1983 Turbo 1JZ Celica Supra Stuns
Having owned the MKII Celica Supra since 1989, Javier Paramo turned his high school vehicle to a drift car, before eventually restoring it to the beauty seen here.
Young Enthusiast
Javier Paramo's relationship with cars and customizing them began at the age of 16. His first vehicle was an '85 Nissan Sentra. And when its cylinder head sustained some damage, he knew he couldn't afford having it fixed by a mechanic. So he rolled up his sleeves, grabbed a Chilton manual, and did the repairs himself, learning on the job.
Photos: Motortrend
Trading Up
A while later when he traded the Sentra for this '89 Celica Supra, he began using his newfound skills and passion to customize the coupe. At the time, that meant a set of mesh wheels, which he found at a junkyard, and a lowered ride height, achieved by cutting the springs! Not terrible for a high schooler's project. But as the years passed, Javier's enthusiasm and skillset evolved.
>>Join the conversation about this 1JZ swapped Celica Supra right here in ClubLexus forum.
Dabbling in Drifting
His growing love for drifting led him to repurpose the Celica Supra as a drift machine. To achieve adequate power, though, he knew he had to look for a new power plant. And he chose a 2JZ swap for his drift build. He even competed in a Drift Tengoku event Stateside, where he rubbed elbows with drifting greats like Alex Pfeiffer and Andy Yen, with whom he shared the podium, earning second place in the competition.
>>Join the conversation about this 1JZ swapped Celica Supra right here in ClubLexus forum.
In Search of a Calling
Eventually though, as real-life started to creep in, Javier felt the need to take a break from drifting and find a career that could sustain him financially. He spent several years looking for his calling, trying out various professions, before being introduced to a career in law enforcement in 2003. This came about as Javier reconnected with his high school sweetheart, who would become a deputy sheriff not long after they reunited.
>>Join the conversation about this 1JZ swapped Celica Supra right here in ClubLexus forum.
Restoring the Old Car
With a stable career and disposable income, Javier felt it was finally time to give the Celica Supra the restoration he had always envisioned. Given his love for JDM, it was only natural for him to rebadge the Celica Supra as a Celica XX, as it is called in Japan. An Erebuni Shogun body kit with custom over fenders adds a powerful stance. And the white paint, accented with custom-made graphics round off the look of the exterior nicely.
>>Join the conversation about this 1JZ swapped Celica Supra right here in ClubLexus forum.
Passion Project
The 2JZ was replaced with a twin-turbo 1JZ in the restoration process, upgraded with go-fast goodies, and mated to a '96 Supra's drivetrain. A lack of proper aftermarket support forced Javier to custom-build certain elements, such as the front coilovers. All told, this Supra project serves as a great representative of Javier's passion and enthusiasm.
>>Join the conversation about this 1JZ swapped Celica Supra right here in ClubLexus forum.