Previously, we saw a total transformation of Project Supra with a top-notch paint job from Shift Auto Body. The body wasn't completely finished at the time but we couldn't refrain from giving you a sneak peak. This month the body is finished and XR Creations got to work on the car's new Sony sound system.
Before we go there, however, there are some new additions you may or may not have noticed in the pictures. First off, we ordered a pair of '97 to '98 spec headlights from Champion Toyota in Houston, Texas. These guys have yet to fail us when it comes to factory equipment. Champion is like the mail-order center for Toyota owners when it comes to factory Toyota parts, and we highly recommend them. In addition to factory parts and equipment they also carry a full line of TRD racing products and apparel. Recently we ordered a set of the discontinued factory floor mats through them as well
Surely you noticed the blue seats. We almost went with all black as we love a real black interior. But for this car we just had to go that extra crazy mile-and it came out looking pretty good! Sparco's newer Siena seat provides a great compromise between performance and comfort. It is offered in red, black or blue. These seats aren't the lightest in the fleet but unlike Sparco's racing seats these recline and feature a quick-tilt mechanism. Still, with brackets included they give a 10 pound weight savings per seat when compared to the Supra's stockers.
Unlike most of the street performance seats out there, these seats are pretty soft and comfortable. If you require a little more stiffness and lateral support for those track days, Sparco's Monza or Torino seats might suit you better, while still offering full adjustability for the street.
I like the Sienas, especially for the price. Ultra high-density foam surrounds the seat's shell to reduce vibration transfer through the body, helping battle fatigue during high performance driving. Plus, they're extremely comfortable.
At $499 retail plus brackets, rails and hardware (add about $200 for all that) they're a pretty good bang for the buck, considering these seats are Italian-made, fully adjustable and tilting. Upon installation the seats sat a little higher than anticipated but at 5 feet 9 inches tall, I fit fine. You may want to modify the brackets to sit lower or have custom ones built if you are any taller.
Sony's Xplod Specialty Series has basically exploded onto the car scene with its sound systems. As the proud sponsor of the NHRA Sport Compact Racing Series, more and more of its components are showing up in import street, show and even some race cars. Sony also recently opened up its new 2,700 square foot Mobile Electronics Technology Center (METC) near San Diego, Calif., where it will be able to stay in better touch with the car audio market, provide better support for its dealers and perform in-house, high-end installations for its show vehicles.
Sony's Specialty Series components are placed in the higher end of the Xplod lineup, offering exquisite sound qualities at very affordable prices. Even though there weren't any particular replacement Sony speakers that fit the MKIV Supra that doesn't mean the components can't be made to fit. I ordered the sound system regardless and sent it to XR Creations-the guys that have been basically managing all of the Supra's sound and aesthetic upgrades-for a full install.
At the heart of the system lies Sony's XAV-A1. This unit is wonderful. It features a motorized 7-inch fast response touch screen QVGA monitor. It plays a multitude of media, including DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3. The front Audio/Video input will hook up to a separate video component like a VCR or even a Sony Playstation. The unit is set up for subwoofer and preamp outputs and has an XM-ready dedicated input. It also comes with a wireless remote if you don't want to dirty up the screen with oily fingerprints.