on Wheeler Dealers....I know my buddy has boycotted cuz he thinks Edd was the show etc. I was just flipping channels.

A couple of things dawned on me.....1) that was a seriously nice car in 1982, and they pointed out MT's import car of the year 2) I would drive something like that daily

That car, and probably Celicas to a lesser extent, had "it." They never outperformed their German rivals, really didn't have any need to, they were different. They had "it."

Just look at the seats alone, they were super nice. Pretty sure the GT-S had the nice seats as well.

 

Yes.....except for the stumbling, lean-running carburetors that were a PITA while warming up, some of the best Japanese-designed cars were actually produced in the early-mid 1980s...especially after the early-rust problems of the 1970s were licked.

 

I've also seen a prolly '81 Celica GT coupe (trunk) driving around, and the owner is likely 85-95 y.o. I know it's a special edition because it has a honeycomb grille. Imagine he's likely to be the original owner. Good ol' 20R.....these were good cars in their time, performance was not the top priority and they had character

 

That was a good episode, the 3000GT episode was really good too. I really liked Ed China but the new guy Ant Anstead is pretty good. I hope they do a modern last gen Supra episode along with a 300ZX tt, NSX, Grand National, DB7 or DB9, LS460, etc. I could go on and on naming cars I would like to see them do.

 

In case anybody was wondering what a 1982 Supra looked like. Pretty *****ing IMO, love the flared fenders

 

This generation of Supra featured a fuel injected straight six engine as standard. 5M-GE I think, similar to the 7M-GE offered in the later 80's Supra Mark III. Similar/same engine was offered in the 1980's Toyota Cressida and similar Japanese spec Crown.

 

My brother bought an 84 Supra brand new, had it 20 years before selling it for $500. Zero issues.

 

My aunt had a history of driving sporty cars, and they got sportier after her divorce lol

From memory, when my uncle got the LeSabre, a couple years later she got the Buick Opel made by Isuzu. I remember back in those days, my dad and she wore gloves when they drove? hahahahaha

Anyway she did go to this Supra, then a boxier Supra, then a RX-7, then a RX-7 turbo, then a M3 lightweight, then a M3 (E46). She stopped there and has the E46 today. The E36 lightweight is very valuable today too bad she didn't keep it. But it actually was the wrong car for her, no roof, no radio, no a/c, not practical.

I wish I could build a time machine and take us all back. We wouldn't be doomed the way we are today...lol I got that from ticked off Vic that someone posted here....

My entire point though is Toyota knew how to build an appealing car back then that set itself apart. It likely could not outperform a BMW, didn't have to. People wanted it, liked it, and as the show mentioned it was import car of the year, it was that good....

 

That's not a a 1982, probably a 1985 model. This is what the 1982 Celica Supra looked like.

 

Are those rims maybe 14" lol, yet just look at them. Sweet!! C'mon Toyota get back in the game with products like these....(maybe the next Corolla will be a hit and it starts there)

 

It had a black front bumper too...that one has been painted red.

 

You are correct. This one looks to be about bone stock. There was also a lower trim version with no fender flares.

 

ahhhh yeah.....

 

These cars date back to when most of the affordable performance cars had live rear axles, pushrod engines, and if they had disk brakes, it was only on the front. Toyota advertised this car as having "The Right Stuff". It had IRS, DOAC engine, and 4 wheel disk brakes just like the racing cars and exotics at the time. I bought a black '82, the "luxury" version instead of the one with the fender flares which was sold as the "sport" version. Mine even had an early attempt at a trip computer. Instant and avg. MPG, avg. speed, distance and driving time. Nice car for the time, but outdated now.