Here's the situation - I own a very stock appearing 1993 Supra TT hardtop. It is extremely rare (1 of 326 imported to the US between 1993 and 1998). The only real mods it has are BCC, boost modded to 18+ psi, PWR radiator, and Tein HAs. I have replaced all the under hood hoses for coolant, vacuum, and boost; and returned the clutch to basically stock after having a Mueller lightweight unit and an HKS triple installed.

I've also rebuilt the gearbox after a first gear synchro failure. The dash and all dash interior panels are new and unmolested. It appears as stock as you can imagine when you open the door, but it does go quite a bit better than a bone stock car.

I am finally living in a state where I can mod the car and still pass smog, and I can do it for cost of parts alone because I really don't need (or want) anyone turning wrenches for me.

The question is, should I leave it alone or mod it? It's worth a lot right now because it is very stock, but it could also be worth a lot after a single turbo, TRD style widebody kit and the appropriate tires, wheels, etc...

So, I'm looking for opinions from the slightly more conservative Lexus crowd because I already know what the Supra crowd thinks.

What say you? Mod for power and looks or leave it stock to retain its value?

 

hell ya!!!

 

the true question is if ur going to keep the car or not, if ur planning to sell it later on then leave it stock. but if its a keeper then mod it.

 

It all depends whether or not you want to keep the car long-term, or to sell in in the short term.

 

buy a 2nd GTE motor and build/mod that, so that if u ever do want to sell it u can swap in the ORIGINAL motor and sell it legitimately as a "numbers matching" type car

oh, and keep all the stock parts you replace

 

I already have a spare short block. It's more the widebody kit that has me wondering. The engine stuff is easy.

 

From what I've seen over the years on ebay and autotrader these cars regardless if there stock or not still hold there value... I say do it.. We only live once right..

 

Depends. If you plan to sell it (now or later) stock is better. Or the other option is to retain the stock parts, mod it they way you like it, enjoy the car then when it's time to sell, revert everything back .

 

Widebody kit, check. Wheels, check. Turn-up the boost....ehh, 18 pounds is plenty, but more boost is always satisfying. If it will already make you head lay back horizontal and make you laugh like a little kid thats plenty. If not, laughter is good for the soul!

 

18 psi from a PT-63 is quite a bit different than 18 psi from the OEM twins. I wouldn't shoot for the moon - lots of guys have done that - I'd be looking for 625 - 675 at the wheels. Enough to run with anything new and stock. Besides, that's pretty straightforward and reasonably priced.

 

Well if you sell it, its worth alot, probably retain its value up to when Toyota decides to release a newer Supra. Thats where your value might drop or go higher. If you modify it, its really all personal choices for you. I look around and still see modified Supras selling from the 30s' up to 50k'.

 

Mod it.........clean car btw

 

Since it is so rare don't mod. Only 326 was imported that's a rare car.

 

i'd mod it with sublte changes. i personally am not a fan of widebody kits on a supra. so i say roll the fenders and fit the widest rims possible under their. throw in a single , front lip and cruise. it'll be fast, yet subtle. also do more suspension upgrades.

a couple of my faves

 

I agree with baddis,

If you plan on keeping this I would mod it with the slightest things (upgraded turbo, front lip, wheels/tires) so that it stays conservative. I've always loved the "stock" looking cars in which u can see the intercooler! that look always sold it for me...but then again im 19 and anything that looks like it can go fast is attractive to me. But i'm no fan of cars that put so much money into a car with wide body kits, interiors, and lightweight shiz. I feel that you're never going to put in 20g's and somehow turn that into 30g's added onto the price of the car when u go to sell. You're going to lose money either way, so don't go crazy, PLEASE!

KISS. keep it simple stupid.

p.s. there's a supra on youtube. oh here it is. http://youtube.com/watch?v=CffwXWTvMOg please make your car go like that and i'd buy it from you! haha that's such a dope as*s car!!!!!

p.p.s. maybe you could actually turn the car around and sell it to a sponsor. but again, if that new supra comes out anyday soon, you're in deep shiz. haha