Toyota MR2 '86

[Sillyhatday]

Well well. I haven't seen many if any of these on this forum!

I've been here a few months and posted around the place a bit. I've always felt that I don't have much to contribute. Well this week I feel that this has changed and this is my new favourite thingy ever!

I have daily driven a FN2 Type R for a few years and as much as I do love it, I have had an itch for something more, or is that different. I don't know. In any case, I feel you require pictures and such and such.



A description. Its a Toyota MR2 from 1986. It's got a Midmounted 4 Cylinder 1.6 Litre engine, the 4AGE bluetop. It has covered 32,300 miles. 2 owners. Piles of service history. Its Green, has 4 wheels and is generally like new. Mostly.

Well I've had it 5 days and so far has not done anything untoward. Which is nice. The journey back from the totally legit dealer I got it from was setting up to be a disaster. This car hasn't run much and after owning it for all of ten minutes, proceeded to get stuck on the A38 in dead stop traffic. This was from some genius totaling a Green flag van on the opposite carrigeway, thus screwing over the roundabout coming up with A38 traffic milling about. The car never wavered. It just behaved and drove right home. A joy!.



After work this morning, straight on with a full detail to my own standards. Wash, clay bar, hand compound, hand polish, sealant and then wax. A wheel arch scrubbing and some fresh plates. I've completely run out of elbow grease.

Well not all is prefect it is it. After all it's 30 years old. SO the list of major things, there's a million details I want sorting so lets get into major things. OK? Firstly there's an exhaust leak, which I'm fairly sure is coming from the manifold itself. They are fairly prone to cracking and the rest of the system is great for 30 years old. This is fairly fun though as driving with the sunroof open brings those exhaust fumes right inside with you, along with a petrol smell.
Next should be fairly obvious. Those wheels. Seriously why did someone do this? No worries, I got the original wheels thrown in with the deal. Score. But, as usual, they arent in the best condition, there's a few kerb marks and some paint peel on them. They also have no tyres. So thats a job. Generic picture following:



The next as you can't see is the cam cover is shedding paint and looks a mess. The same goes for the sump with some surface rust thrown in the mix.
Speaking of rust, the extent of rust on the car is light surface rust on engine mounts and suspension components. SO I've got some powder coating to do.
For now I'm enjoying the car as it stands. A few weeks and it'll be off the road for the winter and the work begins.

Really the car is completely original, as it left the Toyota factory and I dont want to ruin the complete originality of it. It's unbelievable and most importantly a total joy to ram about in, a real drivers car.

Thanks for looking. There will be winter updates on various repairs and weather permitting some decent quality photos. Any questions, fire away.

Edit: Since there is a few of us interested in these things, AW111 has started a thread to dump alsort related to the MK1 MR2 and general 4A-GE goodness. FInd it here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=71&t=1621426&i=999999

Edited by Sillyhatday on Thursday 15th September 18:40

Edited by Sillyhatday on Friday 7th October 19:01

Edited by Sillyhatday on Tuesday 4th July 17:52

[MrMoonyMan]

That two tone is just brilliant. Nice car, congratulations.

[wjb]

Great car, a modern classic in super condition.

But that mileage

[Sillyhatday]

Cheers guys. I just fell lucky. I was actually looking at 80's fords and crying at the prices to S2000s and crying at the prices (not that this was any cheaper but it's such a rarity). For a long time these MR2s have been in the back of my mind, since playing Gran Turismo 2 about 16 years ago. This just came up and rest is history. Finding one that's not rotten and/or been modified is quite a challenge. As I say, lucky.

I do intend on showing the car and also getting onto a dedicated MR2 forum. This won't be until next summer and once those awful wheels are off it.

[Squadrone Rosso]

I drove on & wanted to buy one in 1988. Couldn't get insurance as an 18 year old so bought a new XR2 instead.

I keep looking for a red or white T bar. Would need to be mint though.

Great car op

[Quhet]

I really like these and that two tone as mentioned is great!

[Freds]

Great Car ! I had a red one from new, red mudflaps and all ! To this day I think the 4A-GE engine in the MK1 (W10) MR2 was one of the best engines ever built. I picked mine up in August 1985 from White and Lockwood Toyota in Huddersfield ,grinning like a Cheshire Cat, I swapped it two years later for a FWD Corolla GT with the same engine. Enjoy the car ! I'm suddenly feeling old........

[AW111]

Love the two-tone and originality.

I have an 86, but swapped the engine and gearbox from a JDM Trueno.
I have just finished a full front suspension rebuild on mine - bushes, balljoints, rack ends, etc.


You may know this already, but one thing to watch out for - early MR2's (85-mid 86) had subltly different suspension, so ball joints, rear shocks, brake disks and a few other bits are different.
Most parts places don't know that, and only stock the mk1b parts.

Amayama is a great resource for OEM parts, and Toyodiy for parts reference, although they don't have the images any more.

The factory service manual is also available on-line.


Enjoy,

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Brilliant. Let's have a pic when the original wheels go on, and some interior shots.

[Dave Hedgehog]

I love these, I had a 4 year old g reg t-bar with leather in mica blue

[CarlosV8]

Lovely car OP. Years ago I had a mk1a and my wife a mk1b and we still talk about getting another one day. Don't see many about any more though so looks like you found a good one.

Make sure you look after the engine and use good quality oil. The bottom end went in the mk1b and as we were on a budget we ended up sourcing a cheap engine from the owners club and swapping them over a few weekends. That was hard work! But the engine is an absolute gem when running sweet, definitely one of my favourite 4 pots!

[GravelBen]

Great little cars. I prefer the Mk1 MX5 (different character rather than outright better or worse) and bought one of them instead, but enjoyed driving a mates MR2.

[Sillyhatday]

Squadrone Rosso said:

I drove on & wanted to buy one in 1988. Couldn't get insurance as an 18 year old so bought a new XR2 instead.

I keep looking for a red or white T bar. Would need to be mint though.

Great car op

That sounds bonkers to me with the reputation of the XR2. Thanks for looking

Quhet said:

I really like these and that two tone as mentioned is great!

Yeah, It's one of my favourite bits about the car. Just something you don't see anymore.

Freds said:

Great Car ! I had a red one from new, red mudflaps and all ! To this day I think the 4A-GE engine in the MK1 (W10) MR2 was one of the best engines ever built. I picked mine up in August 1985 from White and Lockwood Toyota in Huddersfield ,grinning like a Cheshire Cat, I swapped it two years later for a FWD Corolla GT with the same engine. Enjoy the car ! I'm suddenly feeling old........

Thanks. I've heard a few of these types of storys from various people, I 've not stopped smiling while driving it so far! I've even had a few random folk stop to say they had one or always wanted one. Yesterday while giving it a good detail a guy stopped walking back to the local campsite, he said he had a white one, how much he loved it and this one is superb. This is all new to me, classic motoring is fantastic.

AW111 said:

Love the two-tone and originality.

I have an 86, but swapped the engine and gearbox from a JDM Trueno.
I have just finished a full front suspension rebuild on mine - bushes, balljoints, rack ends, etc.


You may know this already, but one thing to watch out for - early MR2's (85-mid 86) had subltly different suspension, so ball joints, rear shocks, brake disks and a few other bits are different.
Most parts places don't know that, and only stock the mk1b parts.

Amayama is a great resource for OEM parts, and Toyodiy for parts reference, although they don't have the images any more.

The factory service manual is also available on-line.


Enjoy,

I was aware of some differences between models, particularly the brakes. I wasn't aware of suspension differences. I have the original service book stamped back to its first service in 1987. Thanks for the advice and parts sources, much appreciated.

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Brilliant. Let's have a pic when the original wheels go on, and some interior shots.

Today is looking like dry weather here, not particularly warm but dry. I'll see what I can do today and most certainly will be photos with the original wheels on, though you'll have to wait a while as this is a winter job. While the weather is good, the car is being driven. Thanks for looking.

Dave Hedgehog said:

I love these, I had a 4 year old g reg t-bar with leather in mica blue

SOunds sweet. Can't say I've seen one in that colour before. THank you for looking

CarlosV8 said:

Lovely car OP. Years ago I had a mk1a and my wife a mk1b and we still talk about getting another one day. Don't see many about any more though so looks like you found a good one.

Make sure you look after the engine and use good quality oil. The bottom end went in the mk1b and as we were on a budget we ended up sourcing a cheap engine from the owners club and swapping them over a few weekends. That was hard work! But the engine is an absolute gem when running sweet, definitely one of my favourite 4 pots!

Thank you. Go get yourself one now. The prices are on the up and there's already jokers asking too much for these. It certainly is a good one, the wheel archs are factory fresh!

I will certainly be looking after it and only restoring originality to the car. Is there any particular oil you would recommend? I only use quality oil anyway.

GravelBen said:

Great little cars. I prefer the Mk1 MX5 (different character rather than outright better or worse) and bought one of them instead, but enjoyed driving a mates MR2.

I toyed with the idea of an MX5 before this myself. Thanks for looking.

So hopefully there should be some picture updates later. This is probably going to be a slow thread, for a few months at least, and not as exciting as some on here. So subscribe if you want to!

[Jonrav]

Very nice car, I would love to have one of these myself, however, it would have to be he T-bar for me.

[ttthilvester]

What a great find!
Cracking little cars - had a red 1987 'D' plate (facelift model with the telephone dial wheels) in the early '90s.
Always thought it a shame they didn't continue with the two-tone colour schemes - one of the few cars that it really suited.

[Sillyhatday]

Well thanks for all the comments. I seem to find a lot of people had these and had generally forgot they existed. Then again I went to show another mate today and he didn't even know what it was, plus he's twice my age, go figure.

I went out for a good blast out down my favourite local B roads today. The weather held up, thankfully. I must say it's no Lotus Elise but the mid engine handling character is fantastic, if a little unnerving right now. On one of my favourite sections there's a right corner and on the exit a sudden drop into a left hander, a real tight bit, feeling the weight transfer is obviously a little different to a front engine car and st scary. Also after pounding around in modern hot hatch by these standards, having no air conditioning, power steering or ABS, is a real workout yet so rewarding. So here are some really quick photos and interior pictures as requested.

B Roads by Dan Simpson, on Flickr

B Roads by Dan Simpson, on Flickr

B Roads by Dan Simpson, on Flickr

Steering Wheel by Dan Simpson, on Flickr

MIlage by Dan Simpson, on Flickr

Toyota by Dan Simpson, on Flickr

Two tone by Dan Simpson, on Flickr

My personal favourite interior part is the steering wheel with the exposed metal. No chance of seeing anything that that again

Edited by Sillyhatday on Sunday 21st August 19:54

[samoht]

What an incredibly cool car! Amazingly well preserved for 30 years old; nice pics, too.

You've done well to find an AW11 so unrusty I think. I wonder how the suspension bushings are? If they're original, I guess they could be past their best which might affect the handling ? Although if it's been garaged its whole life, maybe that protects them.

Great purchase, hope you enjoy it.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Lovely!

I always liked the way Toyota was reflected on the rear window from the rear visor

[Sillyhatday]

samoht said:

What an incredibly cool car! Amazingly well preserved for 30 years old; nice pics, too.

You've done well to find an AW11 so unrusty I think. I wonder how the suspension bushings are? If they're original, I guess they could be past their best which might affect the handling ? Although if it's been garaged its whole life, maybe that protects them.

Great purchase, hope you enjoy it.

Thanks I really appreciate it.
I would not be surprised if the bushings are past their best. The handling doesn't feel untoward just different as I've hardly driven anything RWD and, other than a Lamborghini once, nothing Mid-engined. As I mentioned over winter the whole suspension will be coming apart for powder coating/paint, so they will certainly be inspected along with everything else.
It has certainly been garaged its whole life, MOT history shows about 100 miles per year since 2005.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Lovely!

I always liked the way Toyota was reflected on the rear window from the rear visor

Thanks, its another one of my favourite details about the car.

Does anyone know if there is any sort of piston heads meet near Doncaster any time? Looking to get more involved in the future.

[CABC]

these cars would leave many a modern hot hatch behind in the fun stakes, if not in outright speed or grip certainly in feel and feedback. Worth getting the suspension properly checked/refreshed to enjoy it at its best. proper ph car, shame Toyota don't a modern mr2.