This 1986 Toyota MR2 is a low-mileage example that was supposedly put into storage between 2005 and 2015. The body has been repainted, and curiously, the rear spoiler deleted. These first-generation MR2s are mild sleepers on the marketplace today, meaning they seem to be somewhat unappreciated given its credentials as a performance icon of the 1980s. The seller claims this MR2 has a clean history file, so the respray is otherwise a mystery aside from potentially being due to clearcoat failure. Find the MR2 here on eBay with bids to $12,100 and the reserve unmet.

This MR2 is a bit of a mystery to me. Despite its low mileage, it doesn’t appear to be what I’d call a time-capsule example. The edges are a bit rough in places, which is curious to me for two reasons: one, why weren’t the rough bits cleaned up or otherwise fixed before it went into the spray booth; and two, why does it look like it has more miles than advertised? I’m not suggesting any funny business with the odometer, just that it wasn’t treated like a preservation piece. The low mileage is almost more of an accident at this point rather than purposeful. The lower rear valence and the front spoiler / lower front bumper both seem to have made impact with something in the lifespan of the car, and the fact the rear spoiler wasn’t put back on is really peculiar.

Fortunately, we see some redemption in the cabin, which does look like it belongs to a low-mileage car. The color on the blue-and-silver upholstery is still quite vibrant, and doesn’t look like it’s been subjected to daily entry and egress by a previous owner. The dashboard looks OK but the seller does disclose some cracking, and I can’t tell if there’s some warpage by the top of the glovebox. The steering wheel likewise shows little in the way of wear and tear, and the gear pattern sticker on the center console still looks quite legible. Most everything on an MR2 of this era is manually-controlled, so there’s not a whole lot to go wrong inside the cabin. The radio is noted as not working.

The seller notes the battery was replaced and the oil was changed, but that’s it for maintenance. The tires are date coded to 2016, so there’s a lot left on this MR2 to sort out if you want to have it be used as a reliable canyon carver. Belt services, cooling system refresh, transmission fluid – all of these standard-issue maintenance tasks should be addressed before taking this low-mileage MR2 on the open road. Given it has resided in California and Colorado, I’m sure rust isn’t an issue, so at least you’ll be diving into a mild restoration that should yield a very desirable car once the drivetrain has been refreshed.