Interviews with Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada

[Spilner]

Here is something interesting. Work on the SC430 also started in 1997. I'm betting if they had gone though with it that it would have been a reskin SC. The 3.5 V6 as the base model and the 4.3 V8 as the top dog.

Aaaaand Clarkson hates it

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[Modal170]

Here is something interesting. Work on the SC430 also started in 1997. I'm betting if they had gone though with it that it would have been a reskin SC. The 3.5 V6 as the base model and the 4.3 V8 as the top dog.

If this was a legitimate thing,

Then I'm sure we would have had the "real" Supra car already. Or have the V10 in there for a special trim for lolz

 

[supraboi]

Let's ask @A70TTR, do you know if there were any concepts, prototypes, sketches and etc. on the then new Supra project in the late 90s?

 

[Jdmuscle]

Let's ask @A70TTR, do you know if there were any concepts, prototypes, sketches and etc. on the then new Supra project in the late 90s?

Interesting question and I would love to see if there were any sketches etc on a project back then. @A70TTR

 

[vb22]

Let's ask @A70TTR, do you know if there were any concepts, prototypes, sketches and etc. on the then new Supra project in the late 90s?

If they would have based it on the SC430 then idk if it would have been a very good car.

 

[johnny_10196]

@Carmaker1 has really good insider info like with the rejected designs for the LS & LC. To bad hes no longer active on the forum.

 

[A70TTR]

To my knowledge they didn't get very far; I'd be surprised if they even got beyond the discussion stages before axing it.

That said, it may not have been on the SC platform. Suzuki-san did not care for the Z30 platform and tried to get a bespoke A80 chassis which was denied to his chagrin.

 

[Jdmuscle]

To my knowledge they didn't get very far; I'd be surprised if they even got beyond the discussion stages before axing it.

That said, it may not have been on the SC platform. Suzuki-san did not care for the Z30 platform and tried to get a bespoke A80 chassis which was denied to his chagrin.

Thanks for that reply. I live for details like that.. see if you can find some. It’ll be awesome.

Given what you just said about What Suzuki San wanted for A90 (back then), what are his thoughts on Toyota sharing a chassis with something totally outside the Japanese realm of things?

 

[A70TTR]

Hahaha, now that's a question I should ask Tada, or maybe I'll make someone else so he doesn't hate me.

 

[Jdmuscle]

Hahaha, now that's a question I should ask Tada, or maybe I'll make someone else so he doesn't hate me.

You may stir the pot with that one.. lol

 

[A70TTR]

For sure lol.

Suzuki didn't like the Z30 chassis because he felt it wasn't developed (for lack of better term) enough for a sports car. I think he very much wanted the A80 to be more sports car (like A90) and less grand tourer, but by having to stick with the modified Z chassis put a damper on this. It also would have been a fair bit lighter IMO.

Had the A80 been what Suzuki really wanted, I think it would have been lauded much more as one of the greats on a road course the way the Skyline GTRs were vs being known as primarily a straight line car.

 

[Jdmuscle]

For sure lol.

Suzuki didn't like the Z30 chassis because he felt is wasn't developed (for lack of better term) enough for a sports car. I think he very much wanted the A80 to be more sports car (like A90) and less grand tourer, but by having to stick with the modified Z chassis put a damper on this.

Had the A80 been what Suzuki really wanted, I think it would have been lauded much more as one of the greats on a road course the way the Skyline GTRs were vs being known as primarily a straight line car.

Interesting detail sir.. wow.. I’m off to imagining what the A80 would’ve been. Maybe smaller and more agile like say.. A reliable FD?

 

[A70TTR]

one of the TRD guys said it would have been a couple hundred pounds lighter iirc, but nothing too crazy as the 2J was part of the reason it weighed what it did.

Then again, maybe it wouldn't have been the 2J.

 

[Jdmuscle]

one of the TRD guys said it would have been a couple hundred pounds lighter iirc, but nothing too crazy as the 2J was part of the reason it weighed what it did.

Then again, maybe it wouldn't have been the 2J.

I guess everything happens for a reason..

 

[supraboi]

Then again, maybe it wouldn't have been the 2J.

7M?

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