Posted Feb 04 2010, 11:30 AM by Dino Dalle Carbonare with 29 comment(s)

Uniqueness is sometimes the cause for confusion, and this particular car being built by Auto Bahn out in Ibaraki-ken is the perfect example. I spotted it inside their workshop the other month when I stopped over to check another of their cars out.

I thought it looked pretty cool with that nice carbon front diffuser and canards on each side of the bumper.

Covering tons of grassroots drift events throughout the year means I have cultivated quite the attraction towards older JDM rides like the JZZ20 Soarer.

I was very impressed by the work that has gone into tuning the 2JZ-GTE that lies under the vended FRP hood, but as I was drooling over the HKS T04Z turbine I noticed something wasn't quite right.

The roofline looked odd and only when I stepped to one side did I realize I was actually looking at a JZA70 Supra and not a Soarer! Apparently after a little mishap out on track the owner decided it was time to do something different with the front end, replacing the heavy pop-out headlights with the simpler JZZ20 front end.

The car is almost finished and once done it will contnue to remain a street-registered machine used for the occasional time attack and drift soukoukai. Can't help but love these kind of bespoke projects!

 

-Dino Dalle Carbonare


Comments

luigi said:

wow. easily the coolest jza70 i've ever seen!! I hate pop-up headlights :X!

February 4, 2010 12:03 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Freddy! said:

This is one the coolest JZA70's ever.. the conversion looks so clean, well done, and the swap looks sweet..please keep us posted!!

February 4, 2010 12:14 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

DD : Luke said:

Very cool Dino!

February 4, 2010 12:21 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Ben said:

Soapra for the mfw

February 4, 2010 12:26 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Absolution said:

I can find the front bumper, but does anyone know what other companies make Z20 Soarer aero parts? The hood, front fenders, the grill I could probably custom mold, but also the headlights and corner lights need to be bought (and assumed disposable and easily replaceable.) Dino, anything?

February 4, 2010 12:36 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Steve said:

LOL When I saw this post I was like "Umm... That's a Soarer not a Supra".

How mistaken I was. Nice conversion, very impressive!

February 4, 2010 12:36 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

AE71-4AGZE said:

"soapra" lovin it i dont see too many people doing this conversion ive also seen the opposite a soarer with supra lights on it ...luigi wont like it but here it is www.firesport.com/.../wtf_3.jpg...its also an aero top soarer to, mad rare

February 4, 2010 12:39 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

albert said:

that thing on the front is not a diffuser. its just a splitter.

loving the car though and good pictures!

February 4, 2010 12:43 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

luigi said:

It's also nice too see that not everybody in Japan drive R35 or Evo X or some other new gen car. There's alot of fun older cars still out there and this Supra shows that you don't always have to be mainstream and get a s13 or s14 to be cool...

February 4, 2010 12:44 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

bd83fb said:

That is amazing looking. First time I've seen one like that.

February 4, 2010 12:48 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

rhett said:

this thing is sweet..... as soon as i saw the badge i was like wait this is a ohhhh............ nice conversion maybe it might influence others....

February 4, 2010 12:56 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Gaijin said:

thats awesome. its the Toyota version of a sileighty.

February 4, 2010 1:26 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

JonnyBimmer said:

There's a fella here in SoCal with a black one fitted with a 2JZ as well if I remember correctly.  It's a great looking conversion.  

www.flickr.com/.../4331187954

February 4, 2010 1:35 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Yo.. said:

...^ at rhett..its been done already..still cool though!

February 4, 2010 1:45 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Del Monza said:

johnny its actually a vvti 1jz. anyways that socal soapra was done way before this one. to anyone planning to attempt this front end conversion its a lot harder than it looks; its not a direct bolt. your gonna have to do some cutting on the fender.

February 4, 2010 2:07 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

M4XVLTG3 said:

Wow, Thats pretty cool.

February 4, 2010 2:08 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

rob said:

just a note for the authour

"Covering tons of grassroots drift events throughout the year means I have cultivated quite the attraction towards older JDM rides like the JZZ20 Soarer."

the Z20 soarers were never released with the JZ engine so there is no such car as a JZZ20 soarer

MZ20 yes (7M-GTE)

GZ20 yes (1G-GTE)

JZZ30 yes (later model soarer with 1JZ-GTE)

JZZ20 no.

cheers

February 4, 2010 2:26 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

TougeNoMikado said:

Ya, that's dope.... I kant wait to see the finished build!

February 4, 2010 2:27 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Quail said:

Wow, I like that a lot. Need to see it with the wheels mounted!

February 4, 2010 2:33 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Tingol said:

Great project. Cool pics too, Dino!

But I don't like soapra conversions. I'm from Russia, and I have GA70(yep,with 2JZ too) Supra :)

I'm still thinkin', that Mk3 must have dropped stock body with some nice touchs like front lip, Bomex whale tail, LED rear lights, Stout hood, loud exhaust and 18'' Gram Lights 57Pro (or Work Equip, or SSR Professors SP1) with right stance and offset.

No bodykits, no ugly conversions!

February 4, 2010 2:38 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Francis said:

I knew it lol. The front grill was to small to be a Soarer. Nice conversion, and nice post.

February 4, 2010 7:13 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Francis said:

My bad. They're the same size. Something about the front seems off, though.

February 4, 2010 7:17 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Yossarian said:

The Supra should have been made like this from the factory! it looks great!

February 5, 2010 3:58 AM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Tingol said:

Nope )))

February 5, 2010 2:24 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Chris Hinga said:

C&Y Okinawa has a Soarpra with a 2J motor. It's been for sale for many years now.

February 5, 2010 10:43 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

rayray said:

better shot of jose's vvti 1J swapped "soapra" engine bay

img.photobucket.com/.../1aeb2e3e.jpg

piping designed by yours truly :) it won best JDM category at HIN a while back. the weld covers and flake magenta covers really set it off

February 7, 2010 4:35 AM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

hey! said:

moar soapras????????????????

February 7, 2010 9:00 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

Shou said:

@rob

Z20 Soarers also came with the 1JZGTE.

February 9, 2010 11:05 AM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters

rob said:

@Shou - learn to read

Z20 soarers DID NOT come with jz engines only the Z30 soarer was the first to come with JZ engines

February 9, 2010 5:08 PM [flag as inappropriate] Speedhunters