Supra Clean: Stephan Papadakis Restores the Perfect Street JZA80

If you know a thing or two about Stephan Papadakis, he builds project cars the right way, every time. No cut corners, strict attention to detail whether the vehicle’s race prepped or restored for street cruising. He built this 1995 Toyota Supra SE during his limited downtime during the regular Formula DRIFT PRO competition season (where he manages the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra driven by Fredric Aasbo). The end result is, unsurprisingly, nothing short of amazing.

Sourcing a non-turbo chassis locally in Southern California, the previous owner had it for 12 years with the intention of rebuilding it but couldn’t get the process launched off the ground. Once Papadakis took possession, it became an obsessive restoration process, with nearly 80% of the parts being replaced with original Toyota parts (that are still available to purchase from Toyota). “Anything with rubber pieces was replaced, along with the dashboard, brake master cylinder…countless parts throughout the entire car,” he said.

The engine bay appears simplistic but every selection was made with specific intention: a 2JZ-GT VVTI motor featuring variable valve timing but equipped with a bottom end that’s as strong as its turbo counterpart was dropped in, boosted with a BorgWarner turbocharger, mated to a 6-speed transmission (originally the car was 5-speed), and came to life with a standalone MoTeC ECU, tuned to produce 400hp. And of course, the setup is protected with ENEOS 5W-30 synthetic motor oil.

Style-wise it’s nothing over the top, classic mods that don’t necessarily stand out but appreciated by those who are into these sorts of subtleties. The chassis was sprayed Toyota Renaissance Red, lowered slightly with RS-R suspension, and BBS LMs bolted to all four corners of the Supra.

Papadakis wasted no time getting the Supra back on the road as soon as it was completed: “I drove it to Formula DRIFT Utah and back, and I’ve been all over Southern California with it. I love that I can simply warm the Supra up and cruise around comfortably in it. Classic, clean, I’m going to enjoy this car for a long time.”

SPECS

1995 Toyota Supra SE

OWNER: Stephan Papadakis

ENGINE: 3.0L Toyota 2JZ-GE VVTI; BorgWarner EFR 7670 turbo; Injector Dynamics fuel injectors; ENEOS 5W-30 synthetic oil

TRANSMISSION JDM 6-speed Toyota Supra transmission

ENGINE MANAGEMENT: standalone M150 MoTeC ECU

POWER: 400hp

SUSPENSION: RS-R dampers and springs

WHEELS & TIRES: 18×8.5” +38 / 18×9.5” +38 BBS LM wheels; Nitto NT01 245/40R18 and 275/40R18 tires

BRAKES: Alcon 6-piston calipers with 355mm rotors (front); OEM Toyota Supra TT calipers and rotors (rear)

EXTERIOR: Toyota Renaissance Red paint by Auto Explosion; Cilajet paint protection

INTERIOR: Recaro seats; MOMO Tuner steering wheel with Boss hub; Toyota Heritage Program dashboard