Speedy Gonzalez - MK5 Supra

How many Supras do you think own their owners… versus the other way around? That’s an honest question. What percentage of Supra do you think are over-modified… and under driven? How many Supras are built more for bragging rights & the owner’s brand… than actual daily enjoyment? And what percentage right now, do you think are sitting torn apart in some shop… waiting for the next check to be cut, and/or backordered part to come in so it can get retuned for the umpteenth time.

In some ways, the Supra is an odd duck…

Both blessed & cursed by its legendary aftermarket potential. Think about it: How many moderate-power Supras do you see at events? Not many. Usually the people who get a Supra… plan to take it all the way there. In fact, I think the Supra would sell better if it didn’t have such a horsepower legacy to live up to, and the expectations were a little lower. Admittedly, I could be wrong there. But while the Supra is a complete & balanced sports car for $50,000… we don’t see it as that? We see it as a $50,000 starting point to “decimate all”. And generally speaking…

In order to make sports cars truly great again…

We need to make ‘em daily again. Daily is the lifestyle. In the modern age, it’s easy to lose the plot & take it too far. The modern man needs more to be happy than previous generations. A lot more. In the 80s when sports cars made up a strong part of the market, they were largely daily-driven machines. They were lighter on specs, and more focused on connections & emotions. And then in the 90s when the import scene was hitting its stride… modded imports were mobbing the streets everywhere. They weren’t as fast as they are today. But they lived furiously in the real world… on the daily. Not Instagram and/or Youtube channels. Put it this way: What did you drive to lunch today? Now what’s the cover photo on your social media page? Lol… bet they ain’t the same.

So let’s take a second to appreciate the Supra…

Specifically – this MK5 Supra. No it’s not 1,400hp. And it’s not widebody either. It’s not a drift or time attack car. It wasn’t at SEMA. It’s not influencer owned. And – that’s kinda the beauty of it. We gotta learn to look past the fizz & filters sometimes (especially in today’s fake-ass world), and see dailies for what they are: The unsung heroes of real-life car culture.

: Titanium badges by JD Customs

: Titanium badges by JD Customs

Zane Gonzalez got this Supra when he graduated grad school…

It was a splurge. And he justified it as a gift to himself for finally graduating. He was one of those guys who’d always been drawn to car culture since childhood, but never had the space, funds, or gateway into the lifestyle. But why wait to start living, ya know? He always liked Toyota AND BMW, so really the new MK5 Supra was a perfect collaboration for a daily driven sports car. And – it’s been an awesome learning experience for Zane so far, from both a mechanical & driving standpoint.

This surprised me lol…

The car is actually red. But Zane saw a photo of someone who had the TRD stripes on a tiny part of a wing. He thought to himself, “I wonder how that would look… if it was bigger.” So Zane took what was in his head, and made a mock-up of the design on Forza. He then gave it to the wrap shop, and essentially said, “Do this?” The color is Satin Black from Avery Dennison.

Modification-wise – it’s pretty standard BMW stuff…

Zane added an AMS high-flow catted downpipe & Magnaflow X-Mod exhaust. He also installed an MST v2 intake & Injen charge pipe… and then a JB4 plug-n-play tuner.

The wheels are RAYS Gram Lights 57DR…

Fronts are sized in 19×9.0 +32 with 13mm spacers & 275/35R19 tires. And the rears are 19×10.0 +40 with 15mm spacers & 305/35R19s. Suspension & brakes are all stock for now. In the next year or so, Zane hopes to import an A70 MK3 Supra, and go a little more unleashed with it, while keeping this A90 MK5 Supra a capable street & track-day car.

Carbon Fiber parts…

The wing, front splitter, and rear diffusor are from Seibon Carbon. Whereas the front fenders & skirts are from Rebuilding Works. Rebuilding Works is basically a ‘rep’ company. But Zane said he learned the hard way with damage & bad fitment on ‘real’ pieces. And he found that the Rebuilding Works (by Yoki Lee) often had better fitment at a third of the price. I don’t have a dog in that fight lol, so make your own choices. Just have fun, enjoy the ride, and get the car out on the damn street!