Smokey Nagata’s famous gold Top Secret Supra was a JZA80 built around a Toyota Century V12, not the 2JZ-powered car many readers expect. It evolved through several specifications and reached an official 358.22 km/h at Italy’s Nardò circuit, short of its 380 km/h target. Nagata’s 1998 run on Britain’s A1(M) involved a different Supra.
10 things to know about the Top Secret V12 Supra
1. It was built as a top-speed project
The car was a JZA80 Toyota Supra developed by Top Secret for a top-speed challenge. Top Secret’s archive says the V12 twin-turbo project was announced in 2007 with Nardò in mind; MotorTrend also identifies its base as a JZA80.
2. Its defining engine was a Century V12
The Nardò Supra used Toyota’s 5.0-liter 1GZ-FE V12, originally found in the Toyota Century, with twin HKS turbochargers. It was an engine swap, not a 2JZ-GTE build. MotorTrend describes Nagata’s choice of the Century V12 as part of the project’s ambition.
3. Its power figures describe different stages
Specifications changed as the project developed, so power figures need their stage and source attached. MotorTrend’s 2007 feature described an earlier 650 PS configuration. Top Secret’s later archive lists 943 PS and 103 kgm at 1.3 bar boost, with two wet-shot nitrous systems. These are not simultaneous specifications.
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| Development stage or result | Published figure | Source and context |
|---|---|---|
| Earlier configuration | 650 PS | MotorTrend, 2007 feature |
| Later developed configuration | 943 PS; 103 kgm at 1.3 bar boost | Top Secret project archive |
| Nardò official maximum | 358.22 km/h | Top Secret project archive, March 16, 2008 |
| Nardò target | 380 km/h | Top Secret project archive; not reached |
4. The transmission was based on Supra hardware
Top Secret’s archive lists a JZA80 six-speed Getrag gearbox and a 3.1 final drive. The same specification lists 275/40-19 rear tires. These details identify the hardware described in the archive; they do not establish that every component remained unchanged through every development stage.
5. Cooling limited the Nardò attempt
Cooling was a major challenge. Top Secret says it moved the large radiator to the rear and added a smaller radiator at the front. Its account of the Nardò attempt reports overheating above 350 km/h, with water temperature rising to 107°C. The cooling problem, along with rev-limit issues, helped keep the car from its 380 km/h target.
6. The widebody was more than a styling choice
The archive identifies the bodywork as Top Secret’s Super G-Force widebody kit and describes it as having an aerodynamic purpose as well as a visual one. Top Secret lists the car’s weight as 1,700 kg. The archive does not provide a basis for broader claims about specific aero effects or detailed chassis behavior.
Rank #2
- Brand new box
- Real rubber tires.
- Detailed interior, exterior.
- Die-cast metal body and chassis,
- Dimensions approximately L-2.75 inches long.
7. Gold paint marked an exceptional Top Secret project
Gold was a mark of distinction at Top Secret, not just a color choice. In a 2017 DSPORT interview, Kazuhiko “Smokey” Nagata said: “Not just any TOP SECRET project vehicle is painted gold. Instead, this project must represent the epitome of the TOP SECRET tuning philosophy. Only our best and most accomplished projects receive the gold paint.”
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8. The Nardò result was 358.22 km/h, not the goal
Top Secret’s archive reports an official maximum of 358.22 km/h at Nardò on March 16, 2008. The project aimed for 380 km/h but did not reach it. DSPORT separately records Nagata recalling a result of 358 km/h. Keeping the achieved speed distinct from the target helps avoid turning the goal into a record.
9. The A1(M) Supra was a different car
Was Smokey Nagata’s 200 mph Supra the V12 car? No. Top Gear’s account of Nagata’s 1998 A1(M) run identifies that car as using a Nissan GT-R RB26DETT engine, not the Century V12 used in the Nardò project. Top Gear reports that he reached 194 mph (about 312 km/h) while attempting 200 mph. It was a dangerous, illegal public-road run, not a sanctioned test or track record.
Rank #3
- Brand new box
- Real rubber tires.
- Detailed interior, exterior, engine compartment.
- Has opening hood.
- Made of diecast metal with some plastic parts.
10. “Top Secret” began as a description of night work
Nagata told DSPORT that while he worked at another company, projects he worked on at night were referred to as “top secret.” He later used the name for his tuning shop.
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What engine is in Smokey Nagata’s V12 Supra?
The gold Top Secret JZA80 project used Toyota’s 5.0-liter 1GZ-FE V12 from the Century, fitted with twin HKS turbos. The separate A1(M) Supra used a Nissan RB26DETT, according to Top Gear.
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Top Secret’s archive reports an official maximum of 358.22 km/h at Nardò on March 16, 2008. Its 380 km/h figure was the target, not the achieved result.
Rank #4
- Brand new box
- Real rubber tires.
- Detailed interior, exterior.
- Has opening hood.
- Made of diecast metal with some plastic parts.
Why is the Top Secret Supra gold?
Nagata told DSPORT that gold paint was reserved for projects representing the epitome of Top Secret’s tuning philosophy and its best, most accomplished builds.
Was the A1(M) run a sanctioned test?
No. Top Gear describes the 1998 A1(M) run as an illegal public-road incident. It involved a different Supra from the V12-powered Nardò car and should not be treated as a test to emulate.
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