The Toyota Supra was introduced in 1979 as part of the sporty Celica line. The Supra was based on the Celica liftback, but it was five inches longer, hhad a more powerful engine, and came with more luxury options. It was also the first Toyota to get electronic fuel injection. The first generation of Supra was known as the Mark II, or MK1.

The 1979 Toyota Supra came in only one style. The engine was a 2.6-liter, 110-horsepower inline-6. It was available as a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

Drivers, particularly those who liked the Celica, were glad to see a Toyota that promised reliability and sportiness in one package. However, the extra weight of the engine offset most of the power advantage the 1979 Supra had over the Celica.