Street Spotted: Toyota AW11 MR2

My introduction to Toyota's midship AW11 MR2 came from a lifted car cover, revealing a pristine Orange Pearl Mica unit. I was 15 years old and searching for my first car, having received my learner's permit, so an airbag-less, supercharged, mid-engine sports car was the obvious choice.

The entirely reasonable price of $7000 for a car with under 100,000 miles logged was too much coin for me at the time, though Bring a Trailer auction prices make me wish I had applied for a loan. Even so, I was left with a lasting impression of this angular oddball, one that makes me stop on the street every time I see one.

This particular example above caught my eye due to its rugged appearance. The first generation MR2 is almost 40 years old, and many examples are starting to show their age. I don't know much about the life of this car, but the presence of bumper scuffs and chipping paint point to years of street parking. Found in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with a Florida license plate, this car isn't a traditional survivor car, but it has endured nonetheless—spray-painted wheels and all.

And it'll likely be on the road for years to come, given that the MR2 was supposed to be a commuter car. The AW11 MR2 was Toyota's first foray into mass production of a two-seat, mid-engine sports car, and it was a process that took nearly a decade to come to fruition.

According to Toyota's own synopsis of the project, the original model concept was more about being economical than sporty, though a combination of engine location and pre-production driving characteristics made for a naturally engaging car. A nearly identical concept model called the SV-3 was teased at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1983, and production of the first generation units started the following year.

Powered by the 1.6-liter four-cylinder 4A-GE motor out of the Corolla, a measly 112 hp motivated the 2350-pound car, all fed through a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. This particular example had the 4-speed automatic, known for being strong and operating as well as any other 1980s slushbox.

North American markets received the supercharged version in 1988, with a whopping 145 hp and 137 lb-ft of torque, and the performance numbers bested Porsche's 944 while also competing with some Italian supercar legends of the time. There was even a Group B-born rally version known as the 222D, though it was scrapped when Group B rallying was disbanded. Production eventually finished in 1989, and the second generation SW20 chassis MR2 was introduced for the 1991 model year.

Before the AW11 was discontinued, however, Toyota reveled in its high sales and overall popularity. The unique model was engaging and well-priced, at a base MSRP of $11,300. That's about $30,000 in 2022 money, which isn't half bad for an efficient yet fun mid-engine sports car. As a result, a total of 96,666 units were sold in the US and Canada over its five-year production run, with a total of 163,845 models produced worldwide.

While mid-engine cars existed well before the MR2 came along, Toyota was still taking a risk by introducing the model to its traditionally sensible lineup. A two-seat, mid-engine sports car was a design that was typically left to the more extravagant European car makers, such as Porsche or Lancia, and yet Toyota perfected the form in its first go around.

Most importantly, the MR2 was significantly more accessible than the requisite 911 or Fiat X1/9, thanks to its commuter car roots. Across the board, car enthusiasts have economical Japanese engineers to thank for some of our favorite models, with the Honda CR-X and Mazda Miata being born of similar circumstances.

These days, AW11 MR2s have achieved cult status among classic car collectors, and JDM examples are frequently imported to the States. Mint examples have sold on Bring A Trailer for as much as $51,000, though average auction prices are around $15,000. The second-generation MR2 has really hit its classic-car priced stride, but that doesn't mean AW11 prices have dropped significantly.

Prospective AW11 MR2 owners can breathe a sigh of relief though, considering examples like this street-parked model can be purchased for $5000-8000. And if cheap mid-engine fun is all you desire, a Pontiac Fiero is a readily available and cheaper alternative.

Have any Toyota MR2 memories to share? Please add them to comments below.