Car Model History

Third generation · A70 · 1986–1992

1988Toyota Supra

The Supra split from the Celica into a standalone model on the A70 platform, offered with a turbocharged 7M-GTE inline-six. The final US A70 was a 1992 model — there was no 1993 A70 in North America (the A80 took over for 1993).

Third generation · A70

1988 Toyota Supra MkIII 3.0 Turbo, third generation — coupe, front three-quarter view

Photo: “1988 Toyota A70 Supra MkIII 3.0 Turbo (30646890485)” by Sicnag / 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 1988 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 1988 Supra

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

4factory 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, Toyota Motor Sales USA — preserved Supra factory brochure archive.

4versions shown
Three-door rear-wheel-drive liftback coupe

Supra 5-Speed Manual

Body
Three-door rear-wheel-drive liftback coupe
Engine
3.0L 7M-GE naturally aspirated DOHC inline-six (200 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Three-door rear-wheel-drive liftback coupe

Supra Automatic

Body
Three-door rear-wheel-drive liftback coupe
Engine
3.0L 7M-GE naturally aspirated DOHC inline-six (200 hp)
Gearbox
4-speed electronically controlled automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Three-door rear-wheel-drive liftback coupe

Supra Turbo 5-Speed Manual

Body
Three-door rear-wheel-drive liftback coupe
Engine
3.0L 7M-GTE turbocharged DOHC inline-six (230 hp)
Gearbox
5-speed manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Three-door rear-wheel-drive liftback coupe

Supra Turbo Automatic

Body
Three-door rear-wheel-drive liftback coupe
Engine
3.0L 7M-GTE turbocharged DOHC inline-six (230 hp)
Gearbox
4-speed electronically controlled automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1988 model year

Overview

Toyota's U.S. factory history and preserved exact-year literature document 4 1988 A70 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
  • 3.0L 7M-GE naturally aspirated DOHC inline-six (200 hp)
  • 3.0L 7M-GTE turbocharged DOHC inline-six (230 hp)
Transmissions
5-speed manual, 4-speed electronically controlled automatic
Body styles
Three-door rear-wheel-drive liftback coupe

Year over year

What changed

  • Toyota retained the 200-hp naturally aspirated and 230-hp turbo A70 powertrains with both transmissions.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • Factory literature supports four powertrain configurations without turning packages into separate models.

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 1988 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 1988 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
5
Factory intervals
4
Fitment-scoped
5
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

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1988 · 7M-GE · United States · Exact 1988 Toyota bulletin and Supra service-record applicability; no interval is projected to a different model year.

    Published interval: 10,000 mi / 16,000 km / 12 months · 7M-GE normal use; whichever comes first.

    Source: Toyota — 1988 Maintenance Schedule bulletin and Supra 7M-GE service intervals (Operation CHARM) · 1988 Maintenance Schedule bulletin — Group One, item 1-7 MA · checked

    7M-GTE turbo

    Applies to: 1988 · 7M-GTE turbo · United States · Exact 1988 Toyota bulletin and Supra service-record applicability; no interval is projected to a different model year.

    Published interval: 5,000 mi / 8,000 km / 6 months · Turbo normal use; whichever comes first.

    Source: Toyota — 1988 Maintenance Schedule bulletin and Supra 7M-GE service intervals (Operation CHARM) · 1988 Maintenance Schedule bulletin — Group Two, item 3-2 MA · checked

  • Engine oil filter

    Exact reference available

    Applies to: 1988 · 7M-GE · United States · Exact 1988 Toyota bulletin and Supra service-record applicability; no interval is projected to a different model year.

    Published interval: 10,000 mi / 16,000 km / 12 months · 7M-GE normal use; whichever comes first.

    Source: Toyota — 1988 Maintenance Schedule bulletin and Supra 7M-GE service intervals (Operation CHARM) · 1988 Maintenance Schedule bulletin — Group One, item 1-7 MA · checked

    7M-GTE turbo

    Applies to: 1988 · 7M-GTE turbo · United States · Exact 1988 Toyota bulletin and Supra service-record applicability; no interval is projected to a different model year.

    Published interval: 10,000 mi / 16,000 km / 12 months · Turbo normal use; Toyota specifies oil alone at 5,000 miles/6 months and oil with filter at this interval.

    Source: Toyota — 1988 Maintenance Schedule bulletin and Supra 7M-GE service intervals (Operation CHARM) · 1988 Maintenance Schedule bulletin — Group Two, item 3-2 MA · checked

    WIX 51348 cataloged 3.0L fitment

    This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; it does not alter Toyota's service interval.

    Applies to: 1988 · 3.0L 7M-GE naturally aspirated DOHC inline-six, 3.0L 7M-GTE turbocharged DOHC inline-six · United States · WIX publishes this filter for the exact 3.0L Supra year range without excluding the turbo application. Confirm the installed engine and filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: WIX Filters — 51348 application catalog · Toyota Supra application row — 1987–1993, L6 3.0L 2954cc · checked

    Verified ordering references

    • Validated equivalentWIX 51348

      Qty. 1 · Spin-on engine lubricating-oil filter · catalog-listed

      Cataloged for the 1988 3.0L Supra application; confirm the installed engine and filter before ordering.

      Catalog: WIX Filters — 51348 application catalog · Toyota Supra application row — 1987–1993, L6 3.0L 2954cc · checked

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  • Engine air filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1988 · 7M-GE · United States · Exact 1988 Toyota bulletin and Supra service-record applicability; no interval is projected to a different model year.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 36 months · Replace; extremely dusty conditions may require more frequent service.

    Source: Toyota — 1988 Supra 7M-GE normal-service 30,000-mile record (Operation CHARM) · Normal Service — 30,000 MI or 48,000 KM, air-filter replacement row · checked

  • Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1988 · 7M-GE · United States · Non-platinum spark plugs on the 7M-GE schedule.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km / 36 months · Replace with the correct type and gap.

    Source: Toyota — 1988 Supra 7M-GE normal-service 30,000-mile record (Operation CHARM) · Normal Service — 30,000 MI or 48,000 KM, spark-plug replacement row · checked

  • Engine oil and air filters — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin BT223 / PA2171

    This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; it does not establish a service interval or turbo-engine fitment.

    Applies to: 1988 · 7M-GE naturally aspirated · United States · The catalog row says 3.0-liter fuel injection without a turbo qualifier, so this fitment is limited to the naturally aspirated 7M-GE. It is not assigned to the 7M-GTE turbo or the early-1986 5M-GE Celica Supra.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog · Printed catalog page 556, 1988 Toyota Supra 2954cc (3.0L) FI (VIN M) row — Lube — BT223; Air — PA2171 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    • Validated equivalentBaldwin BT223

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

      Baldwin lists BT223 on the 1988 3.0-liter fuel-injected Supra row. Confirm the installed naturally aspirated 7M-GE and filter dimensions before ordering.

      Catalog: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog · Printed catalog page 556, 1988 Toyota Supra 2954cc (3.0L) FI (VIN M) row — Lube — BT223 · checked

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    • Validated equivalentBaldwin PA2171

      Qty. 1 · Engine air-filter element · catalog-listed

      Baldwin lists PA2171 on the 1988 3.0-liter fuel-injected Supra row. Confirm the installed naturally aspirated 7M-GE and filter dimensions before ordering.

      Catalog: Baldwin Filters — Automotive Applications catalog · Printed catalog page 556, 1988 Toyota Supra 2954cc (3.0L) FI (VIN M) row — Air — PA2171 · checked

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Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. Toyota USA Newsroom — Supra: An Icon a Half-Century in the Making
  2. Toyota Motor Sales USA — preserved Supra factory brochure archive

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