1985-1986 Toyota Supra
Typical asking prices*: $3,000-$6,000
Collector status: Buy and hold or drive

In the 60s, Toyota captured the attention of the sports car world.Wait. Captured? No, it completely grabbed it and spun it around facing East. The car was the Toyota 2000GT. I drew accolades from both enthusiasts and the automotive press and showed some promise of Toyota as a legitimate contender in the exotic space down the road. While that never materialized (unless one counts the upcoming Lexus LF-A as a long-overdue delivery on that promise), Toyota did apply some of the 2000GT’s legacy toward more mass-market “sporty” cars such as the Celica. The Celica, in turn, gave rise to a more potent version that we now know as the Supra. The Mark I Supra was essentially a higher level Celica, with an inline 6-cylinder motor and other refinements. They’re nice cars, but retain much of Toyota’s softer, more sensible minded approach. In 1982, the Mark II P-Type came along and again created a stir with its brawny styling, sportier drivetrain, and more driver-tuned accommodations. The press loved it, buyers loved it. It created a similar buzz to and was at times even compared with the legendary 2000GT. Steady improvements were made and by 1985 and into 1986 (during which both the Mark IIs and Mark IIIs were sold as an ’86 Supra), they had grown into a well-appointed GT that harnessed over 160 bhp, turning in respectable 0-60 times for the day (about 8.5 sec) and covering a 1/4-mile in around 16 seconds (uncannily close to the 2000GT’s performance figures). The flared-out looks however, were quickly dated and the Mark III was introduced with a much sleeker and more elegant design. Today however, just as the over-the-top flares and wings of the Lamborghini Countach have settled into their own, those same qualities make the Mark II P-Type Supra an often overlooked gem. That, combined with Corolla prices—with pristine examples just over $5,000—make this a flat-out bargain as well.