Buyer Resources
- 1997 Toyota Classic
- 2.0L Naturally Aspirated I4
- 4-Speed Automatic
- RWD
- Maroon/Black Exterior
- Red Leather Interior
- Woodgrain Interior Trim
- Electronic Fuel Injection
- 96HP & 118 lb-ft Torque
- 1 of 100 Units Ever Produced
- Imported From Japan
- Right Hand Drive
In the Nineties, Toyota went a bit misty-eyed. They released a limited-production vehicle called the Toyota Classic. Inspired by the Toyota AA from the 1930s, the Classic sat on a Toyota Hilux platform and came with its running gear. This interesting pastiche of 1930s styling with 1990s mechanicals is supremely rare nowadays. Toyota sold just 100 units and charged US$ 75,000 for each one. So it isn’t often that a Toyota Classic comes our way, and yet, here we are. Say Konichiwa (Hello in Japanese) to this 1997 Toyota Classic from Chesterfield, Virginia. An excellent addition to a discerning collector’s lot, this curio has done over 230,000 miles which tells us two things. One, it’s pleasant to live with or else it wouldn’t have been driven this much. Two, it’s your typical bulletproof Toyota or it wouldn’t have survived. The way we see it, with the relevant maintenance, this vehicle can easily head for 500,000 miles!
Exterior and Interior
The look of this 1997 Toyota Classic is pure 1930s and 1940s, right down to the vehicle’s vintage style, running boards, podded headlamps, chrome bumpers and externally-mounted spare wheel cover. However, its wheels are of a more modern style and you’ll note its window beadings and door handles to be modern units from Toyota’s 1990s models. Of course, being Toyota, they couldn’t just let an old-looking car be old in design and engineering, could they? No, that legendary Toyota quality had to be applied. The spacious interior of this 1997 Toyota Classic is decidedly modern, with red leather seats and wood interior trim. The dashboard is unmistakably Hilux and includes features such as air conditioning and a Panasonic radio. We also see a Nardi steering wheel and modern conveniences like power windows.
Engine
This 1997 Toyota Classic uses a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated gas engine that makes around 96hp and 118lb-ft of torque. Yes, it’s in a low state of tune but that enhances its longevity without affecting the car’s drivability. Power goes to the rear wheels via a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Power steering and power-assisted brakes are included too, ensuring a thoroughly modern driving experience.
In the Nineties, Toyota went a bit misty-eyed. They released a limited-production vehicle called the Toyota Classic. Inspired by the Toyota AA from the 1930s, the Classic sat on a Toyota Hilux platform and came with its running gear. This interesting pastiche of 1930s styling with 1990s mechanicals is supremely rare nowadays. Toyota sold just 100 units and charged US$ 75,000 for each one. So it isn’t often that a Toyota Classic comes our way, and yet, here we are. Say Konichiwa (Hello in Japanese) to this 1997 Toyota Classic from Chesterfield, Virginia. An excellent addition to a discerning collector’s lot, this curio has done over 230,000 miles which tells us two things. One, it’s pleasant to live with or else it wouldn’t have been driven this much. Two, it’s your typical bulletproof Toyota or it wouldn’t have survived. The way we see it, with the relevant maintenance, this vehicle can easily head for 500,000 miles!
Ultra-rare, limited edition, retro-styled luxury cars aren’t usually among the first images that come to mind when one thinks of Toyota. In fact, at first sight, it would be perfectly understandable to mistake this car for a product from another manufacturer. However, this is very much a Toyota through and through. Only 100 examples of this very exotic automobile were ever produced to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the very first Toyota passenger car: the Toyota AA (or Toyoda AA, as it was called initially). The original AA was inspired by the Chrysler products of the era, as Mr. Toyoda (father of Toyota) had a Desoto Airflow shipped to Japan and reverse-engineered. The Toyota Classic debuted in 1996 and was priced at approximately $75,000. It was styled to look as close as possible to the car it was paying tribute to, while meeting modern regulations and standards. All 100 examples were sold out, partly fueled perhaps by the rising popularity for retro-styled cars in 1990s Japan, as seen by the Mitsuokas of the time and by the Toyota Origin that would come out a few years after the Classic.
The 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder is a lightweight, mid-engine roadster built around a simple formula that enthusiasts still appreciate today: low weight, rear-wheel drive, a manual gearbox, and open-top driving. Showing approximately 48,326 miles, this example is finished in the especially eye-catching Electric Green Mica and pairs its 1.8L naturally aspirated inline-four with a 5-speed manual transmission. It also benefits from a number of enthusiast-oriented upgrades, including 15-inch Koenig Helium wheels, stainless steel headers, a MagnaFlow Y-pipe and catalytic converter, and an HKS performance exhaust, giving this MR2 a more distinctive look and sound while retaining the basic character that made the third-generation MR2 such an engaging sports car.
By the time the fourth-generation Supra arrived, Toyota had transformed the nameplate from a grand touring coupe into something far more serious. The 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo sits near the peak of that evolution, combining the now-iconic 2JZ-GTE twin-turbo inline-six with rear-wheel drive and, in this example, the sought-after 6-speed manual transmission. Showing approximately 136,725 miles, this Renaissance Red car keeps the enthusiast formula intact: twin-turbo power, a proper manual gearbox, a limited-slip differential, polished 17-inch wheels, and a removable sport roof. The Mk4 Supra earned its reputation not just because it was quick for its era, but because Toyota engineered in a level of strength and tuning potential that would eventually turn the car into a legend well beyond its original production run. This one still presents that appeal in a configuration that feels very much like the Supra enthusiasts fell in love with.
The 1998 Toyota Supra has become one of the defining Japanese performance cars of its era, and this example takes the platform far beyond its original specification with a comprehensively engineered high-horsepower build. Originally configured as a naturally aspirated automatic car, it now carries a built 3.0-liter 2JZ-GTE-based powertrain, a Precision Next Gen 8085 single turbo, Haltech engine management, and a Grannas Racing T56 Magnum-F 6-speed manual conversion. The car shows approximately 74,952 total miles, with the seller reporting roughly 1,500 miles on the current build. Output has been recorded at 1,208 wheel horsepower and 861 lb-ft on a Mainline hub dyno and 1,301 wheel horsepower and 930 lb-ft on a Dynojet, with a reported 1,535 horsepower and 1,094 lb-ft at the crank. Seven boost-by-speed settings range from 10 to 42 psi, corresponding to approximately 600 to 1,300 wheel horsepower. Finished in Imperial Jade Mica with a beige leather interior, this Supra combines serious drag- and roll-racing capability with an extensive list of Powerhouse Racing, Radium Engineering, BC Racing, Grannas Racing, Hypertune, Plazmaman, Turbosmart, and Haltech hardware. The work is reported to have been completed by KM Autowerks, with tuning by Lawrence Shipman / LS Fabrication.
The 2002 Toyota MR2 Spyder is a lightweight, mid-engine roadster built around a simple formula that enthusiasts still appreciate today: low weight, rear-wheel drive, a manual gearbox, and open-top driving. Showing approximately 48,326 miles, this example is finished in the especially eye-catching Electric Green Mica and pairs its 1.8L naturally aspirated inline-four with a 5-speed manual transmission. It also benefits from a number of enthusiast-oriented upgrades, including 15-inch Koenig Helium wheels, stainless steel headers, a MagnaFlow Y-pipe and catalytic converter, and an HKS performance exhaust, giving this MR2 a more distinctive look and sound while retaining the basic character that made the third-generation MR2 such an engaging sports car.
The 1991 Nissan Skyline GT-R is one of the defining Japanese performance cars of its era, combining the legendary RB26DETT twin-turbocharged inline-six with Nissan’s advanced ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system and a 5-speed manual transmission. Showing approximately 46,718 miles, this R32 GT-R is finished in white over a gray cloth interior and retains the core ingredients that made the model such an enthusiast icon. A front-mounted intercooler, HICAS 4-wheel steering, limited-slip rear differential, sport bucket seats, and a selection of aftermarket suspension and wheel upgrades give this example the right mix of period performance engineering and tasteful modification.
The 2002 Lexus SC 430 arrived as Lexus’ interpretation of the luxury grand tourer, combining V8 power with a power-retractable hardtop and a cabin designed for long-distance comfort. Showing 101,218 miles, this example is finished in Black and pairs its 4.3L naturally aspirated V8 with a 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Factory equipment includes run-flat tires, a rear spoiler, navigation with compass, and wheel locks, while an aftermarket Pioneer audio head unit brings a more modern interface to the cabin. With the roof raised it offers the refinement of a traditional coupe, while lowering the hardtop transforms it into an open-air V8 cruiser.
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