Toyota Suprabird Is a Supra That Thinks It’s a Plymouth Superbird
We wouldn’t have been surprised to see Dodge drum up excitement for its new Charger by building a tribute to Richard Petty’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird for the SEMA show. While you’ll find a modern-day interpretation of the Road Runner Superbird displayed in Las Vegas, it’s somewhat confusingly displayed by Toyota.
Meet the Suprabird. What’s the link between a current-generation Supra and a 54-year-old NASCAR legend, you ask? It’s behind the wheel: Richard Petty. “The King” drove the emblematic Superbird in 1970 and joined Toyota’s NASCAR outfit as a team ambassador in 2023. His son Kyle played a role in the project as well.
Toyota started with a GR Supra 3.0 Premium owned by NASCAR analyst and brand ambassador Rutledge Wood. The 3.0-liter straight-six engine is rated at 382 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque when left stock, but it might make a little more of both because it’s fitted with a cold-air intake and a cat-back exhaust system. Wood also added coilovers to dial in sharper handling and fitted wide 19-inch wheels.
As for the body kit, well… it’s a little more Fast and Furious than Superbird. It includes a carbon fiber front splitter, wheel arch flares, a spoiler on the trunk lid, and a rear diffuser. In contrast, Petty’s Superbird was characterized by a pointed front end, side panels that were nearly flat, and an absolutely giant rear wing. At least the Suprabird is finished in the appropriate shade of blue with contrasting white “43” logos.
Nothing suggests the Suprabird is anything but a one-off model; at least not if we’re talking about a life-sized car. If you want one, you’ll have to settle for the 1/64-scale Hot Wheels replica due out shortly.
So a fake Supra pretends to be a fake Road Runner? Fake Japanese car pretends to be an American Legend?
Man Toyota you suck at this. You’re drunk, go home.
Looks like a car from the movie Cars.
That would be an improvement.
WHY? 👎
Eh, it looks kind of cool. I’m not that invested in the lineage to be butt hurt over it, but I’m not a fan of the wheel color choice. It clashes with the blue. I would’ve went bronze.
How is this Toyota’s “Drunk” work? Maybe Rutledge was drunk to agree to a Toyobimodge ?
Regardless, Let the Superbird be as it was. Epic and undeniably a V8 powered icon.
Apparently someone thought the Supra brand needed some cache from King Richard. The result was a forgettable Frankencar. On the other hand, I like the idea of a Fast & Furious aura for the Supra- but save the Petty blue and 43 for a future Mopar offering.
Isn’t that a BMW too?
I’m suprised the Petty clan would agree to such a thing. Needs the front fascia fixed, a taller wing and a Hemi…
“Toyota by Petty”. WTAF?!?
Pretty much looks like something from the next “Cars” movie sequel….
What a shame. I dont like it.
Well I like it and agree with the wheel rim colours should be different. The blue goes well on the car and we know that Richard Petty raced other cars that weren’t Superbirds and some even had large amounts of STP red on them. No whining about that or the modern decals from newer parts suppliers. I like true to original restorations but recognize that automotive art is a 5 dimensional type of art (length, width height, sound and motion). Some of you have to be a little less subjective in your thoughts and be more objective.
Toyota enters Australian V8 Supercars in 2016, and yes it will have a V8.
No, this is not a prototype and Johnson, Petty and Legacy will not be involved. Neither will the paint.
Walkinshaw Andretti United is the homologation team. Ryan Walkinshaw has been in this series for years, Michael Andretti and Zak Brown are the other two. Andretti is looking for work and Brown is currently the face of McLaren. Toyota is the money.
I was all WTF?? Until I saw Rutt’s name, then it made perfect sense LOL! Other than that beautiful shade of Blue & the most iconic number in the history of Motorsports, everything else about this car makes me wanna puke, including Rutt’s name being on it 😆
Looks like Disney is about to do another ‘Cars’ movie.
Abomination.