The Ultimate Toyota Supra Turbo Build: 1,370 Horsepower

Asian, Builders, Classics  /   /  By Jim Motavalli

It’s not often that you see a performance-car build as well documented as this 1994 Toyota Supra Turbo coupe recently sold on eBay. We’re talking 1,370 horsepower from a compact Japanese package. And the seller lists every detail and part. The Supra sold for $150,000.

The stock ’94 Supra came with a three-liter six producing 220 horsepower. Back in the day, buyers who upgraded got twin turbochargers and 320 horsepower, stirred by a six-speed manual transmission. That would be enough for some folks, but it’s more fun to dial up the powertrain to 11—especially in a 25-year-old car.

Everything Is New, Except for the 1994 Toyota Radio

Is this car perfect? No, not many Mark IV Supras are. Besides, this build is not about creating a pristine showroom car. Instead, the coupe is meant to be driven, attract attention, and represent the essence of the Mk4 Supra vibe.

The seller explains:

It is expensive for a reason. The parts list is pages long, and shop hours were innumerable and ongoing. Therefore, this is not a $90k ‘okay’ Supra or a $200k original, which is not driven. If you want a fully built and clean Supra, this is it.

We don’t have enough space to provide a complete list of the parts enhancing this brilliant red Supra. However, the big-ticket items start with a new highly built 3.4-liter long-block motor with 9:5:1 compression and V160 six-speed transmission.

There’s a new wiring harness, all-new cooling system, WhifBitz carbon-fiber rear wing, Hypertune manifold, polished ETS six-inch intercooler, and custom performance exhaust.

The engine tuning parts list goes on for pages. It includes Garrett turbocharging, GSC Billet cams, and a Walbro racing fuel pump. Amazing enough, the builder retained the original 1994 Toyota radio.

In essence, this 1994 Toyota Supra Turbo is like a new car—if Toyota had built a car with 1,370 horsepower back then.

Maxing Out the Power to Weight

Toyota’s fourth-generation Supra shared a platform with the Lexus SC. US-spec turbo Supras could reach 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and attain 160 mph.

Getrag and Toyota jointly developed the six-speed V160 gearbox that went into the turbos. There was also a four-speed auto with manual shifting possible. In addition, the car boasts Toyota’s first airbag.

This Supra has a space-saver spare to save weight. And the use of aluminum for the hood, Targa top, and front cross member helps shed a few pounds. With its manual transmission, the total weight is just over 3,000 pounds.

Sales of sports coupes declined in the mid-1990s. So, the Supra left the Canadian market in 1996 and the US in 1998. Japan got the Supra until 2002 when restrictive emissions standards made it no longer viable.

Regardless, the Supra had a long run in America and is well supported for parts by eBay. But for now, all that’s required for this splendid 1994 example is to get in, turn the key, and experience that incredible output—more than four times the original horsepower.

Tell your friends:
About the Author

Jim Motavalli is a contributor to the New York Times, Barron's, NPR’s Car Talk, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, among others. He is the author of nine books, including two—Forward Drive and High Voltage—about electric cars and why they’re important. He is a longtime radio host on WPKN-FM, and a public speaker on environmental topics.