Toyota MA61 Celica Supra Twin turbo 2JZ: The Right Stuff
When I was a kid, maybe 15-16, I remember a Toyota MA61 Celica Supra that used to buzz around our neighbourhood. It was mirror gloss black, lowered on the iconic OEM 4 spoke wheels, 80’s spec sunroof and driven by a P-Plate owner who knew he was the shit.
At the time, the MA61 supra was getting a little bit long in the tooth, and was somewhat outshone by it more popular sibling the JZA80. See- this was early 2000’s, and a certain movie starring a rather orange targa top JZA80 had just been released. This meant, when you mentioned “Supra” in the schoolyard, it was JZA80 or nothing.
But not for this kid in his blacked out ode to 80’s bodykits. He didn’t care that all MA61’s sold here were non turbo and usually auto, nor did he aspire to build a 10 second car like our mate Dom. He was happy just driving something different, and didn’t care if was more Grand Tourer than Sports Car.
Or so I thought.
I recall the day very well. I was sitting shotgun in Mum’s Pajero, heading down to the local Shopping Mall for a spot of loitering and staring at girls who were out of my league. Pulling up at the traffic lights, not far from the mall, I notice a very shiny, very black supra pull up. Its my friend, the P-Plater in his 80’s Japanese coupe. Windows are down, stereo is blasting some 00’s era RnB, hair is gelled within an inch of his life and a fresh set of Arnettes are wrapped around his head. 16 year old me was in awe.
He notices me gawking out the window. Unperturbed, he turns his focus back to the road ahead.
The lights go green, with me hoping that he gives it a bit to show off. He instead eases off the throttle and slowly starts moving forward. My mum has just pipped this guy off the line in her Paj! “Must be because its non-turbo” I think to myself, barely understanding at that point what a turbo infact was. All of a sudden, there is a scream and a chirp of the tyres.
Much to my delight, he has punched it.
Flying past us, I suddenly hear an all to familiar scream. As he changes gears, my suspicions are confirmed as I hear an obnoxiously loud “ZU TU TU TU TU TU TU” echo from beneath the bonnet. Its the unmistakable sound of a blow off valve. This shiny black Supra was boosted. There was nothing more appealing to young 16 year old lad than that sound.
This P-Plater wasn’t just cool anymore- he was a god damn King amongst men.
I never saw that Supra again. Maybe he sold it? Maybe wrapped it around a tree? Or maybe it was impounded, and taken away from his juvenile P-Plater hands. Either way, I will remember it forever.
But I never did know what actually lay under the bonnet of that gloss black MA61. Was it a the stock 5M-E with a custom kit? Maybe a an M-TEU Turbo motor lifted from the JDM MA63. Or what about a 7M-GTE, or even a 1G-GTE from its older sibling the A70? Or perhaps even a 1JZ?
Personally, I like to imagine it was something similar to this Gunmetal Grey example from Western Australia- which features a a perfectly executed engine swap with a perfectly executed engine. The king of all Toyota motors- the bulletproof 2JZ.
Having never actually gone through the process of engineering a car, I have to just assume it is no easy feat. The builder of this Supra is obviously much more dedicated and smarter than I ever will- and has the gone the extra effort to properly engineer the heavily modified MA61. That means no trouble from the Police, and more importantly, no impounding or visits to the road authority (unless you do naughty things). Not sure how the engineers certificate translates to other states, but hopefully it’s not too much much trouble for potential interstate buyers.
My only gripe with this car? The Rota’s. They look OK, but this Supra is begging for some Hayashi Racing CR’s or some heavily dished Southern Ways. Each to their own, however!
Anyway- enough rambling from me. This car certainly doesn’t need a lame story to convince you its cool (despite me already giving you one). Simply looking at the quality seeping from the images is enough to do that.
You Can find this Toyota MA61 Celica Supra Twin turbo 2JZ for sale on Facebook Marketplace here for $36k
MA61 Celica Supra Twin turbo 2JZ: In the owners own words.
MA61 Celica Supra Twin turbo 2JZ fully engineered here in W.A
Full ground up build with bare metal respray. Cleanest one in oz if not the best one!
Low km 2JZ-GTE vvti engine from JZS161 aristo
All following parts are new genuine toyota items:
valve stem seals
timing belt
waterpump
cam, crank and rear main seals
Cam covers gaskets
PCV hoses
thermostat
coil pack cconnectors
Drive belt
front mount intercooler with 2.5″ stainless piping
Aeroflow silicon hose throughout
3″ exhaust with hi flow cat and 2 mufflers
Walbro 255lph fuel pump
Blitz i-color electronic boost controller
Driveline:
Low km R151 5 speed transmission from 2010 V6 hilux
New genuine jz to r series bellhousing
New clutch industries Heavy duty clutch kit
New genuine toyota flywheel/clutch bolts/spigot bearing
New genuine toyota clutch slave cylinder
New genuine toyota input/output shaft seal
New transmission mount rubber
New clutch master cylinder
Braided clutch line
Custom 2 piece tailshaft with new centre bearing and balanced by finadrive engineering
Factory LSD diff (rebuilt)
Heating & cooling:
KOYO Radiator
FG falcon electric fan/shroud
toyota thermo fan switch
New heater core
New genuine toyota aircon TX valve
New receiver dryer
Custom Aircon lines and all new seals throughout the system
Working Aircon with new oil and gas
Exterior:
JZA80 Moonstone grey paint
100% rust free tailgate
USDM rear spoiler setup
JDM rear bumper from xx
JDM GT ra63 celica rear license plate garnish
Custom front lip
New genuine toyota headlight whiskers
New front windscreen
Interior:
Black interior
Retrimmed door card inserts
Retrimmed rear inserts
Retrimmed roof lining
JDM boot floor/spare wheel cover & celica rim with brand new tyre
Momo steering wheel and boss kit
Cyclops remote central locking and immobilizer
JVC cd/mp3 player with usb port
Alpine type S 4″ speakers in front and rear factory locations
Darkest legal window tint
All electrics work including cruise control and air conditioning
Battery relocated to boot in enclosed box
Suspension & brakes:
New Megan racing coilovers front and rear
New front wheel bearings
New front ball joints and tie rod ends
All new front superpro bushes including sway bar, caster, control arm and rack bushes
New front brake pads and rotors
Rebuilt front calipers
ADR approved braided brake lines all round
New rear brake pads
New superpro rear swaybar bushes
New 1 inch brake master cylinder
Wheels:
Fronts Rota RB-R 17 x 8.5
new 225/45 tyres
Rears Rota RB-X 17 x 9
new 235/40 tyres
