The first-generation Toyota MR2 harkens back to a simpler time. I write often about how manufacturers seemed far less resistant to taking customer feedback and producing vehicles they actually wanted in the 1980s than they do now, and the AW11 MR2 is a perfect example of this ethos. It’s basically a Hot Wheels for the road, a vehicle you’d sketch out in elementary school art class of the perfect car. This particular example may actually be nearly perfect, considering it has only 8,400 original miles. The seller has listed it here on eBay and is asking $70,000 for it.
The story behind this survivor MR2 seems fascinating, and I wish the seller could go into greater detail. Apparently, it was with the original owner for close to four decades before being discovered via an estate sale. To be fair, the original owner passed away, so there’s clearly no way to assess the history, but it sure seems like the MR2 was used as a weekend-only car and then simply saw less and less use over time. Fortunately, this lack of use didn’t translate into outright neglect, as the paint, graphics, and interior all present as new. Look at the decals on the trunk link, the mudflaps, and gloss of the paint – despite its many years of inactivity, it was clearly stored indoors.
One of my greater disappointments is to see a vehicle is a time warp example with low mileage, only to then learn it was left outside for a decade. No matter how low the mileage, you could still be in for a world of hurt reconditioning parts and materials that are heavily sun-faded and/or torn apart by rodents. Despite the MR2 seeing clearly limited use, the interior and exterior condition both speak volumes about its high state of preservation. The seller reports that the second owner who snagged it from the estate sale (boy, I’d to know how much he paid!) took it straight to the Toyota dealer for a mess of servicing before putting it back on the road. Oh, how I love that a Toyota dealer was still happy to service this car.
Of course, the must-do timing belt job was performed, along with fresh fluids, new battery and tires, and an assortment of other deferred jobs like replacing the water pump, spark plugs, wires, the clutch slave cylinder, and various seals. The current owner reports he replaced the fuel pump under his stewardship. The MR2 is powered by a 4A-GE 4-cylinder engine mounted mid-ship and generating a humble but effective 112 horsepower and 97 lb.-ft. of torque. This MR2 is priced with a fairly ambitious ask but you can’t blame the seller for aiming for the moon with what is likely the lowest-mileage example in existence.
$70,000??????? Is there $50,000 in the back seat?
…. and displayed in front of a trash pile.
Somehow I had a sneaky feeling that the backdrop looked like the SI landfill…what a crackpipe ask…
Best comment of the day, KHayes!
It must have 60k in the trunk! Back up off the crack pipe!
It’s nice, but the seller is fishing. In order to get a significant premium you need more than a picture of the speedometer and good story. Some form of real documentation, should be expected. These do have a following, but it’s hard to see it pull more than a fraction of its asking price.
Steve R
Exactly!
Unless they can verify the mileage claim with a paper trail that is all it is a claim. At that ask that has to be even still that price is just nuts when you think about what $70.000 can get you in the car world
You can get a brand new car for this price, maybe two!
You can get a 2026 BMW M2 for $68,200 to start.
You gotta have a dream…….
I am not an expert on prices. I did own an 86 but not as nice as this one. Good luck with the sale. Someone that doesn’t balk at the price, will get a very nice car.
I don’t understand why anyone would want one of these, price notwithstanding.
If it was a choice betwixt a Pontiac Fiero and this Mister Two, I’d take this one.
Because, outside of a Lotus Elise or a sport bike, this is the most analog driving experience you will ever have. The view out of the windshield of an AW11 is as good as it gets.
You don’t understand why anyone would want one of these? Clearly not for everyone, but for those of us who have owned and enjoyed these somewhat unique cars, it may be a different story.
Had this car exactly. I think I got “$70k” worth of fun from it, but I doubt anyone would pay that price for this car. It *is* a fantastic little Toyota, though.
The dreaded Barrett-Jacksonitis strikes again!
It was known as Senior Dos in some neighborhoods … the odd thing about an MR2, low mileage doesn’t really count as an add as their longevity is usually, in cared-for cars, a couple hundred thousand miles easily … I sold these new and you can pick one up at a low cost with less than 100k miles and it’s reliability is just as good … just beware of the turbo-charged ones – most people don’t idle down the turbo after a run, just shutting it off, and the heat can degrade and thicken the oil …
This generation of MR2 was never offered with a turbo; that option came with the next gen. These were however available with a supercharger starting in ’88 here, which wouldn’t suffer from the turbo oil-coking issue.
…thus the reason to buy the Supercharged MR2 instead…
Great car! I drive one in 1986. Crisp shift & great handling but no sports car power. This one could actually be true mileage. A true time capsule for a decent price of $15-20k max?
I don’t care how little miles it has . It’s time has passed . If I put out $70.000 it will be for an electric Rivian or similar.
Electric is the way of the future . And I can’t think of any gasoline car I would sink much money into anymore.
Wait, did you just find a way to associate a 40 year old Toyota AW11 to an electric Pickup truck? Just wanting to be sure I read that correctly.
I found a common denominator- Money. 💰
But yes I compared a dinosaur to Marty McFly.
You buy that truck for 70K new and I’ll buy it a year later for less than half that price. Electric vehicles make zero sense as a purchase, no matter how fast, fun or “economical” they are. It’s just the manufacturers charging a premium up front for “savings” later. Same deal as what they did to diesels in the U.S. and why I never bought one of those, despite wanting one.
“Its time has passed”??… You do realize you’re on the “Barn Finds” site, right?
Sure I do, but in a world of reality I still can dream. That’s what barnfinds is there for.
Just not based in rational thinking.
Ha, ha… $70K ask… That’s the “Honest honey, I’m trying to sell it” price…
I am a collector of cars and I have an affinity for affordable mid engine cars. My 1993 second gen MR2 Turbo has about 22k on the odometer. It has never seen a snow flake and only a few raindrops. I drive it for about one tank of gas annually to keep things fresh and working and that has given it the 22k miles. With tan leather instead I’m obsessed with keeping it looking new so I only wear light colored cotton cloths while driving it so it doesn’t get that denim blue tint on the seats. I was offered $46k for it by an MR2 club member but my son has dibs on it and money isn’t everything. I wouldn’t trade it for a first gen model but I admit that one is pretty special.
Hope the cops don’t see you wearing cotton cloths…
The driving experience between the AW11 Supercharged and the SW20 Turbo is quite a bit different actually. The shorter wheelbase of the AW11 combined with the paper thin A-pilars and more raked front hood gives the AW11 the edge in pure analog drivers enjoyment. For longer trips, it’s SW20 all the way. For short mountain blasts?… AW11 for sure.
70k for a MR2?. I don’t care how low the miles are. It better be a fairly new Supera
hahahaha, lmfao 70,000 right and I have a bridge in Brooklyn I will sell you. What gets into peoples heads that they think the value of their car is worth the price of a new BMW. Nice car but! for that price I can by a used ZO1 and have change left over. OR by a used Europa and put a Mazda Wankel in it
I bought one new in 86 for 12k.