1998 Toyota Supra Turbo Sells for Record Price

When it comes to major auction events, I usually wait for the final days because that's when the coolest and rarest classic cars hit the stage. In Kissimmee's 2026 case, the true stars will go under the hammer between January 15 and 17. Yesterday, however, a Toyota Supra changed hands for an unexpectedly high sum, setting a new world record.

I'm talking about a fourth-generation model of the Turbo variety. The fourth-gen Supra was built between 1993 and 2002, and it was the last iteration of the nameplate for a whopping 17 years. In 2019, Toyota revived the sports car with BMW underpinnings.

The fourth-gen Supra was sold in the United States through 1998 with two versions of the iconic 2JZ 3.0-liter inline-six engine. Toyota offered a naturally aspirated version rated at 220 horsepower and 209 pound-feet (284 Nm) of torque, as well as a twin-turbo variant capable of 320 horsepower and 315 pound-feet (427 Nm) of torque. The latter is obviously the most desirable iteration.

As the final and most spectacular Supra following its discontinuation, the fourth-generation sports car became a collector's item only a few years after it went into the history books. By the late 2010s, the Turbo version had become a six-figure car, while the 2020s saw several examples fetch over $150,000.

2021 was the year when the first fourth-gen Supra changed hands for over $200,000. A year later, a low-mileage example crossed the block for a record-setting $232,000 (including fees). It's been over three years since then, and the record has been reset by a 1998 Supra Turbo that fetched $242,000 including fees (that's $220,000 net) at Kissimmee 2026.

The bidding was pretty hot and far exceeded the organizer's expectations. The pre-event estimate on this car was $115,000 to $130,000, so the selling price was likely a bit of a shocker for the seller as well. Much more so, given that the current market is rather volatile, and many desirable classics remain unsold with high bids below the reserve. By the way, the reserve on this Supra was set at $150,000.

So what exactly made bidders go beyond the $200,000 mark? Well, this Supra is not only in tip-top shape and unaltered, but it's also a final-year US-spec model, and a very low-mileage example. The odometer reads just 6,080 miles (9,785 km). This car was pampered since day one and has rarely left the garage. And according to the ad, the targa roof has never been removed. Whoever bought this Supra new likely sat on it for this very moment. 

As of this writing, this white Supra is the most expensive fourth-generation model ever sold at auction, regardless of the model year. I'm obviously referring to factory-stock examples; in 2021, the 1994 Supra from the "Fast & Furious" movie sold for a whopping $550,000, but that's a highly modified vehicle.

As of this writing, the Supra is the second most expensive car sold at Kissimmee 2026, surpassed by a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette restomod that fetched $297,000. But that will change soon as the event will bring several iconic classic cars, including the world's only white Ferrari 250 GTO, under the hammer.

Until that happens, watch the bidding drama unfold in the video below.