Fox News Autos Test Drive: 2021 Toyota Supra
The Toyota Supra is back for the first time in over two decades, but it's a very different car than the one you remember, says Fox News Autos Editor Gary Gastelu.
An amazing car collection with a notorious past is up for auction in Massachusetts.
The sports cars were seized by the Northwestern District Attorney's Office in 2020 following the arrest of Cory Taylor, who police found with 138 pounds of marijuana in a van he was driving during a routine traffic stop.
This 1993 Supra has just 8,169 on the odometer. (Stanley J. Paine Auctioneers)
A follow-up investigation turned up evidence suggesting that Taylor, 41, was running a massive drug trafficking operation and had used the proceeds to purchase over two dozen classic sports cars from the 1990s and early 2000s. Weapons and over $4 million in cash were also discovered at two properties he owned in New Salem and Holyoke.
Bids on this 1997 Supra have reached $155,000. (Stanley J. Paine Auctioneers)
Taylor posted bail, but skipped an arraignment and disappeared until his body was found several weeks later in an abandoned building. The cause of death was officially listed as "undetermined" and the Holyoak clerk's office has confirmed to Fox News Autos that remains true today.
Twenty-nine of the 37 cars that were discovered have now made their way to Stanley J. Paine Auctioneers, which handles many of the district attorney's seized vehicle auctions.
This 1996 Supra has a top bid of $170,000 with weeks to go before the final sale. (Stanley J. Paine Auctions)
Among them are 13 examples of the fourth-generation Toyota Supra, which was made famous by "The Fast and the Furious" film franchise and has risen in value dramatically in recent years.
One custom Supra that was used in the film was auctioned last year for $550,000 and a customer Supra with 7,000 miles on it was auctioned a few weeks later for a non-film car record $200,000.
Some of Taylors cars were found in this converted firehouse in Holyoke. (Google Street View)
Online bidding is currently open on the seized cars ahead of an on-site event at the Orange, Massachusetts, municipal airport on June 4, and the early bidding suggests new records could be set.
A 1996 model with 22,962 on the odometer has seen a flurry of activity pushing the high bid up to $170,000, as of this writing, while a 1997 car was at $155,000 and offers on a 1993 car that's been driven just 8,169 miles had reached $130,000. Stanley Paine told Fox News Autos that bidders must provide a $5,000 deposit to show they are serious.
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The Supras are the most highly-sought after cars at the auction, but there are also several BMW M3s and a pair each of the Honda S2000, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Nissan 350Z.