Let’s be honest. The fourth-generation A80 Toyota Supra is a favourite among car enthusiasts worldwide. Even after three years with the current A90 Supra, people continue to place the 1990s icon on a pedestal that appears insurmountable by anything other than a modernised A80 with a 2JZ under the hood. Meanwhile, the third-generation A70 Supra has remained in the shadows, denied the attention it deserves. Maybe these renderings will help to change that.
We can thank Hakosan Designs on Instagram for this magnificent vision of a new wedge Supra. The long, flat hood, pop-up headlights, and simple fastback shape instantly identify the vehicle as an A70. This fictional upgrade rounds off some of the edges while honoring the classic wedge shape, keeping it low and wide. In fact, this interpretation is even wider thanks to flared fenders, beneath which sit fat tires and upgraded brakes.
The front retains the A70’s iconic thin black strip, along with modern lights, an aggressive lower fascia, and a modest grille for feeding and cooling the engine. Speaking of A70 and A80 love, Hakosan Designs envisions this 1980s restomod powered by a 2JZ, 1JZ, or even a modified 3S four-cylinder engine producing 500 hp. The 3S-GTE is best known for powering the top-of-the-line fourth-generation Celica in the late 1980s, but the Supra began life as a Celica trim level.
In fact, the A70 represents the official separation of Celica and Supra. While American sports cars were returning to V8 engines, Toyota offered a competitive 3.0-liter inline-six good for about 200 horsepower when it debuted in 1986. Several six-cylinder engines were available over the years, culminating with the twin-turbocharged 2.5-liter 1JZ producing 276 hp for the Japanese market. In the United States, the top-of-the-line Supra was equipped with a single-turbo 3.0-liter engine producing 232 horsepower.
The fourth-generation Supra, with its 330-hp 2JZ engine, easily outperformed its predecessor in almost every way. Its appearance in The Fast and the Furious helped it achieve superstar status, but it’s always nice to see some love for the A70.
Source: Hakosan Designs via Instagram
