Toyota MR2
The MR2 derived from a 1976 Toyota design project with the goal of a car which would be enjoyable to drive, yet still provide good fuel economy – not necessarily a sports car. Design work began in 1979 when Akio Yoshida from Toyota's testing department started to evaluate alternatives for engine placement and drive method, finalizing a mid-transverse engine placement. Toyota called the 1981 prototype SA-X.
From its original design, the car evolved into a sports car, and further prototypes were tested both in Japan and in the US. Significant testing was performed on race circuits including Willow Springs, where former Formula One driver Dan Gurney tested the car.
All three generations were in compliance with Japanese government regulations concerning exterior dimensions and engine displacement. The MR2 appeared around the same time as the Honda CR-X and the Nissan EXA from Japan, the Pontiac Fiero and Ford EXP from North America, and about a decade after the VW Scirocco and Fiat X1/9 from Europe made their debut.
Toyota debuted its SV-3 concept car in October 1983 at the Tokyo Motor Show, gathering press and audience publicity. The car was scheduled for a Japanese launch in the second quarter of 1984 under the name MR2.
The Car.
The MR2 provokes old memories with me. My best friend had a Mk1 in the 90’s and he would rev the engine outside my family house to announce his arrival and he would have the biggest smile on his face when I entered the car. The MR2 is a pleaser. Its everything you need in a car. Its fast, cheap to run and sounds fantastic. I love them and my favourite is the MK2 , the Japanese Ferrari. When I saw this car for sale I thought yes yes and yes. Its was offered cheap… why so cheap ? “ It has a big water and oil leak” Ok lets buy it and bring it back to life`
July 2024
When the car is delivered it looks poorly, dirty and unloved. It has been sitting in a garage for 4 years after the lady who owned the car saw the oil leek and parked it up for another day. That day did not come. First I check the engine and don’t see any oil leak , perhaps a little oil leek but nothing anyone would see unless they were looking around with a torch underneath the car. I do see lots of damp tho. I put water in the tank and attach a new battery then I start the engine. It starts first time and sounds loud and water starts pissing out . Its not oil its water the last owner saw, all the water from the tank is now on the floor.
That next 9 hours over 2 days is spent taking the engine to bits to get to the problem, its not the water pump. When in at the engine and under the car there is other things to sort too. The catalytic converter is broken ( clip below) , there is a small oil leak , the 02 sensor is broken and the car needs new calipers , brakes , new battery , both sills need attention and needs a service.
I get to work getting all the parts and find everything is hard to source. This is the problem with a import. They are just a little different. The Cat did not fit, the brakes or the O2 . I go to Toyota and get them to help. They don’t give part numbers out over the phone so I go to Enfield Toyota and they sort me out at a price for gaskets, timing belts and tensioners, all genuine. If you change the rocket cover gasket you need to change the timing too , that’s what the advice I was given by Toyota. So I will do that.. The water pipes are on order , brakes too. I should finish this in 2 weeks. In the meantime i have sent the steering wheel away to get a new look. Im going for a suede racing look. SMAERT !!
To be continued………
