Not many people would jump to “Toyota” when they hear the words “iconic sports car.” Typically, one would think that type of language is reserved for high-dollar vehicles with Italian, British, or German heritage. Stranger even, to think that 90s automotive design would produce something considered timeless in any way, let alone appreciated for both its form & functionality to a point of cult-like devotion. And yet, somehow, it happened. What started as an elongated, beefed up, Japanese hatchback from the ’70s, quickly became one of the most sought-after & highly-modifiable import tuners of the 2000s; the Mark IV Toyota Supra.
While the Supra did have a relatively strong run of production in the US, unfortunately it wasn’t until the “tuner” scene really took off that people started to recognize how much awesome potential the shapely little 6-cyl from Japan had. In its final iteration, the Supra Mark IV boasted substantial power, balance, and braking abilities, but a near 50K price tag for a spec’d turbo model meant poor sales when competing with the likes of the Nissan 300ZX, Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, or widely popular & considerably lighter Mazda RX-7. So what does that mean now? Scarcity, in a sense. Much like the final gen RX-7, a clean MK IV Supra is hard to find, and those who have them in OEM+ form tend to want to keep them that way.
This MK IV was no exception. Aside from a handful of performance upgrades that one might find on a 2JZ with a manual gearbox, the Supra had been tastefully & minimally modified. No outrageous stance or wheel fitment, no obscene horsepower numbers to melt the tires off, just a simple Supra looking for a bit of a makeover to push her boosted beauty over the edge into uncharted territory, just in time for Hot Import Nights 2013!
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
We started off by prepping her with our standard 24-step hand wash. After getting all the nooks & crannies blown out and free of debris or contaminants, Tim set to work on pulling all the badges and cleaning off any remaining adhesive.
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
While the badges were being removed, Ivan came through to begin disassembling everything. Even though the MK IV would only be receiving an exterior wrap excluding door jambs, we still had to pull the spoiler, bumpers, and trims to make sure every visible inch of the Supra would be covered in vinyl.
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Once the Supra was in wrap-ready shape, Blake began prepping the edges & wrapping the large surface panels on the driver’s side, while Tim set to work on the passenger.
In no time at all, almost the whole font half of the Supra was wrapped! We were working under a bit of a deadline for Hot Import Nights, but the guys had really kicked this install into high gear. After buttoning up the doors, it was on to laying the hood piece, and time to begin filling out the bumper air dams.
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
With only a couple large sections left to lay, Tim & Blake began tackling the trickier bits of stretching over the big, bulbous rear bumper.
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Truthfully sometimes the largest areas to wrap can be the most difficult. Using one large piece of film, the guys managed to stretch the matte red cleanly from edge to edge, across the entire hatch of the Supra!
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Once the lift-back was all wrapped up, the final rear quarter panels could be laid down & everything was re-assembled to spec.
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Last but not least, Tim began refitting all the original badges.
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Once everything was tightened down & in place, we gave her a final wipe-down and positioned the Supra in the cyclorama for a quick photo shoot before calling it a night. The wrap came together in just around a week, and despite the tight timeline, the guys managed to execute beautifully. Surprisingly enough, the factory gloss paint & freshly wrapped matte red surfaces don’t pose too distracting of a contrast in the few areas they’re exposed!
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
The edges where panels meet paint and wrap meets wrap are well-trimmed, cleanly stretched, and minimally seamed. All the scoops & air intakes appear stress-free & well manicured, even the door handles are patched in without any signs of stress or exposing the paintwork below.
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Head on, there isn’t much separating this Supra apart from any other MK IV, aside from the large intercooler poking out from behind the front bumper.
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Even the trickiest, most curvacious edges of the mirrors & rear spoiler posed no threat to our custom laminated Avery Denisson Carmine Red. The seams are hidden just out view and below eye-level so most on-lookers won’t even spot them!
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
Matte red isn’t one of the most popular wrap options we get requests for, but after this Supra was completed we can definitely see the appeal, especially when working with such a bosomy back-end. The Supra has shapes that echo back to the 2000GT and the legacy of Celicas that were its genesis, and the color just “works.” Beyond looks, it’s sporting a power-plant more worthy of fame than most entry-level sports cars today could ever dream, and there’s proof in the fact that it’s even more desirable now than it ever was 10 years ago.
Hot Import Nights Toyota Supra Matte red wrap by NorthWest Auto Salon
As the morning light cracked over the trees on Saturday, we pulled the Supra out into the sun to get one last look before the customer arrived and began the trek down to the Tacoma Dome for Hot Import Nights 2013. The finished product is bold, vibrant, and will be sure to attract the attention of tuner & Toyota fans alike!
For more information on all of our vehicle wraps, vinyl graphics, or customization services, check out our wrap page or feel free to contact us for a quote if you’ve already got a project planned.