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1986 MR2 Click here for 1988 MR2 SC

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1985 Auto Show in Chicago
A blue MR2, a red one and a Panda GTS!

My Dad bought an 85 MR2 brand new which first exposed me to this kind of car. It had the following options: A/C, cassette, floor mats and rear mudflaps (which was taken off another car on the lot). Before my father took delivery, he took me for a spin in a silver 85 hardtop from R and H Toyota. I liked it despite its ugly looks and small layout. The engine sounded neat under WOT and nothing looked like it on the road. My father had his till 1989 when it had about 80K on it and hated it. He thought the car was cursed. The car blew a headgasket (Dealer would not cover it), hit a guard rail, attempts were made to steal it, the installed mega bucks Alpine alarm was unreliable, the leather surfaces were hard to maintain, 3rd gear was grinding, dealing with jackass Toyota dealers for parts and service and the car was challenging to work on in the engine bay. Despite that the car got a lot of attention including once from a cop in a Helicopter because of the odd ball color. He also ran the hell out of it and for the most part mechanically speaking it held up. It was totalled in a accident and replaced by a 1989 240SX (YAWN). A shame because this car (hardtop early model stripper with the small flywheel) is highly desirable today. I liked the 85s and 86s because of the lighter weight, better looking front end, better performance in terms of speed, and better interior layout despite the smaller brakes. I liked the 86 (pic of a new one on this page from R and H Toyota) because of the color keyed bumpers and the fact you could get color keyed side skirts.

In 2000 I decided since the Supra was mostly done it was time to get a blue 85-86 car after years of not seeing one. Most people swore this color doesn't exist (try finding it in the magazines of road tests or even the 85-86 brochure-one shot of it in the 85 on page 2), so it was a while before I even found one. I came close to buying some non-blue MR2s but am glad I didn't because it was worth the wait. I found this car in New Jersey in late 2002. It was rough but saveable. The owner had painted most of the interior silver and it was missing the lip spoiler and under fender shields. It had been repainted in a few spots as well. No big deal. I got it and drove it back home and with no trouble.

It had the factory wing, rear black mudflaps, ac, cassette, cruise, sunroof and mats. Now it was time to get to work. My plan was to restore and maybe mod it with a few newer more desirable parts.

The car needed some help under the hood - distributor cap was cracked, some leaks, tb dirty, air filter trashed, no battery hold down, blah blah. I failed inspection at a local hillibilly place due to some rust, little spot in the windshield, worn rear tires, worn bushings on front control arms and vibrating brakes (those damn small rotors). The LED on the radio didn't work at night, the leather surfaces were trashed and the ashtray was broken (witch broke the replacement as well). Again I was not worried. I had the resourses and help to make this a low buck investment.

I lucked out and found an original 86 blue MR2 with skirts in Texas that had been smacked in the back so grabbed the skirts from it. I found a local wrecked 89 SC and grabbed the side shade and rear trim. With a friend's help we installed them all. I now need to find blue mudflaps. I found a yard in Pa with 4 blue MR2s. I found one set of blue mudflaps in the trunk of one of them. I wanted the real thing not painted black ones. I also grabbed original painted body pieces and buffed them back to life. A PA 85 white hardtop contributed to the interior dash pieces that needed to be replaced due to them being painted. Some of the parts needed to be purchased new were from 2 different dealers including a new Toyota exhaust ($$$$) and shift knob.

Restored most of the car now-about 21 different MR2s have parts in this car from 10 states. I think the seats and part of the motor are all thats left original(if I found something in better shape than my existing part it got replaced) Thanks to Damon Saul, The witch, Manning, Kirk and Eric for help on this car and located resourses.

A 1986 MR2 new on the lot

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