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At the recent Toyota Festival, previous models of the Supra sports car got special attention in anticipation of the Supra launching in New Zealand later in the year. Enthusiasts who drove to the event in their much-loved Supras could join an online poll to find the best Supra and be in to win a prize.
Congratulations to New Zealand’s biggest Supra fan, Ralph Veneracion, who was recently revealed as the result of an online voting competition through the Toyota 86 Facebook page. Ralph got the most likes for his photo and won the Supra competition, so he will be among the first to view the all-new Supra in July.
It seems that Ralph’s story goes much deeper.
He claims he’s been a Toyota fan for as long as he can remember. His Dad has owned his New Zealand-new 1986 AE82 GT since 1991 and still does to this day. He now cherishes the car that as a kid he loathed, when he would complain about the leather seats being too cold in winter and hot and sticky in summer.
Ralph, wanting to pursue his passion for classic cars, was on Trade Me eight years ago, looking to purchase his first performance car. He saw a 1986 white MA61 Celica P-Type Supra pop up in his search and saved it on his wish list.
He saw it and wanted it. While raising the funds, unbeknown to him, his uncle bought that vehicle. As soon as he laid eyes on his uncle’s vehicle, Ralph said if he ever let it go, to let him know. Within a year, he did, and Ralph has been the proud owner ever since.
“To reflect on my love for Supra and to have a car that can trace its heritage back to the 2000GT and embody Toyota reliability, is amazing. For a 30-plus-year-old car it still turns heads and excites me and the people who see it,” says Ralph.
Ralph is excited to have been invited to the exclusive launch of Supra later in the year.