What's the easiest way to identify a Turbo MKIII?

[Supraman]

I've been under the impression that only some Turbo cars have the Sports Package (which of course includes TEMS, Targa, ABS, LSD, and rear spoiler), meaning that if you see a car with a rear spoiler, it automatically is a Turbo--but you might have a Turbo without a spoiler. Is this correct? I'm helping a friend find his Supra, and some postings do not mention a Turbo when they do indeed have the spoiler, so I just want to confirm that my original thinking is accurate.

If this is wrong, please set me straight! Take note that I'd like to be able to identify Turbos without looking for the actual "Turbo" designation on the rear (not all of them have it anyway...I've seen a 1991 Turbo with no mention on the exterior, although it had the S.P.).

Thanks!!

-- Scott Goodson

 

[Loki]

Just by looking at one you can't tell if it's Turbo or not. You could get the spoilers on NA's, the best way is either to check the vin. If it's MA71 it's got a Turbo, also check if it's got the boost gauge.

I looked at a pre '89 Supra this weekend and it had the wing, but had the volt meter so it wasn't a Turbo.

 

[GrimJack]

Check on the dash. If the far right gauge is a voltmeter rather than a boost gauge, it's NA, unless it's had some pretty major work done under the hood.

Best bet is to look under the hood - the turbo isn't hard to spot, it's a big piece bolted onto the exhaust side where the NAs only have an exhaust header.

 

[Supracentral]

I've been under the impression that only some Turbo cars have the Sports Package (which of course includes TEMS, Targa, ABS, LSD, and rear spoiler), meaning that if you see a car with a rear spoiler, it automatically is a Turbo--but you might have a Turbo without a spoiler. Is this correct? I'm helping a friend find his Supra, and some postings do not mention a Turbo when they do indeed have the spoiler, so I just want to confirm that my original thinking is accurate.

If this is wrong, please set me straight! Take note that I'd like to be able to identify Turbos without looking for the actual "Turbo" designation on the rear (not all of them have it anyway...I've seen a 1991 Turbo with no mention on the exterior, although it had the S.P.).

All turbo cars came equiped from the factory with the spoiler and some sort of badging that indicated it was a turbo.

Some N/A cars were ordered with the sport package and have the spoiler.

Since you are dealing with cars that are getting up in the years, with all the debadging, rebadging and riceriffic behavior, the only true way to know you are looking at a turbo car is under the hood. And that doesn't discount swaps, etc.

You can't even use the MA70 vs MA71 in the vin since, although Toyota originally planned to use all the MA70 chassis as NA's and all the MA71's as turbos, the unexpected demand for turbo cars caused them to just mix and match chassis & engine combo's as needed.

 

[Loki]

You can't even use the MA70 vs MA71 in the vin since, although Toyota originally planned to use all the MA70 chassis as NA's and all the MA71's as turbos, the unexpected demand for turbo cars caused them to just mix and match chassis & engine combo's as needed.

I've never seen a Turbo thats VIN didn't say MA71 in it, but maybe I just haven't looked at enough of them. You are right, the only way to know for sure is to look under the hood.

 

[Supracentral]

I've never seen a Turbo thats VIN didn't say MA71 in it, but maybe I just haven't looked at enough of them. You are right, the only way to know for sure is to look under the hood.

I've owned three MA70 Turbo cars - my current one is one of these.

 

[Squid699]

MA71's were indeed the designated turbo chassis, but due to demand they began to use excess MA70 chassis. Later models went exclusively to the MA70 designation, If I rememeber correctly.



My 89 Turbo has a voltmeter..................but I fall under Grim's category of "unless is pretty major work under the hood"

 

[MKIIINA]

look under the hood.... if theres a rather large snail (or 2) then its a turbo also check out the goofy second radiator in the front

 

[DrakeMK3]

As stated by several others, the spoiler is usually a dead giveaway. I find the best way to tell if it's a turbo is to pop the hood.

 

[88turboma71]

were only certain colors made with turbo's or could u get a turbo in any color?

 

[DrakeMK3]

were only certain colors made with turbo's or could u get a turbo in any color?

I'm fairly certain that the only paint code changes ocurred with the year they were made and not necessarily the trim they came in.

 

[Loki]

also check out the goofy second radiator in the front

That is actually a really good way, you can tell from looking at it without having to pop the hood. Didn't think of that

 

[Supraman]

Hey, thanks guys! Supramania, before the big hack, was always the best place to get information--both the people, and the archive. Now that all we have are the great, knowledgeable members to rely on, you guys deserve special thanks. It's fantastic being a Supra owner

I'm glad to hear that all Turbos have the Sports Package, and that it's optional on the N/A. That means that the only thing we can tell from completely outside the car is that the car is an N/A if it does not have a spoiler, provided it has not been removed, or the engine overhauled/replaced by a 7MGTE.

For the moment, I'm content with my 1992 N/A, especially because it's in fantastic condition and the rarity of the '92. However, I'll be working hard to find my friend a great Turbo, because it's clear they are the way to go if available. When I was buying my car, no good-condition Turbos were available in my area.

Once again, thanks! I have more questions, including ones I posted on the old board but never got the answers to before the server was attacked...so I'll be posting a few more topics. Also, I hope to become an active member, and leverage my own knowledge of these cars.

-- Scott Goodson

 

[Jeff Lange]

I've owned three MA70 Turbo cars - my current one is one of these.

Pic Please.

Note: MA71 should always be in the VIN of a Turbo car. The chassis code will always read MA70 for N/A's.

Since the VIN has nothing to do with the chassis code, and MA71 only ever shows up in the VIN, the supply/demand argument goes out the window, lol.

I've never seen a car that had MA70 in the VIN and it was an original Turbo, usually there's something that gives it away as being a swap.

But I'll agree with everyone else, chances are, now, the only real way to know is to look the car over yourself, and to know what to look for.



From my experience, with all the discussion I've seen, visits to Toyota, looking at EPC's and information, and all the cars I've seen, all the cars I've seen in pics, etc, etc, etc...

All MK3 Supras here in North America are MA70 chassis cars, and in the VIN (which has nothing to do with the chassis code), JT2MA70 is for N/A cars, JT2MA71 is for Turbo cars. I've seen a car with MA71 stamped onto the chassis, but it was not Toyota chassis code format, it was VIN format, it was an Australian car.

I've never seen a pic of a MK3 Supra with an MA71 chassis code stamped onto the firewall, and the only time I've heard of it, the person posts later saying they were wrong, or it was some car someone saw one time, or it was some car someone owned before, but nobody can actually prove anything.

Someone prove me wrong, but I've researched into it pretty heavily, and it doesn't seem like there is any inconsistancy in any way with any MA70 chassis codes, or with any MA70/MA71 VIN code setup. That I've ever seen.

 

[Loki]

Note: MA71 should always be in the VIN of a Turbo car. The chassis code will always read MA70 for N/A's.

That's what I meant in my original post.

 

[SuprA70]

Look for an intercooler.

 

[ShagsSupra]

Pop the hood and look for a snail.

 

[americanjebus]

I've never seen a Turbo thats VIN didn't say MA71 in it, but maybe I just haven't looked at enough of them. You are right, the only way to know for sure is to look under the hood.

my car is a ma70 turbo so your done, its a 92 so its probably one of the last models they probably just grabbed what was left in the assembly line and threw mine together just before starting the MKIV

mismatched or not i still love my car

 

[Jeff Lange]

Post a pic.

Also, if you go to Toyota with your VIN, they'll be able to tell you if the car was always a Turbo model.

 

[alloyguitar]

i have an 89 ma70 turbo car....