1987 Toyota MR2

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1986 1987

Following the SV-3 Concept displayed in October of 1983 at the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota introduced the MR2 in Japan in mid-1984 and arrived on U.S. shores the following year in February. The 91.3-inch wheelbase was a two-seat sports car with a mid-engine configuration. (MR-2 represented 'M'id-engine, 'R'ear-wheel drive, '2' seater). It was an economical and sporty car with four-wheel disc brakes, a transverse-mounted inline-four-cylinder engine, and a fully independent MacPherson strut suspension.

Production of the Toyota MR2 lasted from 1984 through 2007 along three generations. The first generation was produced through 1989, and the second to 1999.

The first-generation MR2 wore a design by Seiichi Yamauchi and was available as a two-door coupe (a T-Top option with removable glass roof panels joined the lineup in 1987). In the U.S., the 1587cc engine developed 112 horsepower at 6,600 RPM initially, with 97 pound-feet of torque. For 1988, horsepower rose to 115 bhp and torque to 100 pound-feet. Transmission options included a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Steering was handled by a rack-and-pinion unit and standard equipment included an AM/FM stereo radio, power mirrors, and tilt steering.

A supercharged engine became available in 1988 in the U.S. with 145 horsepower at 6,500 RPM. For the Japanese market, the supercharger had been around since 1986. The small Roots-type supercharger and a Denso intercooler were attached to the 4A-GZE engine, giving the car a zero-to-sixty mph time of approximately 6.5 seconds. The belt-driven supercharger was actuated by an electromagnetic clutch, which helped deliver power only when it was needed and helped to increase fuel economy. The word 'Super Charger' was located on the body moudlings behind the doors and on the rear trunk clearly identifying examples equipped with the supercharger. To cope with the additional power, the MR2 SC gained stiffer springs and special 'tear-drop' aluminum wheels.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2020

Coupe

The MR2 was Toyota's 2 seat sports car built from 1984 to 2007. It had a mid-engine configuration and rear-wheel drive. The 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine produced 155 horsepower. This particular example has been modified as period-correct aftermarket tuner. It has custom exhaust and wheels, and the original cassette player. The modifications were made in 2022.