REDLINE ALLEYToyota Supra A70 buying guide
1986 to 1993. An A70 suits a buyer who wants an affordable classic turbo Toyota and will check the head gasket history and rust.
Big jobs
- Rust in arches, sills and strut towers. Rust can rip through an A70. Check the rear arches, sills, strut towers, the lower edge of the windscreen and the chassis rails.
- 7M-GTE head gasket and head bolts. The original head bolt torque was too low to clamp the gasket properly, which can lead to head gasket failure. The fix is new bolts torqued to 72 lb ft.
- Boost increases. Cheap bleed valves are used to raise boost, which can cause problems.
- R154 and W58 manual gearboxes. The R154 on turbo cars has a lifespan that varies widely, and the W58 on non turbo cars is lighter duty.
- A340E automatic. Harsh shifts may point to a tired automatic.
Workshop jobs
- Water leaks. Water gets in past tired seals, especially round the rear hatch.
- 1JZ-GTE cars. Japanese market cars with the 1JZ-GTE have a cambelt and a more complicated induction setup.
Small jobs
- Pop up lights and heater controls. The pop up headlights and the heating controls need testing, along with wear on the seat bolsters and steering wheel rim.
Questions for the seller
- Is it the 7M-GTE, the 7M-GE or the 1JZ-GTE?
- Have the head gasket and head bolts been done, and is there an invoice?
- When was the cambelt last changed?
- What boost does it run, and how is it controlled?
- Has any rust repair been done on the strut towers or sills?
Sources
Researched 2026-11-03. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.