had the option of being turbocharged. Like its turbo-Z competitors and RX-7 competitors, the Supra turbos are quite the collector item--if not molested.

While some car enthusiasts (mainly on the muscle car side) have the idea that Supras will never be as fast as certain cars, the fact of the matter is, they can. As with a vast majority of other Japanese supercars, they can be turned into quite quick monsters with very little effort. I have not seen many tuned Supras up close, but as a general car enthusiast, I would like to.

I am proud of this find; for starters, Mark IV Supras are pretty uncommon here in any form--and rightfully so. This is Toyota's halo car--and this example certainly looks the part.Being all stock helps matters in this case, as its a rare feat for one of the world's most renowned tuner cars.

All the correct bits are present here; the stock (and slightly bland) wheels, the stock (and often duplicated) rear wing, and hey look! Supra taillights-- but wait.. This is a Supra!

I notice that this one has badges on the fenders, marking this one a 15th Anniversary Edition; that little tidbit marks this example as a 1997. Surviving nearly seventeen years as a stock car is one thing, but to do so in a world where this car is widely coveted by people who refuse to leave it stock is quite another.

I am quite happy with this spotting as I hardly ever see Toyota's supercar, stock or not. This is the only Mark IV I've shot in depth, and I hope it won't be my last.