Japan used to crank out six-cylinder sports coupes like they were going out of style. They eventually did seem to fall out of fashion, but today’s Supra seems a fine example of what once was. Let’s see if its price proves equally snazzy.

Howard Hughes, the industrialist, was once one of the world’s wealthiest men. He was also a tilted pinball machine full of wack, who collected collected jars of his own urine. Why did he do that? I don’t know, maybe he wanted to be prepared in case Bear Grylls should happen to pop by for a drink and some crazy.

Whatever the reason, Hughes is a prime example that money can’t buy you all your marbles. I don’t care however differently they might have told you in third grade. Howard was rich as heck, but as evidenced by his own personal collection of mellow yellow, he still was crazier than a shithouse rat.

Fortunately, you didn’t have to be either rich or fruitcake level nutty to take on last Friday’s . Nope, desiring the possession of that assemblage of iconic fishbowls could only prove the assurance of your sanity. Not only that, but with the $4,500 price for the bunch collecting a solid 79 percent Nice Price win, your frugality will be on full display as well. Win-win.

Guess what, Mercedes Benz is introducing a new inline six cylinder engine, the company’s first using that form factor in years. Once one of the most common engine types owing to their inherent baby’s butt smoothness and benefits of design, the straight six has long been usurped by their V6 brethren.

One of the big factors that made it seem like the inline six’s days were numbered was the institution of pedestrian protection regulations in the EU and Asia about a decade back. These required taller noses and hoods allowing for crush space between the hood and the immovable parts of the engine below. A V6 engine is significantly shorter in longitudinal placement than an inline six, making meeting those regs a lot easier. The V6’s were also significantly more manageable to package next to a transaxle when placed sidewinder-style as in most FWD cars today.

Have a look at this super clean and you’ll note that carries its 7M-GTE straight six under a remarkably low and cosseting hood. It’s so low in fact that these A70 generation Supras, like their A60 predecessors, carried pop up lights at the end of their long, tapered snouts.

Pop the hood behind those pop-ups and you’ll find 2,954 ccs sitting under a DOHC head. Feeding all that is an intercooled turbocharger that helps the mill make both a solid 230 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of Chubby Checker’s favorite dance.

In the case of this Maroon Metallic coupe that’s backed up by Toyota’s R154 five-speed stick and poops out its ponies by was of a limited slip differential in back. I think we can all agree, that’s a pretty choice set up. Other things you’ll probably like about this Supra are its relatively low mileage—75,000—and its overall condition.

The seller says that the car has been garage-kept and, owing to the fact that he was given a company car, it was used only on the weekends. That has led to it presently being in almost as-new shape. The bodywork seems fully free of noticeable imperfections while the interior looks like you could still smell hints of the original salesman’s cheap-asseu de cologne.

Mechanically things seem well sorted too. The ad notes the recent replacement of the timing belt and water pump, as well as a record of normal maintenance having been done. The oil is claimed to only ever get six months time in the car before it’s sent packing.

What’s not to like here? Well, you may not actually like this generation of Supra, which… well, you’ll just have to live with that. You might also prefer the targa version () because you like some tousling of your locks. Of course the hard top, while less sun’s out-buns out, will be free of the leaks and creaks these can develop over time. Should you find the aftermarket wheels not to be your cup of tea don’t worry, the factory rollers come with the car too.

This one-owner Supra is a time capsule from an era when Japan seemed to revel in big six-cylinder coupes. Toyota held out the longest, sticking a straight six in the Lexus SC300 after bidding the Supra adieu. Now, these cars are finding favor since there’s few alternatives out there with the same sort of style, performance, and reputation for down the road dependability. Yes, a new “Supra” is in the cards, but will it be the original Supra’s successor in heart or just in name? Maybe it’s time to start thinking about picking one up an oldster just to play it safe.

To pick up this most excellent example you’ll need to come up with a cool $12,800. A quick check of the classifieds will show that prices on this generation of Supra are all over the place. What you won’t necessarily find are cars in this kind of condition. What’s your take on that condition and the $12,800 price? Does that make this a super Supra? Or, is that too much cash just to be a threat to pedestrians?

You decide!

Scranton, PA , or go if the ad disappears.

HT to Matt77 for the hookup!

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