MkIII Supra Turbo wanted for Practical Classics test
Discussion
Hi all
I'm putting together a big four-car test for Practical Classics, the general theme of which is 'cars that killed the Capri'. Our argument is that the Capri and its ilk were '60s relics by the '80s, trading on the aspirations and expectations of an older generation whose 'cars they promised themselves' were things like the Jaguar E-Type and Ferrari Daytona.
The Japanese brought reliability, modern design and, with turbochargers, near-supercar performance to the coupe sector at a time when Europe was worshipping the FWD hot hatch. It took the Japanese to give the public an affordable taste of the pin-up supercars of the '80s.
The test will pit 'six' against 'six' and 'four' against 'four' to show how much the game changed. To this end, we've got an Opel Manta GT/E up against a Mitsubishi Starion (cars already sourced), and a Ford Capri 2.8 Injection up against a Toyota Supra Turbo (the MkIII '86-'92 model).
However, I'm having serious problems accessing the MkIII Supra Owner's Group website - for some reason, despite registering, their webmaster has been 'considering my application' for several days.
Is there anyone on here with a Supra Turbo who'd like their car featuring in Practical Classics? We're after as standard a car as possible - no major modifications.
PM me if you have one of these cars and would like it to be featured.
Thanks
Sam
I'm putting together a big four-car test for Practical Classics, the general theme of which is 'cars that killed the Capri'. Our argument is that the Capri and its ilk were '60s relics by the '80s, trading on the aspirations and expectations of an older generation whose 'cars they promised themselves' were things like the Jaguar E-Type and Ferrari Daytona.
The Japanese brought reliability, modern design and, with turbochargers, near-supercar performance to the coupe sector at a time when Europe was worshipping the FWD hot hatch. It took the Japanese to give the public an affordable taste of the pin-up supercars of the '80s.
The test will pit 'six' against 'six' and 'four' against 'four' to show how much the game changed. To this end, we've got an Opel Manta GT/E up against a Mitsubishi Starion (cars already sourced), and a Ford Capri 2.8 Injection up against a Toyota Supra Turbo (the MkIII '86-'92 model).
However, I'm having serious problems accessing the MkIII Supra Owner's Group website - for some reason, despite registering, their webmaster has been 'considering my application' for several days.
Is there anyone on here with a Supra Turbo who'd like their car featuring in Practical Classics? We're after as standard a car as possible - no major modifications.
PM me if you have one of these cars and would like it to be featured.
Thanks
Sam
Have posted on the MKIII Supra Owners club for you.
http://www.mkiiisupra.net/bbs/showthread.php?t=333...
http://www.mkiiisupra.net/bbs/showthread.php?t=333...
Martin F said:
Have posted on the MKIII Supra Owners club for you.
http://www.mkiiisupra.net/bbs/showthread.php?t=333...
Thanks. One PHer has said he'll ask someone he knows who owns one, but it's a bit tenuous at the moment.http://www.mkiiisupra.net/bbs/showthread.php?t=333...
adibranch said:
eh? the 2.8i was available till 86.. or what about the laser, introduced in 85, and went on till 88? or the 280 that came out afterwards?
Capri production ceased for LHD models in 84. The last RHD Capri came off the lines in December 86. Ford dealers still had stock of some models in 1988. Edited by adibranch on Thursday 6th January 16:42
Edited by adibranch on Thursday 6th January 16:43
The point we're making in the mag is the way people's expectations of an affordable RWD coupe changed dramatically in the eighties. We know the Capri and Manta were outdated by the time the Starion and Supra Turbo came on the scene. What we're trying to find out is quite how dramatic a difference Japanese technology and style made to the genre. The mid eighties were very much an 'out with the old, in with the new' time as far as cars were concerned, brutally un-nostalgic compared with these days, and it would be interesting to re-live the experiences of road-testers stepping from the likes of Capris into these new Japanese challengers.
Well that's the general idea anyway!
Well that's the general idea anyway!
I dont see the relevance of the comparison, comparing older designs with new designs, its obvious what will have better dynamics, after all the antecedants of the Capri can be traced back to the MkII Cortina. A more valid comparison would be Japanese cars against other cars from the same design era, ie like Ford Sierra instead of Capri
I agree that this is rather a misconceived comparison
Having owned a total of 6 V6 Capris, the 2.8 injection special was certainly a faster car than the Celica Supra out at the time . . Not only was it also cheaper, it came with Recaro seats, Bilstein Gas Shocks, LSD etc etc.
As has been pointed out, the Mk3 Supra came out after the Capri ended production . . but was altogether in a different league! It was twice the price of the Capri . . . and therefore engineered to a much higher standard. It would be like comparing a V6 Mondeo with a Jag XK !!
Even if you ignore that, you should surely compare like with like - an N/A Supra vs an N/A Capri . . or a Turbo Supra vs a Turbo Capri.
I should point out that not only was I Motoring Journalist throughout the 80s/90s and test drove all the cars you've mentioned when they first came out, I am also the proud owner of a Mk3 Supra !
Having owned a total of 6 V6 Capris, the 2.8 injection special was certainly a faster car than the Celica Supra out at the time . . Not only was it also cheaper, it came with Recaro seats, Bilstein Gas Shocks, LSD etc etc.
As has been pointed out, the Mk3 Supra came out after the Capri ended production . . but was altogether in a different league! It was twice the price of the Capri . . . and therefore engineered to a much higher standard. It would be like comparing a V6 Mondeo with a Jag XK !!
Even if you ignore that, you should surely compare like with like - an N/A Supra vs an N/A Capri . . or a Turbo Supra vs a Turbo Capri.
I should point out that not only was I Motoring Journalist throughout the 80s/90s and test drove all the cars you've mentioned when they first came out, I am also the proud owner of a Mk3 Supra !
Roger you plonker.. you never owned a celica supra, so how can you compare them! the celica supra was a better engine than the 2.8 capri , and yes, it was quicker, a damn sight more sexy, and built better (the build quality of the higher end toyotas in that era was superb). The celica supra was truely an awesome car, light nimble and powerful. It also had LSD, the seats shamed recaros by a mile, and had the lotus developed suspension.
And, i do think its probably a better comparison for this test than the mk3 supra. They both came out at the same time, and were both seen as flagship models.
And, i do think its probably a better comparison for this test than the mk3 supra. They both came out at the same time, and were both seen as flagship models.
Edited by adibranch on Sunday 9th January 16:37
randomwalk said:
I dont see the relevance of the comparison, comparing older designs with new designs, its obvious what will have better dynamics, after all the antecedants of the Capri can be traced back to the MkII Cortina.
The UK version of the MKiii Supra used the 7M-GTE engine (it was replaced in the JDM one by the 1JZ-GTE engine during the MKiii's lifespan) which was essentially the final evolution of an engine design Toyota introduced in the 60's. Just thought it was worth pointing out.Also I have to say also its a bit of a strange comparison considering that the Capri ended production in 1986 and the turbo version of the Supra wasn't introduced until 1987, its a bit difficult to kill something that died before you were born, personally I would have gone with the 200hp 83-89 Nissan 300ZX turbo or the 178hp 81-86 Celica Supra 2.8i but meh should be an interesting article.
Hi are you still looking for a supra for your test?
Twincam16 said:
Hi all
I'm putting together a big four-car test for Practical Classics, the general theme of which is 'cars that killed the Capri'. Our argument is that the Capri and its ilk were '60s relics by the '80s, trading on the aspirations and expectations of an older generation whose 'cars they promised themselves' were things like the Jaguar E-Type and Ferrari Daytona.
The Japanese brought reliability, modern design and, with turbochargers, near-supercar performance to the coupe sector at a time when Europe was worshipping the FWD hot hatch. It took the Japanese to give the public an affordable taste of the pin-up supercars of the '80s.
The test will pit 'six' against 'six' and 'four' against 'four' to show how much the game changed. To this end, we've got an Opel Manta GT/E up against a Mitsubishi Starion (cars already sourced), and a Ford Capri 2.8 Injection up against a Toyota Supra Turbo (the MkIII '86-'92 model).
However, I'm having serious problems accessing the MkIII Supra Owner's Group website - for some reason, despite registering, their webmaster has been 'considering my application' for several days.
Is there anyone on here with a Supra Turbo who'd like their car featuring in Practical Classics? We're after as standard a car as possible - no major modifications.
PM me if you have one of these cars and would like it to be featured.
Thanks
Sam
I'm putting together a big four-car test for Practical Classics, the general theme of which is 'cars that killed the Capri'. Our argument is that the Capri and its ilk were '60s relics by the '80s, trading on the aspirations and expectations of an older generation whose 'cars they promised themselves' were things like the Jaguar E-Type and Ferrari Daytona.
The Japanese brought reliability, modern design and, with turbochargers, near-supercar performance to the coupe sector at a time when Europe was worshipping the FWD hot hatch. It took the Japanese to give the public an affordable taste of the pin-up supercars of the '80s.
The test will pit 'six' against 'six' and 'four' against 'four' to show how much the game changed. To this end, we've got an Opel Manta GT/E up against a Mitsubishi Starion (cars already sourced), and a Ford Capri 2.8 Injection up against a Toyota Supra Turbo (the MkIII '86-'92 model).
However, I'm having serious problems accessing the MkIII Supra Owner's Group website - for some reason, despite registering, their webmaster has been 'considering my application' for several days.
Is there anyone on here with a Supra Turbo who'd like their car featuring in Practical Classics? We're after as standard a car as possible - no major modifications.
PM me if you have one of these cars and would like it to be featured.
Thanks
Sam
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