The 1986.5-1992 MKIII Toyota Supra

The 1986.5-1992 Toyota Supra, also known as the MKIII Supra, is often overshadowed in reputation by the MKIV Twin Turbo Supras in the performance car world. However, its age and relative abundance in the used car market make it a good choice if you are looking for a performance car to restore or modify.The MKIII Supra is a solid design with nice luxuries and features of much newer vehicles and the handsome looks of a traditional 80's japanese sports car.

The MKIII Supra is based on Toyota's A70 chassis, and was available in the U.S. with a naturally-aspirated 7M-GE 3.0L inline six that produced 200 horsepower, as well as a 7M-GTE turbocharged version that produced 230 horsepower. The chassis of the MKIII is the tried-and-true front engine, rear-wheel drive arrangement with double wishbone suspension on all four corners, making it a good candidate for road racing or performance driving.

The MKIII Supra was also extremely advanced for its time, boasting features such as TEMS (Toyota Electronically Modulated Suspension), 4-channel ABS brakes, Proprotional Power Steering, and even a trip computer called the Super Monitor that could read engine error codes, measure fuel mileage, miles until fuel is used, and other data from the ECU. Many Supra MKIIIs were also equipped with a removable targa top roof, which allowed owners to enjoy the wind in their hair without the inherent drawbacks of a convertible top.

Right from the time of its debut, the MKIII Supra was a favorite of automotive enthusiasts looking to boost the performance of their vehicles. The famous Japanese tuning company HKS produced a drag Supra that held records for years when the Japanese drag racing scene was in its early stages and Toyota produced 500 special Turbo-A models to homologate their Group A rally Supra.

The turbocharged 7M-GTE powerplant responds extremely well to typical modifications, such as freer-flowing intake and exhaust systems and intercoolers, as well as turbocharger upgrades. There are a good amount of aftermarket parts availble for the Supra even 20 years after its production run, including forged engine components, coilover suspension packages, and even aftermarket body components such as rear spoilers and front bumpers.

With proper maintainence and upgrades, the MKIII Toyota Supra can be a very capable vehicle in motorsport and other high performance applications. Its low price and availability of parts makes it quite a bargain for those looking to build a performance car, and the MKIII Supra has a solid chassis without many inherent problems or issues. The 7M engines are known for blowing head gaskets, so a rebuild of the engine is nearly always required for reliability at higher power levels, but it responds so well to horsepower upgrades that a relatively quick MKIII Supra can be built for a very reasonable price.