TRD 3000GT: The Ultra-Rare, Factory-Built Toyota That You Probably Never Knew Existed

Unleashed on public roads in 1993, the fourth-generation Supra was well-received by sports car enthusiasts, but back then, nobody anticipated just how iconic the model would become.

More than a decade later, the model was at the forefront of the tuning phenomenon's rise to stardom., mainly thanks to the indestructible inline-six under its hood - a powerplant that became known for its limitless tuning potential.

The Supra's leap into the realm of sports car legends was also aided by appearances in the initial Fast and Furious movie and the most popular video games centered around street racing and tuning scenes.

Today, a highly original A80 Supra is extremely rare. The vast majority of the examples that are still around today (plenty of them) have been extensively modified.

Nevertheless, even one equipped with visual enhancements of questionable taste is surprisingly expensive today due to its immense popularity.

But while even the most casual car fans have heard about the iconic fourth-gen Supra, few remember its ultra-rare, factory-tuned sibling: the TRD 3000GT.

One of the biggest surprises of the 1994 Tokyo Motor Show

Since its establishment in 1976, Toyota Racing Development (TRD) has handled every aspect of the Japanese manufacturer's motorsports endeavors.

But unlike other factory racing divisions, TRD didn't have a street car on its resume.

That changed in 1994 when the division unveiled the TRD 3000GT at the prestigious Tokyo Motor Show.

Not officially a Supra

The idea behind the model was to promote both the Supra race car that was set to debut in the Japanese Grand Touring Championship (JGTC) a few months later, as well as the JGTC Supra-inspired widebody kit that would become available in dealerships.

But while it was essentially a modified Supra, TRD announced that the TRD 3000GT would become an individual production model with its own distinctive VIN plate and no Supra badges.

Furthermore, the initial announcement specified that only 35 examples of the 3000GT would be produced, making it one of the rarest Toyota models of all time.

Debuting the most iconic hood ever fitted on an A80 Supra

The fiberglass widebody kit comprised many components that could eventually be purchased separately.

Designed and wind tunnel tested by Japanese motorsport experts, it was meant to improve the A80's aerodynamics and make room for wider wheels.

The kit included a new bumper with an integrated front splitter and a large air intake grille, new side skirts with functional vents, a rear bumper with an integrated diffuser, and an aggressive rear spoiler.

It also included a new hood with four built-in vents meticulously arranged to minimize negative air pressure and send more fresh air to the legendary 2JZ engine.

The hood actually became much more famous than the 3000GT itself. It was copied by many aftermarket manufacturers and was even used on the orange Supra that starred in the Fast and Furious blockbuster.

Two rear spoilers to choose from

One of the A80's most striking visual features was the rear spoiler, which profoundly affected the overall look of the sports car.

But in terms of aerodynamics, the stock spoiler didn't have a huge impact.

For the 3000GT, TRD designed not one but two different spoilers. The first was a large, fixed version dubbed Type-R. This triple-leg design failed to impress customers and was eventually discontinued.

The second, called Type S (shown above), was more visually appealing and featured an adjustable wing that could be positioned in one of six predetermined angles.

Other bespoke visual upgrades

Apart from the widebody kit, the TRD 3000GT featured a series of unique components.

Inside, the special model received a TRD-badged two-tone steering wheel and shift knob, bucket seats with cloth/Alcantara upholstery, and TRD gauges.

Finally, the car received a new set of wheels that were sensibly wider (particularly at the rear) than those of the stock Supra.

Performance upgrades

Visually, the TRD 3000GT was a street-legal JGTC race car, but performance-wise, it failed to impress.

Compared to the stock Supra it was based on, the limited-production model only received a stiffer suspension that lowered the right height, superior brake pads, an additional oil cooler, and a new exhaust system.

Under the hood, it featured an unmolested twin-turbocharged 2JZ-GTE rated at 276 hp.

However, TRD subsequently introduced several engine performance packages, with the most potent (yet non-street-legal) pushing the iconic six-cylinder close to 600 hp.

The TRD 3000GT today

All 35 examples of the TRD 3000GT were manufactured from 1994 to 1995 by TRD's Japanese branch, Technocraft. Though expensive, its widebody became extremely popular among Supra owners.

Though official information about this elusive model is scarce, several sources state that ten cars were delivered to the US, three made it to Europe, and the rest were sold in Japan. However, other sources indicate that the model was exclusive to the Japanese market.

In either case, the TRD 3000GT is extremely rare and highly sought after, with estimates placing its value very close to six-figure territory.

At the 2019 SEMA show, Toyota paid homage to the original model by introducing the GR Supra 3000GT concept, which, like the 1994 car, featured a host of visual improvements.

While it was never as popular as the A80 Supra on which it was based, the TRD 3000GT remains a fascinating limited-production model that deserves to be remembered.

You can see a beautiful example of Toyota's first TRD-badged production model in the YouTube video below by PrimeDriven.