Toyota recently paid tribute to Richard Petty by reimagining its GR Supra as the ‘Superbird’. While unveiling this new partnership between Legacy Motor Club (formerly Petty GMS) and Toyota, NASCAR analyst and Toyota ambassador Rutledge Wood introduced the cleverly named “Suprabird” at the 2024 SEMA Show, where they also celebrated the “King of NASCAR.” ‘ as their newest ambassador.

The transformation began with a standard GR Supra 3.0 Premium, which was artistically blended with Petty’s distinctive 1970 Plymouth Superbird. The ‘Superbird’, known for its aerodynamic design, was Plymouth’s answer in 1970 to compete with the outstanding performance of the Dodge Charger Daytona on the previous year’s superspeedways.

The last appearance of Petty’s ‘Superbird’ was in July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the legendary light blue #43 went up the hill, piloted by Petty’s son Kyle. However, Toyota recently released a new model, prompting Petty to post several photos of the car with the caption:

“There’s cool, then there’s cool #SupraBird! @RutledgeWood and @ToyotaRacing really outdid themselves on this build.”

While the tribute garnered applause from many, it also sparked controversy among purists. Some fans have criticized the modern reinterpretation, arguing that the original should remain clean and unadulterated. One fan stated, “Come on, isn’t that total sacrilege if you ask me” while another complained, “*sad Mopar noises*.”

While the Suprabird is unlikely to make it back to the shores of Daytona, fans will have a chance to bring some of the action home as Hot Wheels is set to release die-cast models of the Supra-Plymouth hybrid.

Reflecting on this, one fan expressed his opinion, saying: “If he could run the Rolex 24 at Daytona, that would be awesome.” Opinions about the Suprabird were apparently mixed; while a fan admires, “It’s a nice hot rod,” to counter another, “I love you, king, but this is awful.”

Did ‘CARS’ turn Petty’s once shunned 1970 Superbird into a style icon?

In 1970, the Superbird dominated NASCAR tracks in a way few cars had. However, it did not immediately win over the public, unlike its rivals such as the Ford Grand Torino. Despite its advanced features and design, the car took some time to gain popularity, only becoming a standout favorite in recent years.

Now the car is highly coveted by those who need speed and power. There are whispers that the car might now order a price north of $250,000.

Due to his portrayal in the 2006, 2011 and 2017 “CARS” film franchise, where Strip “The King” Weathers, a character inspired by Petty’s real-life achievements and his iconic 1970s Superbird, is featured as a Piston of seven times. Cup champion – a title later equaled by Lightning McQueen – the Plymouth became a prized collector’s item.

The “Superbird” was the brainchild of Gary Romberg, a rocket expert who died in February 2020. Unlike Romberg, the car’s time in the fast lane was short-lived.

By 1971, NASCAR introduced new regulations that limited engine displacement for aerodynamically enhanced cars to 305 cubic inches, as they were considered too fast for competition. And just like that, the era of the Superbird came to an abrupt end.

Today, even without Petty’s autograph, a Superbird can fetch well over a quarter of a million dollars.