Early Production Turbo A?

JDMMA70

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Man your turbo A is a real early model, they didnt even start using the newer body panels until Aug of 88. Maybe the turbo A got the face lift earlier than the other cars.
 

Jeff Lange

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The blocks changed before the crank did.

All 7M-equipped Supras are MA70's, MA71 is not an official chassis code for ANY Supra.

In Japan, typically cars are given years based on production date, not "model year." Turbo A's were made at the same time as all other updated cars, they were not made earlier. Production started in 08/88 just like every other "89."

Cranks & ECU changed in 08/89 production for "1990" model year.

Jeff
 

Beefy_Heafy

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Yeah it seems to be different to a lot of other turbo A's Ive viewed online. There are some interesting old stickers on it from TRD and up the side it reads "GROUP A" instead of "TURBO A". It has some really awesome history also. Was brought over to AUS when it was brand new by Toyota and then used as a pace car promotional kind of thing. It was owned by Toyota and was garaged at Neil Bate's (team Toyota rally champion) warehouse in Sydney for a long time until some young guy who worked in parts get a hold of it (his daddy was a big wheel with Toyota supposedly) and then it was rebuilt and modified for a Targa rally and sold before it could be used in said rally to another guy who worked in parts for Toyota. He owned it for about 4 or 5 years before I came along :D
At least this is the information i have gathered from the previous owner who didn't actually know all that much about cars. I'm inclined to believe the story due to its complexity and the evidence found throughout the vehicle in terms of the modifications that were done to it and the stickers / badges etc.

sm_photo_missing.jpg


Although based on what Jeff just said something is amiss. My firewall number (0095394) according to JDMMA70 states that my car was built in April of 1988
 

JDMMA70

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Jeff Lange;1578360 said:
The blocks changed before the crank did.

All 7M-equipped Supras are MA70's, MA71 is not an official chassis code for ANY Supra.

In Japan, typically cars are given years based on production date, not "model year." Turbo A's were made at the same time as all other updated cars, they were not made earlier. Production started in 08/88 just like every other "89."

Cranks & ECU changed in 08/89 production for "1990" model year.

Jeff

But Beefy's frame number indicates his turbo A was built in April of 88
 

JDMMA70

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whitemike;1578391 said:
What he's saying is that in Japan if it was built in 88, It's considered an 88. Here, if It's built in 88, It's sold as an 89 ..

I get what hes saying but thats not it. What hes saying is any car built in Aug 88 onwards would be considered the 89 model in the states but still a 88 model in Japan.

Im saying turbo A were built between Sept and October of 88. But Beefy's frame number indicates it was built in April of 88. Understand the facelift did not happen until Aug of 88
 

whitemike

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JDMMA70;1578393 said:
I get what hes saying but thats not it. What hes saying is any car built in Aug 88 onwards would be considered the 89 model in the states but still a 88 model in Japan.

Im saying turbo A were built between Sept and October of 88. But Beefy's frame number indicates it was built in April of 88. Understand the facelift did not happen until Aug of 88

Erroneous! Well, let's await Flange's response shall we. (or maybe I'll just ask him in chat?)
 

Jeff Lange

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As per chat with JDMMA70, there are a LOT of things about this car that don't make a lot of sense. If I can just get a photo of the data tag, it would clear SO much up about it. Also any other tags on the car as well.

The 7M-GTE definitely looks like a Turbo A, it has the Turbo A duct as well, but not much else looks like a typical Turbo A. It's hard to know what was done as the car was prepped for various races and/or modified by previous owners. It doesn't have the Turbo A steering wheel, or shift knob, or seats. It doesn't have any Turbo A badging, on the sides or on the rear trim.

It does have the newer body pieces (bumpers, trim, tail lights), but the front turn signals are Euro/Australia style, not Japanese style. The car is way too early for those body panels, production didn't start for 4 more months.

It's either a rare car, or someone has changed a lot of parts onto it. Data tag would answer many questions.

Jeff
 

JDMMA70

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What gets me is that engine harness. Its Pre89, but has all the extra plugs the turbo A harness had only in Pre89 fashion. Body harness is also Pre89. The turbo A's built in September were all grey plugs.
 

JDMMA70

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Holy crap! This is a genuine Turbo A. Built 5 months before its actual production run. This is either a Preproduction or the FIRST turbo A built.
 

Beefy_Heafy

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wow that is super cool. I'm pretty excited about the car. Its my true love (lets hope fiancee doesn't read this :p)
Like I said the backstory behind this car is pretty unique. Perhaps its Toyota prepped it up in advance for promo reasons?
 

Beefy_Heafy

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Its a real bummer its missing so many of its original bits and pieces in the interior and etc. Ive modified it so much now it would be near impossible to restore it to original. Also the special turbo A rear housing for the ct26 was cracked and destroyed. I have replaced it with a gt3582r

---------- Post added at 05:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:06 PM ----------

what does the "BLMXZ" mean
 

Moy

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JDMMA70;1578431 said:
Holy crap! This is a genuine Turbo A. Built 5 months before its actual production run. This is either a Preproduction or the FIRST turbo A built.

How can you tell? (I'm not sure how to pick apart those numbers)
 

JDMMA70

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Upon more research it seems Toyota did make Turbo A's well before the August 88 facelift. So far, ive found May and June builds. Some with Pre89 body harnesses, some with 89+. Some with Pre89 engine harnesses and some with 89+. This is getting interesting. I havent found any made before or another in April though.