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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Classic Toyota parts


Marcus GTE

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Was just watching an episode of drive, showing how Porsche have a classic parts department that continue to make parts for cars that are older than 10 years old.

 

Also I recently heard Nissan are planning on supporting the GTR with classic parts and really hope toyota follow suit! Perhaps we need to let them hear us?

 

Porsche classic

 

http://content3.eu.porsche.com/prod/pag/Classic/ClassicExplorer.nsf/ClassicPartsExplorer?ReadForm&country=international

 

 

 

Episode of Drive.

 

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No no. Why contact Toyota GB? The message needs to get over to Toyota HQ Japan for the real answer as they are the ones in charge.

 

It wasn’t just Toyota GB. They contacted the US Executive Vice President of Product Support Chris Nielsen and Motorsports Marketing Manager Paul Doleshal, I contacted Paul Van der Burgh who is President and Managing Director of Toyota GB.

 

Neither side were interested.

 

I couldn’t find a reliable contact for Toyota Japan but if you know of one let me know :thumbs:

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This is one of the saddest things about owning a Supra, theres not exactly much love from Toyota HQ here in the UK or in Japan to keep it going or even want to appreciate what they built. They seem to be more interested in old Corollas and Celicas (which were cool in their own right).

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Wonder how long it will be before someone genuinely can't repair the car though? as to date it seems whilst a few items have come on the radar as being an issue (abs sensors etc) they still come out of the woodwork from somewhere. Can only get worse I know but it's not that desperate yet, possibly better than most 25 year old cars especially considering the production numbers?

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Wonder how long it will be before someone genuinely can't repair the car though? as to date it seems whilst a few items have come on the radar as being an issue (abs sensors etc) they still come out of the woodwork from somewhere. Can only get worse I know but it's not that desperate yet, possibly better than most 25 year old cars especially considering the production numbers?

 

Once there are skilled metal workers around no problem. Pilkinton glass make replacements for supras. We will be turning to the us probably for replacement panels as they seem to be good at that. As for engines...boxes etc...we can always rely on conversions

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I have only bought classic cars on the basis of parts availability so have sitting in my garage or barn a MGB roadster, A series Land Lover and a vintage Ford Mustang. There is only one part you cannot buy today for the MGB (heater controllers), you can buy everything for the Land Rover and you can buy lots more parts for the Mustang than were ever factory original. It's simple to come up with a reason why these cars survive with pattern parts suppliers and that's over 10,500,000 of these cars were built and lots are still running around. Small volume production cars have no hope of building a strong aftermarket parts industry. It's only ever going to be specialist recycling centres and bespoke solutions for the Supra Mkiv turning it increasingly towards a garage bound curio.

 

Toyota is a volume car company that sells largely metal boxes to the masses, the chances of them catering to a tiny niche is absolutely zero. Unless owners want to keep their cars forever, really they should be selling while the market is good. Classic cars are an era thing, and their appeal (and with it the cars value) is expected to die out as the old petrol heads die out. Todays kids will only know electric and petrol cars will be smelly museum pieces, the mechanics of the future will be armed largely with screwdrivers.

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I think it all comes down to costs as does everything.

 

Nissan did the GTR stuff and Mazda for the NA Mk1 MX-5, but it was only a handful of parts that were actually being made if i remember correctly.

 

Mazda were even offering a renovation programme for the Mk1 MX5's in Japan, where they would do a ground up overhaul of your Car. Cant be cheap though surely...

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Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and other automakers have similar programs to support their classic cars.

 

Why Toyota does not support its Heritage is mind boggling

 

Indeed - so when you hear people moan that Toyota has no sporting heritage (other than rally) that relates to their roads cars, this doesn't help that argument when there's no sign of trying to fly the flag.

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