TRD3000GT Cars -- Brief History

Brief History -- https://blog.toyota.co.uk/trd-3000gt-history

After Toyota Racing Development (TRD) was officially established in 1976 as the company’s in-house tuner, its engineers spent a significant proportion of their time preparing production cars for motorsport. But 18 years later, evidence was provided that TRD had inversed this procedure with the production of the TRD 3000GT, a road model directly inspired by a competition car.

TRD 3000GT in detail



A few months prior to the fourth-generation Supra’s arrival as a works entry in the inaugural Japanese Grand Touring Championship (JGTC) in 1994, TRD displayed a sensational road-legal version of the race car at the annual Tokyo Auto Salon aftermarket tuning show. Dubbed the TRD 3000GT, it wore the same widened and wind tunnel-honed bodywork as the new GT500 class super-touring Supra.

While every component of the TRD conversion became available to order individually as a dealer-fit accessory, the ultimate and most exclusive incarnation was a factory-built model. Only 35 examples of these were ever produced, each of which came with its own specially numbered VIN plate that officially re-classified the car as a TRD 3000GT rather than a Toyota Supra.


For TRD, this debut road project was more about improving performance by optimising the vehicle’s dynamic ability, rather than increasing power. So although the conversion did include enhanced engine-breathing products and uprated suspension, the primary focus was on exchanging heavy original bodywork for aerodynamically superior components made from fibre-reinforced plastic.



At the front, the new TRD bumper played a vital role in slicing through the air wall in front of the vehicle. The relatively sharp front splitter sent some of the atmosphere under the car, where the flattened floor guided airflow backwards to generate downforce and maximise the effect of the rear diffuser.


Much of the rest was directed through the larger bumper intake, which swallowed twice as much volume as the original. It then used three dedicated ducts to efficiently channel air towards the radiator, turbo intercooler (offside) and optional oil cooler (nearside).



Interestingly, one of the most instantly recognisable styling elements of the TRD 3000GT – its four geometric bonnet vents – were carefully positioned to relieve negative air pressure from all that incoming air and simultaneously improve cooling within the engine bay. But in general circumstances on the road, their functionality was disabled by special panels attached to the underside that were designed to protect the under-bonnet components from water damage. However, these could be easily detached for summer blasts and track days.


Moving to the sides, the TRD 3000GT offered a supercar stance with 60mm (front) and 50mm (rear) added to the overall width through widened wing panels. This was in order for wider wheels to be fitted, which in turn improved the car’s lateral grip. Linking the two ends were squared-off skirts designed to prevent airflow travelling along the upper surface of the body from interfering with ground level airflow. It also improved the flow of air into the side ducts, if a differential oil cooler had been specified.

At the rear, there were two different high-level wing designs: Type-S and Type-R. Both offered a cross-section and blade design that generated a greater aerodynamic advantage than that on the standard Supra. But while the triple-leg design of the latter offered a fixed arrangement, the blade of the more popular Type-S (see image above) could be set at six different angles. Finally, the diffuser built into the bumper consolidated all the existing aerodynamic refinements to effectively produce the downforce of the entire vehicle.




TRD3000GT No15 for sale 125K Euro

In recent weeks No15 came up for sale , via a dealers forecourt , the price tag was 125K euro and has recently been sent to auction with a starting price of 74K euro






Did some analysis on the TRD3000GT Cars , I compiled a list of all know cars and their vins , very difficult to get any information on them , Vins are not in a consistent format, some are stamped , others printed , but build numbers appear to line up with TRD Build date



How to read the TRD VIN
Model Serial # Year Month Factory

Some context , based on the TRD2000GT (SW20 MR2) I was able to decipher the TRD vin but I have some gaps
The letter before the date eg. "S" indicates which factory of the 5 factories made the car ie. (F)ukagawa, (O)gikubo, (S)hibaura, (T)ama or , (M)orooka factory. All the factories are in Tokyo, capital city of Japan except Morooka which is in in Kanagawa.

Mine reads:

• Model: JZA80
• Serial: 26
• Factory: S
• Year : 01
• Month: 12

Part Numbers



TRD3000GT No 2 1993 Toyota Supra 4 Speed Auto TRD3000 #2
Vin No. JA800 - 0002 9412/WS1
TRD Kit: 51700-JA800 Pre-Facelift
TRD Build Year: 1994
TRD Build Month: 12
TRD Factory: WS1







TRD3000GT No 8 1997 Toyota Supra RZ 6 Speed Manual TRD3000 #8
Vin No. JA810 - 0008 9806/FWS
TRD Kit: 51700-JA810 Facelift
TRD Build Year: 1998
TRD Build Month: 06
TRD Factory: FWS






TRD3000GT No 13 1997 Toyota Supra VVTI Triptronic #13
Vin No. ?
TRD Kit: 51700-JA810 Facelift
TRD Build Year: ?
TRD Build Month: ?
TRD Factory: ?



TRD3000GT No 14 Removed from the original car
Vin No. JA800 - 0014 9808/WS
TRD Kit: 51700-JA800 Pre-Facelift
TRD Build Year: 1998
TRD Build Month: 08
TRD Factory: WS




TRD3000GT No 15 1999 Toyota Supra RZ 6 Speed Manual TRD3000 #15
Vin No. JA810 - 0015 FWS/ 99 03
TRD Kit: 51700-JA810 Facelift
TRD Build Year: 1999
TRD Build Month: 03
TRD Factory: FWS





TRD3000GT No 21 1993/94 Toyota Supra Aerotop 6 Speed Manual TRD3000 #21
Vin No. JA810 - 021 0105 S
TRD Kit: 51700-JA810 Facelift
TRD Build Year: 2001
TRD Build Month: 05
TRD Factory: (S)hibaura





TRD3000GT No 26 1993 Toyota Supra RZ 6 Speed Manual TRD3000 #26
Vin No. JZA80 - 026 0112 S
TRD Kit: 51700-JA800 Pre-Facelift
TRD Build Year: 2001
TRD Build Month: 12
TRD Factory: (S)hibaura





TRD3000GT No 29 1993 Toyota Supra TRD3000 #29
Vin No. JZA80 - 29 9806/FWS
TRD Kit: 51700-JA810 Facelift
TRD Build Year: 1998
TRD Build Month: 06
TRD Factory: FWS

JTC GT500 re-purposed for Le Mans 24 hour race (1995 TOYOTA SUPRA GT LM)

Since 1985, Toyota had used the tiny 2.1L, 16-valve 503E four cylinder engine to power virtually anything it could fit in. From Group C and IMSA GTP, to Pikes Peak, JGTC, Group S and IMSA GTO machinery , the little boosted maniac propelled them all, with power levels reliably reaching up to 850 horsepower. Though never very successful in Europe, the unit took America by storm, dominating IMSA racing in the early 90's in the Eagle MkIII GTP

With such an engine lying around, it was a no-brainer for Toyota to simply drop it into the racing version of the Supra and call it a day. In JGTC-racing, intake restrictions limited the car to 480 horsepower, but GT1-regulations permitted a much bigger one. The end result was 650 horsepower, delivered to the rear wheels through an X-Trac sequential six speed transmission.

The body was virtually unchanged from its GT500 origins, and suspension was based on the double wishbone setup from the older TS010 Group C-car. Another advanced feature was the use of carbon ceramic brakes. A total weight of 1245 kg (2744 lbs) was on the heavy side, but the extra power more than made up for it.

1994 TOYOTA TEAM SARD SUPRA JGTC GT1

The very first factory-backed Supra of JGTC, introduced for the last two races of 1994 season. First factory-backed but not the first Supra entered in JGTC - two privateer N1 spec prior, the Gre-Co Supra (raced only once) and the BLITZ SUPRA.

SARD Team was utilising the 503E (known alternatively as the 3S-GT) was a twin-cam, 16-valve four-pot like the 3S-GTE. Beyond that, the two had little in common. The 503E was bigger at 2.1 liters, and ran largely on toluene, meaning it could produce immense power (850 reliably) ; later the BLITZ team changed the 2JZ-GTE engine to the 3S-GTE (503E) , The 3S-GTE (503E) engine powered all official Supra’s in JGTC until 2002 season, when TRD switched to an NA V8 layout (3UZ-FE).

SARD also raced in Le Mans with its GT1 (GT500) spec Supra.
American driver Jeffrey Krosnoff (1964-1996) had the great opportunity to drive the first factory-supported Supra of JGTC. He went to the 1995 season too, finishing two times in third. For 1996 he abandoned the Japanese motorsport to focus on his CART career, where he unfortunately died.

GR Supra 3000GT concept: an icon re-imagined
One of the most eagerly anticipated GR Supra models displayed at the recent SEMA show was the GR Supra 3000GT concept. Fittingly, this project was dreamed-up by the official customising and development department of Toyota USA.



Super GT championship (successor to the previous JGTC series), Toyota unveiled its new GT500 competitor for the forthcoming season – the new GR Supra.