Car Model History

First generation · Celica Supra (A40/A50) · 1979–1981

1981Toyota Supra

Launched as a longer, six-cylinder version of the Celica — the 'Celica Supra' — pairing the Celica's body with an inline-six and a stretched nose.

First generation · Celica Supra (A40/A50)

1981 Toyota Celica Supra, first generation — coupe, front three-quarter view

Photo: “Toyota Celica Supra (1981) - 52379373544” by andreboeni / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1981 Toyota Supra model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Complete, source-verified lineup

Find your exact 1981 Supra

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

2factory configurations
Verified complete for the U.S.-marketHow this lineup was verified

We checked this U.S.-market lineup against period sources for factory trim, engine, transmission, and cited special-edition combinations represented by the exact-year records. Every version shown below has its own detail page.

Verified 2026-09-01 from Toyota USA Newsroom — Supra: An Icon a Half-Century in the Making.

2versions shown
Three-door liftback

Celica Supra 5-Speed Manual

Body
Three-door liftback
Engine
2.8L 5M-E SOHC fuel-injected inline-six (116 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual overdrive
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Three-door liftback

Celica Supra Automatic

Body
Three-door liftback
Engine
2.8L 5M-E SOHC fuel-injected inline-six (116 hp)
Gearbox
4-speed automatic overdrive
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1981 model year

Overview

Toyota's U.S. factory history and preserved exact-year literature document 2 1981 first-generation Celica Supra configurations. The roster keeps trim, engine, and transmission applicability explicit rather than treating equipment packages or neighboring-year combinations as separate cars.

Specifications

Engines
  • 2.8L 5M-E SOHC fuel-injected inline-six (116 hp)
Transmissions
5-speed manual overdrive, 4-speed automatic overdrive
Body styles
Three-door liftback

Year over year

What changed

  • Toyota replaced the 2.6-liter engine with the 116-hp 2.8-liter 5M-E while retaining both transmission choices.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • This was the final U.S. model year of the first-generation Celica Supra.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Inspect rust, cooling and fuel systems, age-sensitive rubber, drivetrain operation, and modification quality on the individual car; verify service parts against the exact engine and transmission before ordering.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1981 Supra on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1981 Toyota Supra. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
2
Factory intervals
0
Fitment-scoped
2
Exact references
2

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil filter — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin B229

    This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; it does not establish an oil-change interval or a complete maintenance schedule.

    Applies to: 1981 · 5M-E 2.8L · United States · The catalog's 1981 Celica 2759cc (2.8L) fuel-injected VIN M row is the six-cylinder Celica Supra application. Confirm the installed engine and filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog · Printed catalog page 559, 1981 Toyota Celica 2759cc (2.8L) FI (VIN M) row — Lube — B229 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    • Validated equivalentBaldwin B229

      Qty. 1 · Engine lubricating-oil filter · catalog-listed

      Baldwin's application table lists B229 for the 1981 six-cylinder Celica application. Confirm the car is a 5M-E 2.8L Celica Supra and verify dimensions before ordering.

      Catalog: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog · Printed catalog page 559, 1981 Toyota Celica 2759cc (2.8L) FI (VIN M) row — Lube — B229 · checked

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  • Fuel filter — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin BF1100

    This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; it does not establish a replacement interval or a complete maintenance schedule.

    Applies to: 1981 · 5M-E 2.8L · United States · The catalog's 1981 Celica 2759cc (2.8L) fuel-injected VIN M row is the six-cylinder Celica Supra application. Confirm the installed engine and filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog · Printed catalog page 559, 1981 Toyota Celica 2759cc (2.8L) FI (VIN M) row — Fuel — BF1100 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    • Validated equivalentBaldwin BF1100

      Qty. 1 · Fuel filter · catalog-listed

      Baldwin's application table lists BF1100 for the 1981 six-cylinder Celica application. Confirm the car is a 5M-E 2.8L Celica Supra and verify dimensions before ordering.

      Catalog: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog · Printed catalog page 559, 1981 Toyota Celica 2759cc (2.8L) FI (VIN M) row — Fuel — BF1100 · checked

      Search this part on Amazon

Collect

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Sources

  1. Toyota USA Newsroom — Supra: An Icon a Half-Century in the Making

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