The Supra finally failed to proceed (Supras never brake down, they just cease to move forward) which made it possible to trace the fault to a failed pick up coil. Replacing the faulty distributor with a spare distibutor that I had, the car started right up. I also noted that the alternator is failing and wonder if the low voltage may have in some way caused the distributor to fail. I am assuming the car would not start on its own because of a weak spark (which also may have been related to the failing alternator) hence the need for Ether.