Toyota will offer heritage parts for 3rd- and 4th-gen Supras

Last week, at the Japanese launch of the new 2020 Supra, Shigeki Tomoyama, who runs Toyota’s Gazoo Racing group, announced that the automaker will soon begin making replacement parts for vintage third-generation A70 and fourth-gen A80 Supras under the new GR Heritage Parts Project. That news, reported by Japanese Nostalgic Car, follows similar plans at Nissan, Mazda, Honda, Porsche, and other automakers to start making reproduction parts for out-of-production enthusiast cars.

It’s not immediately clear which MkIII and MkIV Supra parts will be reproduced by the GR Heritage Parts Project. “We cannot answer [questions] about specific parts at this time, but we will make every effort to meet the expectations of owners,” Tomoyama said while standing near his personal 600-hp, 1997 A80 Supra, which accompanied the new Supra GR at its reveal.

Toyota understands the passion of vintage Supra enthusiasts. “The new Supra is a great car,” Tomoyama said, as would be expected at a new product reveal, “but I don’t intend to let go of this A80 Supra in my lifetime.”

Going beyond Supras, new and old, Tomoyama also addressed changes to the automobile industry as it electrifies and embraces autonomous driving. Tomoyama’s remarks echoed those who say that analog mechanical devices like wristwatches and manual transmissions are becoming symbols of enthusiasm, status, and luxury as more modern digital electronics proliferate.

“All horses that were once a means of transportation have been replaced by cars, but race horses remain. There are people all over the world who love horses,” Tomoyama remarked. “The human desire to move freely, fast, and beautifully according to one’s will is universal… We have to pass on this DNA to the next generation. The challenge of Toyota Gazoo Racing is to make cars thoroughly interesting in the next 100 years.”