Lot Ended
Description
Showing only 18,085 miles; fantastically
original condition; driven 85 miles to the sale following a fresh advisory free
MOT; owned by the vendor for the last 18 years
Launched in the late 1980s as
Toyota’s flagship grand tourer, the third-generation Supra (A70) marked a
decisive step forward for the marque. No longer a Celica derivative, it became a
standalone model with a focus on refinement, long-legged performance and technical
sophistication. With its pop-up headlights, wide stance and
unmistakably ’80s wedge profile, the Mk3 Supra
quickly earned a reputation for durability and smooth, effortless
power.
Today, good original examples are increasingly sought after,
especially those that have avoided the modifications and hard use that befell so
many during the 1990s and early 2000s.
This 1988 example fits that bill and
shows only 18,085 miles. First registered
in March 1988 and showing seven former keepers, it has been in the hands of the
current vendor since late 2008. Initially used and enjoyed, changing work and
family commitments soon saw the car carefully covered and garaged, beginning a
long period of dry storage that has helped preserve it in notably sound
condition.
During lockdown, with time finally available,
the vendor embarked on a thorough recommissioning programme. The underside was
wire-brushed and treated, the
high-impact areas and subframes coated
with Cromadex, chosen specifically for its excellent protective qualities
— a deliberate decision to avoid the
usual heavy underseal. The vendor reports the underside to have been very good,
with no evidence of serious corrosion.
The original exhaust back box had deteriorated,
and with a standard replacement proving impossible to source, a
stainless-steel system was fitted. An oil
change followed — carried out twice in succession
with new filters each time — along with new NGK spark plugs and
a new air filter, all done with the vendor’s characteristic
thoroughness.
With the car having been idle for so long, a
timing belt change was essential. The previous belt had been fitted at 12,377
miles back in February 1995. In October 2021, the vendor fitted a new timing
belt and tensioner kit, along with a new water pump, thermostat, and a
brand-new radiator sourced from Germany
(not a recore). The cooling system was refilled with the correct Toyota
coolant.
Further
attention followed in June 2024, when a slight weep from the rear passenger
shock absorber prompted the replacement of both rear shocks and top mounts. With
the car otherwise in fine order, it was booked for an MOT in March 2025, which
it passed with ease. As before, it was driven home, covered and stored — the
vendor admitting that despite his intentions, the car simply never got
used.
The most
recent MOT shows that the Supra has covered just 57 miles since the previous
test. Given that the MOT station is approximately 26 miles from the vendor’s
home, it is clear the car has seen virtually no use beyond its annual
inspection. The mileage currently shown on the trip counter reflects the
distance covered since all major recommissioning work was completed, meaning the
car would have had approximately 17,910 miles on it at that
time.
The car is
offered with a V5C, an MOT valid until March 2027, 13 old MOT certificates, the
original Handbook, a period Brochure, and a file of invoices supporting the work
carried out over the years — a reassuring and well-organised history file that reflects
the careful long-term ownership and diligent
recommissioning described above.
A remarkably original and sympathetically
revived Mk3 Supra, preserved rather than used, and now ready for a new custodian
to enjoy. Examples with this level of care, provenance and minimal mileage since
major mechanical work are increasingly hard to
find.
Contact:
david.tassell@brightwells.com