The MR2’s mid-engined rear-wheel-drive layout suited a sports car aesthetic and it's fair to say that Arima pulled it off beautifully, creating one of the best-looking cars of the 1990s, if not of all time.
The world’s motoring media thought so, too, and the SW20 received a rapturous reception when it made its debut at the end of 1989.
It evolved over the years to become progressively quicker, while turbocharged variants were especially lively, but in many ways it's the pure, unspoilt original models that are very much the best. And that's what we have here: a 1992 G-Limited model that began its life in Japan but has lived in the UK for over a decade. It is preserved in more or less original condition, and is an absolute stunner.cFZF4FOFtceTdOilGiAm46XAeLgFY6n76Exj2NfJ.jpeg1.27 MB
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
Toyota service wallet
V5C
Old receipts and invoices
MOT until June 2023
Supplied with the MR2 is a Toyota service wallet containing all of the model-relevant handbooks, booklets and documents, as well as receipts and invoices for most of the work that the car has carried out had carried out on it during its time in the UK.
It arrived here in 2005, but in 2011 the odometer was recalibrated and the reading changed from Km/h to mph. There’s a certificate included that shows the mileage adjustment to reflect the new units.
It has a UK V5C in the name of the vendor and an MOT valid until June 2023.
The cabin of the MR2 is a fairly sober affair, with grey cloth trim and a typically 1990s Japanese dashboard, though it's low-slung driving position, steeply raked windscreen and bucket seats give it a strong semblance of sportiness.
With the exception of some very minor rubbing to the driver’s side seat bolster, the cabin is very well presented with no immediately noticeable flaws, and it's very clean and fresh-smelling. All of the dials and controls appear to work properly.CqWBfqTBnTHYSgIicaKbXXM5RM7Ur0URLJcKoamN.jpeg890.04 KB
THE EXTERIOR
Recent localised paint repairs
Stunningly presented
Original alloys
Pop-up headlights
Finished in by far the best colour of red, the MR2 looks every inch a miniature Ferrari. It's completely standard, too. No additional wings, body kits or oversized alloys - just a lovely factory-spec SW20 that looks pretty much perfect as it is.
When he bought the car last year, the current owner treated it to some minor body repairs to deal with some rust blisters on the rear arches and a few scuffs and scrapes on the paint work which have all been rectified. As a result, it looks absolutely stunning and the paint finish is excellent.
The mid-mounted twin-cam engine is a tuneful unit and has covered just over 91,000 miles, the odometer having been changed from km/h to mph by a previous keeper.
It fires up on the button and settles to a steady idle, whilst all of the gears engage as they should. The vendor has been using the MR2 as his daily transport for the past few months and reports that it drives extremely well indeed, with no untoward noises from the suspension or brakes and lively performance.
The car has also recently been treated to a full service, carried out by the vendor himself, who is a complete petrolhead and has a very cool car collection alongside the Toyota.
This is a really lovely example of a standard, unmessed-with SW20 MR2 - a refreshing alternative to the hundreds of modified cars that there are on the market right now. It looks exactly as its designer intended it to. In other words, absolutely gorgeous. Plus, it's a truly lovely condition. An absolute gem of a car that deserves to be preserved and enjoyed exactly as it is.
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