Toyota’s decision to reproduce old Supra parts is good news
Toyota’s decision to reproduce spare parts for the A70 and A80 Supra is a victory for common sense. Not to mention good news for the wider classic car community.
Sourcing genuine, good quality spare parts for even relatively recent cars is a constant struggle. I gave up phoning Citroën dealers years ago, as the silence and/or laughter that greeted my polite requests for obsolete parts was becoming tiresome.
The quote on the Toyota Gazoo Racing website is both heartwarming and wonderfully Japanese.
“Toyota Gazoo Racing is grateful to old school Toyota sports cars for laying the cornerstone of the modern-day GR line-up.” Isn’t it great when a manufacturer recognises the importance of old cars?
It’s becomingly increasingly difficult to enjoy old motors. The pressure on us to convert to a vehicle powered by the leftovers of a vegan breakfast comes amid an overwhelming sense that our beloved cars are living on borrowed time.
How long before our cars are taxed to a level beyond our means, banned from towns, cities and national parks, or surrounded by policies designed to make them look as welcome as Ricky Gervais as next year’s Golden Globes bash.
Carry on Camry?
The fact that Toyota is reproducing prop shafts, door handles, fuel sender gauges, headlights weatherstrips and front badges for the Supra isn’t going to deliver a tectonic shift in favour of old cars, but it’s a start. If the will is there, other manufacturers could – and should – follow suit.
There’s a demand for old parts, and many owners will be willing to dig deep in order to keep an old car on the road using genuine and good quality parts.
Sadly, climate change notwithstanding, hell will freeze over before Toyota Gazoo Racing begins making new parts for my 1997 Toyota Camry. Which is a shame, because the dreaded MOT is looming into a view next week and I will almost certainly need a few new parts.
Looking through the service history, I’ve noticed a couple of lines of text about parts no longer available from Toyota. Oh…
If it passes, I’m tempted to book her into next month’s Toyota Parallel Pomeroy Trophy at Silverstone. I can’t think of a better way of celebrating a (hopeful) MOT pass and Toyota’s commitment to reproducing old Supra parts.
Keep up the good work, Toyota. Now if you could just whip up a driveshaft for my Camry before Monday, that would be great. Dōmo arigatōgozaimashita.
4 Comments
I do not think that historic vehicles will be banned – especially in the UK, and a smaller extent in Europe, they are just too popular, and there would be outrage if a government tries to take away a person’s freedom to drive or ride what they want. That being said, it will have to be communities that keep them going, but I am sure that is a more difficult task, as there aren’t many from my generation (Z I think it is but could be wrong) that are interested in historic vehicles, aside from the car nuts, but even then, there are even fewer who really understand the meaning of conservation. Either way, I will fight tooth and nail for my right to enjoy historic vehicles however I want, for if they are swept away by political correctness, there will be very little left for me to be passionate about.
So whether you own an Audi quattro, Morris Marina, Opel Manta, Norton, Toyota, Honda, Matra, or Citroen, whether you have one cherished car or a vast collection; if it has 2 wheels, 3 wheels, 5 wheels or even tracks, but most importantly if you are passionate about it, then we must defend our right to exercise our shared passion.
Let’s defend our identity
Well said.
There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that young people are falling out of love with cars, but I’d beg to differ. They just want different things from their cars – personalisation, smartphone connectivity – that kind of thing.
That said, I do think that the likes of Uber will mean fewer city folk will see the need to own a car.
Parts wise there is always the various breaker yards sites where you can chuck in what you want and people come back to you. Downside is you can’t guarantee the quality of the used part and some garages don’t like fitting used parts.
Parts aside, I suspect that in the coming years there will be a growing move of converting older cars to electric (like these chaps – https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/) as for those with less electrical wizardry the conversions are easier and cheaper to do than converting a more modern car. Still costs thousands mind unless you happen to have access to Tesla’s parts bin and can tame an automotive electrician.
PS – where are my Top Trumps cards Gav?! 😉
Good point. I’ve often wondered which, if any, of the PetrolBlog fleet I’d like to convert to electric power. Right now, I can’t think of one, but that could be due to the fact that electrics are a dirty word. Hashtag Clio.
As for the Top Trumps – thanks for the nudge. They’re on their way.