Wild 2JZ-Powered Supra Is Actually an SC430 Underneath

Purist's Supra

The biggest complaint everyone has about the all-new Toyota Supra centers around one thing - the drivetrain. We purists would love to see a 2JZ powerplant and manual transmission, yet no such offering exists. Yet. This is exactly why the students at Nihon Automobile College in Japan built their own using a mid-2000s Lexus SC430. Automobile was on hand to capture this cool creation on film as it made its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon. 

Photos: Autoblog

Impressive Build

There are a few clues that give this away, of course, mainly the interior. Any true Lexus fan will spot the origin here, as well as the fact that this car is a drop-top. There are also a few details that don't seem quite right, like the various vents adorning the bodywork. But overall, the quality of this build is certainly impressive. 

Photos: Autoblog

>>Join the conversation about this ummm interesting SC430-2JZ-Supra right here in Club Lexus.

Proper Powerplant

Perhaps the best thing about this Supra clone, however, is the fact that it packs a highly modified, turbocharged 2JZ-GTE powerplant. That's obviously enough to make us absolutely adore the build, and undoubtedly give it enough grunt to outrun an actual new stock Supra in a straight line.  

Photos: Autoblog

>>Join the conversation about this ummm interesting SC430-2JZ-Supra right here in Club Lexus.

Nod to the Past

In addition to installing all-new body parts onto an older chassis, the students at Nihon also threw a Pandem widebody kit on the car. The whole package was then covered with the same tint of orange paint and graphics as the famous Supra Paul Walker drove in The Fast and the Furious. If that isn't a proper nod to the past, we don't know what is.

Photos: Autoblog

>>Join the conversation about this ummm interesting SC430-2JZ-Supra right here in Club Lexus.

Custom Bits

This resulting A90 Supra "Spyder" features an impressive amount of fabrication, a true testament to the skills of NATS students. There are loads of custom details present in the build, from the one-off hood to the swing-up doors, diffusers, and one-off decklid with integrated spoiler. 

Photos: Super Street

>>Join the conversation about this ummm interesting SC430-2JZ-Supra right here in Club Lexus.

Proper Tribute

It might seem like a long way to travel to create a drop-top Supra, but it's also likely closer to being an actual one than the new model. And this creation is also wholly satisfying for Lexus and Toyota fans as a whole. Not to mention fans of that certain iconic movie franchise. 

Photos: Super Street

>>Join the conversation about this ummm interesting SC430-2JZ-Supra right here in Club Lexus.

Honing Skills

Ultimately, you have to hand it to the creative geniuses behind this incredible machine. And even more amazingly, it was just one of a multitude of cars on display at Nihon's Tokyo Auto Salon space. So if you know any young, bright, car-crazed folks who might be interested, this seems like a great place to nurture and hone their skills. 

Photos: Super Street

>>Join the conversation about this ummm interesting SC430-2JZ-Supra right here in Club Lexus.

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