A White Christmas: 1989 Toyota SupraTurbo

For many, Christmas is capped off not by the presence of gifts, family, or a great meal, but by a layer of frozen precipitation that drops down from the clouds and coats everything...snow. Unlike many parts of North America, Florida is seldom blessed (or cursed) with snow, and it's even rarer on Christmas day, but for one lucky man by the name of Joseph, every day is Christmas, and every Christmas it snows. Now you may be wondering where this is all going, but it's fairly simple, the white 3rd generation Supra we're about to learn about is a gift in the way that it is part of a long story that spans generations, keeping the spirit of a family hobby alive.

All automotive enthusiasts are inspired by something or someone, but for Joseph, it's practically part of his DNA. His grandfather in Puerto Rico began purchasing TE72s and RA64s, his last purchase being a 1983 Toyota Celica, which eventually became his son's first car in 2001. That Celica was a massive inspiration to Joseph growing up as a child; his dad swapped the 22R for a 7MGTE and in a way, influenced his affinity to the chassis and its related sibling, the MA60 Supra. When he was just 14, a 1985 MK2 Celica Supra was purchased from his dad's friend, as his very first car, but before he could legally drive, he learned the responsibility of owning a vintage car, along with the hard work it takes to keep it roadworthy. Time was spent inside and out of the car, attending the school of hard knocks to swap a blown differential, old valve seals, and detailing an interior that had existed for decades. As the axiom goes, no project car is ever finished, but before getting to a place with his first car that felt established, it was totaled due to a careless driver behind the wheel of a BMW, cue today's featured car.

When a vehicle is suddenly taken, it's an emotional experience, but then once you heal both physically and mentally, it's time to move on and find what's next. With the scarcity of clean Celica Supras, the idea of an MK3 continued to cross Joseph's mind, but there were so many he came across that needed too much work, didn't run, were in various states of being put back together, until he came across the perfect car that checked all of his boxes. First, the colorway, a white package car with color-matched body cladding and wheels, with a maroon interior. It also came with the "enthusiast package," aka it's a manual with a turbo 7MGTE under the hood. The car was also well cared for, and better yet, low mileage, not having crossed the centennial mark with just 98K on the dash. Of course, this also means that things like brakes and rubber hoses had to be replaced before it could get on the road, having sat for 8 years in the same spot.

Today, Joseph's Supra no longer sits; instead, it's enjoyed fully, lightly modifying it as he performs his rendition of Megalopolis Expressway Trial 3 scenes. Under the hood, the 7MGTE breathes better with an APEXi intake, a downpipe from Driftmotion that, in conjunction with an HKS Silent Hi-Power exhaust, frees up a few ponies spooled in from the OEM turbocharger. Of course, with any boosted vehicle in a warm climate, care must be taken not to overheat, so an aluminum radiator with electric fans was installed to keep things in check. As the Supra evolved from the Celica, this was the juncture where it became a bit more of a serious GT car and less of a sports car, and with that, the high-speed capability was upgraded from the factory, with the car now coming alive on the top end with the turbo at full boost. However, even as a GT car, this particular Supra still can have fun around corners courtesy of not only its relative light weight compared to newer cars, but a set of Fortune 500 coil-overs and Whiteline sway bars.

The presence of this car is bigger than the actual footprint it uses on the road or at a car meet. The exterior, with its removable Targa-top, and the tastefully selected Blitz Technospeed Z1 wheels at each corner offer up a nostalgia-inducing vision of one of Toyota's best eras. People are often compelled to start conversations of their own Supra or retro Toyota ownership stories, pre-dating the days of The Fast and The Furious 1, and Vinny Ten's legendary run in his JZA80, the MK3 was the techno-wonder. It almost adds an extra level of respect to Joseph's care for his car; the inside is meticulously clean and just dons a Greddy shiftknob and a set of Imperial floor mats. In 2025 talk, this car is a vibe, it checks all of the vintage and nostalgic boxes and since it isn't an MK4 or MK5, it is actually different in a sea of the usual suspects.

Of course, as we know, no project is ever finished. Joseph is seeking more power, not something to feed a social media algorithm, but for himself. He loves to cruise the highways but has noticed the shortcomings of older electronics and the sensibly built 7MGTE. His wishlist to Santa includes a standalone ECU, a built bottom end with higher comp pistons, Brian Crower cams, and addressing the usual suspects, such as lubrication and head gasket. Ideally, landing in the 350 WHP range would be great; revving higher would also add more joy to his world. Most would say that it would be more cost-effective to just swap a 2JZ and call it a day, but from generations of Celica/Supra chassis appreciation, Joseph has learned to love the 7MGTE, and its distinct sounds and quirks. The plan is to pair a lightened drive shaft and Lexus LS front and rear brakes; this would complete the vision floating around in his mind.

A refreshing showcase of restraint means that Joseph can take advantage of his car, sans jackstands or time away at a shop. The gradual time taken to upgrade and learn his car in his two years of ownership has made for a local icon of sorts, a white Supra that owns the moment. Decades of experience have combined together to forge a strong ethos on vehicle ownership, with plenty more to be seen in the future from Joseph and his Supra we can't wait to discover what's next. As a big fan of Night Run Garage, he probably has a cart full of parts under his Christmas Tree... Happy Holidays!