1982 Toyota Supra

Performance Model Liftback

2.8 Liter DOHC 5M-GE

5 Speed Manual

JT2MA67L0C0040920

Clear

Gasoline

Let me start by saying this has got to be one of the nicest, most original 2nd Generation Toyota Supras available today. Add to the fact that it's a 5 speed, black on black, and you've got yourself a very desirable car. I personally bought this car back in 2007 just as I retired from working at Toyota for 25 years. I felt it was only fitting to take with me a meaningful reminder of all my years there, so I patiently scouted out the nicest 1982 Supra that I could find. This was Motor Trend's 1982 Import Car Of The Year back then just as I was beginning my career and always my favorite Toyota model. Once I located the car I had my Toyota Certified Used Car Manager (Thanks John B.) check it over for body work (none found) and finally I had one of my favorite Toyota Master Mechanics (thank you Bill S.) go over the car with a fine toothed comb. The car needed to have some fluids changed and the tires at the time were a bit spotty but other than that all systems were go, and I proudly acquired this beauty in May of 2007. I am the third lucky owner of this beautiful classic car. According to documents that will be included with the car, the original owner took delivery from General Toyota in Hopelawn. N.J. on August 28, 1982 and drove it sparingly for 21,000 miles until he traded for a new car in the fall of 1999. The second owner drove only 11,000 miles as a weekend car from the fall of 1999 until the spring of 2007 when I came into the picture. I've treated this car as an investment since day one, only adding a couple of thousand miles and always keeping it in the garage and avoiding rain whenever possible. The paint quality is amazing for a 33 year old car and still has evidence of the slight "orange peel" quality that these cars had when they first left the factory back in the '80's. (I tried capturing that effect with the camera in a close up picture of one of the doors and the resultant reflection looks more like an oil painting than a picture)...but I digress... Ok, so before I glorify the appearance of this car into the stratosphere, let me just bring things back to earth a bit. This is not a 99 point Trailer Queen. Those cars can be tough to enjoy.This one has been driven 35,000 miles. Not hard miles, but like any 35,000 mile car there are the routine signs of normal wear and tear. There are several touched up stone chips on the front end of the car, the biggest (on one of the flip up headlights) is about half the size of a pinky nail. And there are a handful of light one inch scrapes on the lower part of the front bumper. Not easy to spot, but they are there. Also, when I bought the car, the rear Supra decal had been removed by the original owner, so I had to find a replacement. So...she's not perfect. But these little defects seem to go un-noticed by most people, especially like the ones that approach you at the gas pump, glancing admiringly while reminiscing about fun times long ago. And that is exactly what makes owning this car so much fun! Now here's one thing many folks looking at a classic car for the first time don't realize...the paint job is important, but maybe just as important are all the trim items and interior features. After all, it's easy to repaint a car and make it look great on the outside, but the interior is another story. So if you are looking for a nice classic car to sink your money into, start with a solid body, followed by a minty interior, and that is where this car really shines! Items that commonly wear out on these old Supras include the leather wrapped steering wheel, the leather shift knob, and the center console lid. Factory floor mats you can forget about -- they are unobtainable in the Supra universe. As you can tell from the pictures, this car is top notch! The seats are clean and free from tears and stains and excess wear. I don't believe this car has ever been smoked in. The interior smells great. Again though, this is a 33 year old car so there are minor flaws present and it is only fair that I mention them. The interior door handles have faded from black to gray, presumably from oxidation. I'm told that they can be wet sanded and brought back to black, but I'm not messing with them. Likewise the carpeting is not as jet black as it was back in the day, but there are options to change that if one is so inclined. As a Toyota purist of sorts, I think the car is better off as an original. And, if you look closely at the side defroster vent to the left of the steering wheel, it is cracked. I did buy a NOS replacement part, but it never bothered me enough to take the dash apart. I'll be happy to include the replacement part with the car though, in case the new owner gets ambitious. The adjustable Recaro style seats are extremely comfortable and form fitting, meant to complement the lateral handling capabilities of the independent suspension designed by Lotus. Mechanically this car is extremely solid. The engine starts smoothly and runs quietly. Maybe a bit too quietly for some, as the car still has a factory exhaust in perfect working order. This car drives straight and true, climbing through the RPM's smoothly and steadily. Keep in mind this is not the super-fast turbo model we are used to seeing on "The Fast And The Furious". Power output from the factory is a modest 145hp with 155lb-ft of torque. Let's just say with a quarter mile time around 17 seconds, you won't be blowing away speed records. But that's not what this car is about. It's a fun back road GT type car, ready for road trips and car shows. Handling is crisp for an old gal, and she rides securely on 4 practically new P225/60/R-14 Yokohama Avid S/T Radials (with less than 2,000 miles on them), mounted on professionally refinished factory alloy wheels. The clutch works well and the transmission shifts cleanly through all the gears. There are no fluid leaks, no nasty surprises on the garage floor. Electrically everything works as intended. The only mechanical flaw is the fact that the air conditioning does not cool. According to the sticker under the hood, the system was converted to R134a refrigerant in July of 2001 by the second owner. It worked fine when I bought the car, and everything in the system is intact, but I didn't want to bother with the A/C for the amount of time I've spent in the car. I'll leave that up to the next owner to decide. And speaking of under the hood, the engine compartment is clean and tidy. All components are straight from the factory although I did have the valve covers sent out to be sandblasted and refinished with a fresh powdercoat, just as they looked when new. The purist in me looked the other way for that one, but it was a good decision ;-) In closing I have to say that it is with a heavy heart that I click this mouse and put my special car up for sale. I can only hope that the next owner loves her as much as the first three have. It would be hard not to...Just imagine the first time pulling up to a family gathering or better yet, a class reunion in this dazzling beauty and the love affair will be on! (Sorry spouses!) Oh, and one more thing speaking of spouses...How do you justify buying this car? Well, it's a 35,000 mile Toyota isn't it? What does a 35,000 mile Corolla go for? The answer might surprise you! Have a little fun!! Happy bidding and good luck!