Shed Of The Week: Toyota MR2

It's a red MR2 that isn't too rusty; must be a winner, right?

Ah yes, the Mister Two. At its 1984 launch it was immediately crowned Japan's car of the year, and even now it's not hard to see why. The MR2 was a golden seahorse in a brackish pond of motoring sludge, a sparkling sprite hovering effortlessly above a compost heap of rotting tubers, an iridium dragonfly flitting gracefully along the bank of a stinking Lancashire canal.

Still looking spot on for nearly 30

Okay, that might be overdoing it a bit. There were other 80s Japanese cars that were decent, but none of them managed to put together the package of mid-engined Euro handling and sharp style quite as neatly as the MR2.

The last MR2 we featured here was back in February 2013, but that was a second-gen W20. This one is your actual first-gen W10, with the proper 1.6-litre twin-cam AW11 motor that we Euros were lucky enough to get. Less fortunate markets received a 1.5 SOHC lump as popularised by any number of Asian slumbermobiles.

With as little as 950kg to shift (assuming you didn't live in the US) and 130hp to shift it with (assuming you did live in the UK or Japan), the MR2 zipped along nicely. We Brits didn't get the Supercharged model, oddly, but that was actually no great loss as the Rootes-type blower only pitched in 15 extra horsepower. You'd think that having gone to the trouble of tacking all that blower hardware on (including an intercooler), Toyota might have released the hounds a bit more, but who are we to question the decision making ability of a global super-corporation?

Who wouldn't want a Midship Runabout?

Back on topic, the standard NA version hit eight-second 0-60s and delivered an edgy, seat-o'-the-pants driving experience that endeared it to many. The position of the engine right behind your scone meant you needed to be quick on the wheel once the first inklings of traction loss were felt. In fact, if you waited until that point you were probably too late, but it was all part of the good clean fun.

The only ones who might find something to complain about in an MR2 would be the OCD Keith Lard types who insist on travelling with more than a toothbrush and a pair of undercrackers. Luggage-carrying was never part of the brief.

Your man selling this one is clearly an MR2 enthusiast as he has covered off all the major model pitfalls in his ad. If the next owner is of a similarly enthusiastic bent he will doubtless address the crinkly brown stuff blighting the rear offside arch. Doesn't look to be a major job, does it? Unless of course the inner arches have turned to biscuit. Which is entirely possible.

Revvy twin cam made 130hp. May not now

Rust is a huge worry with these cars. As previous PH scribbler Scrof found to his cost, sills are quite literally the be-all and the end-all of MR2 ownership. A car could look pristine on the outside, but that means nothing: not-so-clever design means that MR2 sills rot from the inside. Shed says he would be prepared to eat his best Worzel Gummidge hat if the rust you see on that rear arch is the only rust on this car - and original Toyota repair sections are very much not cheap.

Happily, the internet is not short of how-to accounts of home-brewed repairs using metal sheets, MIG welders and large hammers. This video is Shed's favourite. Its indicated 2:13 duration gets you all excited about the prospect of a quick job, only for your hopes to be cruelly dashed when you realise that the video is actually 40 hours work compressed into two giddy-making minutes. Admittedly, the car they're working on there had a bent B-post to add to its woes, but the point about rusty MR2 sills is made. Take your dibbing stick along to the viewing. If the vendor goes white at the sight of it, and starts pointing to random things in the sky or on the ground while engaging you on such topics as Scottish independence and the price of eggs, be warned. In his defence, the vendor puts across a credible air of transparency and says nothing has come up on the MoT. He's even providing a fresh ticket as part of the deal, so that's a year's motoring at least.

Clearly, this is not a pristine example. The driver's seat looks a bit like one of those handbags made out of offcuts that Mrs Shed likes to buy in charity shops, the ones that look old (in a bad way) even when they're new. But the MR2 is 27 years old, and it is Japanese. The fact that it's here at all is something to be celebrated. Let's just hope that the owner's transparency isn't reflected in those sills.

Here's the ad.

MR2 MK1 T-Bar 1987 registered Aug 87. The car has Tax till Oct and MOT till mid Sept and has covered 149950 miles.
I will add 1 year's MOT before it leaves me.

HPI Clear when I purchased this car and still have the certificate.

Full leather interior with matching leather door cards and T-bar sun shades in their original bags.
Original Toyota tool kit and jack.
Standard 4AGE engine, 16 valve DOHC 1.6 litre and 5 speed manual gearbox -No gearbox pop-out issues.

I have owned this car since July 2001 and currently use it as a 2nd car although it has been my daily driver. I have an extensive service history-file now 2 inches thick with every bill, MOT & other documents including all the data for the 5 previous owners.
It's recently had four new quality tyres and new front brake discs and pads fitted about 1500 miles ago.
Standard "Teardrop" Toyota wheels with unused spare and tyre - (wheels were refurbished in 2001).
Fitted security wheel nuts.
Recent refresh of some suspension bushes, drop-link, ball joint and drive shaft gaitor.
Recent service of engine oil, oil filter, spark plugs and air filter etc.

Recent replacement of gearbox oil seals and refilled with Red Line MT-90 gear oil.
Many parts refreshed over my ownership including new, alternator, radiator, both rear brake calipers, hand brake cables, clutch assembly and beautiful Momo Montecarlo steering wheel and Boss (still have the original Toyota wheel).
Aftermarket Goodmans RDS stereo radio & CD player with removable face with Ipod/Iphone connector.
The original electric aerial, electric mirrors, central locking, electric windows all working well.

Fitted theft prevention security device and hidden engine inhibitor switch.

Body in good to fair condition, rear offside wheel arch has the usual rust but nothing major nor advised in last MOT.

Car starts first time and is very reliable, a cheap and fun car to run and now getting collectable, any questions please email.