1988 – Toyota MR 1.6L T-Bar - Lot 4

1988 – Toyota MR 1.6L T-Bar French circulation permit Chassis n°JT1C0AW1100137250 - The first Japanese production car with a mid-engine! - Swiss example imported into France in July 2000 - Same owner since 2001 and less than 152,000 kms - Nice original condition, service book, file and accessories Location: Lyon region Launched in 1984, the Toyota MR2 for "Mid-engined, Runabout, 2-seaters" was a compact coupé that caused a sensation from the outset. Clean-cut lines, retractable headlamps, rear spoiler and side gills, as well as reduced overhangs and a mid-mounted engine bring this Japanese coupé closer to the European standards fashionable in the 1980s, such as the Fiat X1-9 and Lancia Beta Montecarlo. This Japanese model revolutionized the small sports car market by being the first Japanese production car with a mid-engine, and by offering an unbeatable price/pleasure/performance ratio. Indeed, in addition to its suggestive plastic and a resolutely sporty interior with a low driving position, wrap-around seats, instrumentation dedicated to the driver with a small gearshift, a three-spoke tulip-shaped steering wheel and a rev counter in the center of the dashboard, it boasts a 1600 cm3 twin-cam 122 hp engine, which combined with a rear-wheel drive transmission and a contained weight of only around 1000 kilos, gives it great performance. What's more, this engine doesn't shy away from revs, and boasts a pleasant, throaty sound. With its well-balanced weights and independent suspension, the MR2 is a lot of fun to drive, without being too tricky. An even more powerful compressor version (145 hp) was even developed, but not marketed in Europe. This pleasure car was available both as a closed coupé and as a "découvrable", with a T-Top roof known as a "T-Bar", enabling the two parts of the roof, then made of glass, to be removed for even greater enjoyment. The Toyota MR2, called MR in French-speaking countries, was not distributed in France until the second generation in 1989. The first generation is therefore a rare car on our roads. The example we're presenting is a 1988 Toyota MR (MR2) Mk1 1600 cm3, in its most desirable T-Bar convertible roof version. White in color, with gray and white velvet upholstery and black carpets, its interior is luminous thanks to a glass roof that lets in light when closed, or allows you to drive with your hair blowing in the wind while keeping the car rigid when removed. Launched in Switzerland by the Emil Frey garage in Nyon on June 16, 1988, this car was imported into France in July 2000 and has since had almost only one owner. Sound, it has obviously always been maintained and has never been restored. As a result, it now presents itself in a beautiful general state of presentation and original operation, for a car over 35 years old and with just under 152,000 kilometers on the clock. It also has the interesting option of electric windows. As it hasn't been driven much in recent years, a simple maintenance check-up is recommended to bring out the full sporting potential of this friendly rear-engined propulsion unit. Another appreciable element for collectors is that our Toyota MR is still accompanied by its maintenance booklet, a few invoices and technical checks, as well as its original tool kit. The Toyota MR is an increasingly popular "youngtimer", but it's not very common in France, especially in this configuration and condition. So don't miss out on this opportunity to treat yourself to a car that's as reliable as it is fun, and at a low price, especially as it made its mark in its day and was developed with Lotus.