1986 Toyota MR2

- One Owner
- Purchased New From Ann Arbor Toyota
-1.6L Inline 4 Cylinder
- 5 Speed Manual Transmission
- All Original Survivor
- Full Service History Since New
- All Original Purchase Documents
- 77k Miles

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1986 Toyota MR2 on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 170 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, and a link to its accident and damage-free Carfax history, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“We at Car and Driver unanimously voted the MR2 onto our first-available 'Ten Best Cars'" – Car and Driver, June 1986

Car and Driver writer, Arthur St. Antoine, noted the MR2's immediate appeal: “The showers of kudos for Toyota's mid-engined two-seater began as soon as it burst from its wrapping paper, back in February 1985. The MR2 earned rave reviews from the press for its finely balanced handling, its superb five-speed gearbox, and its jewel-like twin-cam, sixteen-valve, four-cylinder engine.”

Concluding their 30,000-mile long-term test, the magazine summarized their experience with the Toyota this way: “The MR2 gave us a year of pure driving enjoyment. It unraveled countless twisty roads, embarked on dozens of long treks, ran hundreds of errands, and never gave us one moment of difficulty. The sad ending to this success story is that 'Mister Two' will spend the next 30,000 miles of its life in someone else's hands.”

The full Car and Driver long-term test report can be found online here: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15141643/toyota-mr2-archived-long-term-test-wrap-up-review/

Offered here in red over black-and-red is a 1986 Toyota MR2, owned and meticulously cared for by the same proud owner since new. How meticulously? He recorded every service visit, including every gas-stop; a detailed copy of the record is available to interested parties. Purchased new at Ann Arbor, Michigan Toyota, and showing 77,212 miles on its odometer currently, the two-seater has traveled fewer than 2,225 miles per-year on average since new. This is a stand-out example of the highly regarded mid-Eighties sports car from Toyota, and all the original purchase documents are included.

The car's exterior red paint displays like-new in every respect: evenness of finish, overall gloss, rich, red color. There can be few nicer examples in existence. The red rear-deck spoiler is also in excellent condition, and there are no dings, dents, or other damage on any sheet metal anywhere. (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) Black trim on the car's bumpers, window surrounds, door handles, body-side accent, lower-body cladding, mirror caps, and front chin spoiler is very well-kept, rich in color, and free of damage or significant deterioration. Cabin glass and lighting lenses (including on the pop-up headlights) are clear and unmarked. Factory badging is limited to a period Toyota-logo emblem on the hood, graphic “Toyota” decal in front, and a Toyota and MR2 identification on the rear (with “MR2” also shown on mud flaps). Aluminum-finish, triangular-design, 15-inch alloy wheels (showing light patina from regular use) are mounted with Uniroyal® Tiger Paw performance tires (these are brand-new tires).

Inside, the well-bolstered bucket seats wear combination charcoal gray corduroy fabric upholstery with light-gray inserts. The fabric shows no rips, tears, or major imperfections, and very little light wear. Black carpets—with protective black MR2-branded carpet mats—cover the cabin floors. A Toyota-embossed, 2-spoke steering wheel (with black leather rim in beautiful condition) frames an analog instrument cluster featuring a 7,300-rpm redline tachometer and 150-mph speedometer with four smaller engine-monitoring gauges. Graphic markings are crisp and unworn. The lighting switch features a clever “handle switch;” the black dashboard and console are composed of angular panels with a very Eighties-design feel. The shift lever for the 5-speed manual transmission is located on the console; HVAC controls are on the center-dash; the original audio system remains in place. (Please view the close-up photography in the gallery to assess the very impressive condition of the MR2's interior surfaces.)

The highly regarded Toyota 1.6-liter inline 4-cylinder is transversely mounted amidships and accessed through a rear-deck panel. The engine bay is orderly and tidy, detailed but not over-done. Viewed from below, the car's chassis is straight, complete, and undamaged. Open views of the lower-engine surfaces, independent suspension, and the transmission are obvious focal points.

The MR2's factory information and identification tags remain mounted. Purchase documentation, the owner's manual, and a workshop manual are included in the sale.

While the more than 170 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '86 Toyota MR2 in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

The decade of the Eighties saw more than its share of automotive leap-forward developments. High on that list was the MR2 for its balance of responsive power, period styling, outstanding handling, and perfect feel in a true 2-seat sports car. But can you ever go back to the Eighties?

Of course, you can.