Depending on Toyota's plan to potentially offer a fourth generation of the "Midship runabout", the MR platform may be a thing of the past. It may be hard to imagine that a company like Toyota would have at one time built a car like this, affordable, sporty, and built in-house with engines that not only revved freely but were as reliable as everything else they sold. Today, you won't find a brand new mid-engine rear-wheel drive vehicle for sale for under $40,000 in today's money, that's what Toyota sold their three generations of MRs for during the 23 years they were sold globally, instead only Porsche, Lotus, and Chevy (with the Corvette) offer this unique driving experience but at double the budget. Perhaps affordability mixed with all of the quirks and advantages of having the engine in the back; but before the rear axle, makes for a cult following. The type of following with people that would spend their Saturday afternoon driving through a torrential downpour to get together at Dezerland Park in Orlando is the dedication of the MR2 community, connected by their love for this chassis and each displaying their own take with their own stories.
First up is this perfectly sorted white-on-white SW20 Toyota MR2 Turbo imported from the motherland. Gifted with the perfect ride height, this 3SGTE-powered example sits on a set of very rare Modia KS-05 by Keiichi Tsuchiya, yes the legendary driver who during his racing heydey collaborated with a few wheel companies to apply his signature to his favorite chassis, the SW20 being one of them.
The SW20 seems to be the most sought-after of the three MR2 generations, it blends an exotic look with serious performance with the Turbo model, like this red one here. From the factory, the MR2 Turbo came with a 2-liter 3SGTE making between 200-218 horsepower depending on the market where it was sold, it has become a favorite in various types of motorsports as the 3S series of engines has a staggering five generations for both turbo and naturally aspirated variants. This particular Crimson red SW20 sits on Enkei RPF1 wheels and has clear corners and some shiny bits under the deck lid like a polished rear strut bar and intercooler piping to lower charge temps.
Did you know that the MR2 Spyder is the lightest generation of the legendary MR2 model at just under 2,200 lbs? Well, this is why this once-polarizing car has become increasingly popular over the last decade. Not equipped from the factory with a 4AGZE or 3SGTE, the ZZW30 made do with the 1ZZ, a 138 horsepower 4 cylinder that's the less spicy version of the Yamaha massaged 2ZZGE, regardless it allowed respectable acceleration is beloved for its reliability while being thrashed. The silver ZZW30 at the forefront here is equipped with a hard top as these vehicles were sold only as convertibles, and a set of dark grey aftermarket wheels that pull together its understated look with a JDM front bumper and emblem.
The SW20 Toyota MR2 has a timeless design that retains an exotic look, even though its been about 30 years since it was sold in the United States. With a color like black and on five-spoke alloy wheels, those not in the know would mistake it for something from Europe, a Lotus Esprit or maybe a Ferr... ok, yes they do make kits for that, and honestly I can understand the appeal. This vehicle, however, does without the visual trickery, the brilliant black painted panels are only accentuated by clear corners, contrasting wheels, and a shiny radiator that would normally be mistaken for an intercooler, but the party is in the back on this particular car. The 3SGTE is tucked tightly in the rear of the MR2, beneath the MR2Heaven strut tower brace is an upgraded turbo with a blanket that helped generate not only tremendous speed but all of the whooshes and whistling boosted cars are admired for, this thing rips!
One build that stood out belongs to @vpiano27, on the surface it's a very clean non-turbo model, powered by the slightly larger displacement 2.2 liter 5SFE, it also features the enthusiast choice of a 5-speed manual gearbox for maximum engagement behind the wheel. The parts that caught my eye were the silver Euro-style wheels, lowered stance, clear corners, fog lights, and the luxury-spec leather reupholstered interior. It is becoming fairly common to swap SW20s with the 2GRFE out of cars like the Camry and Rav4, it is a similar tactic employed by Lotus to this day, and when I think of what would be my favorite kind of build, this is the basis of it, all the luxury and all of the power you can fit in this extraordinary platform.
Outside of motorsports or pushing the limits to get a best time on your way to work, at even a leisurely pace, cars like this ZZW30 are a joy to drive. The soft top goes down easily and provides that near-motorcycle-like feeling with the protection of modern safety technology, and with a hard top, it's still a throwback to smaller and simpler cars that are delightful to engage with. Of course, the MR2 Spyder has your standard Toyota ergonomics on the inside and due to its size, lacks storage space but that's part of the allure of a "mid-ship runabout" It's meant to be the most personal of personal cars so you feel connected to the road. If the AW11 gives off a retro feel, the SW20 is the booster street fighter, then the ZZW30 is the stripped-down homage to simplicity in motoring, it's pure.
One vehicle that shared some DNA with a few of the MR2s in attendance was this JDM ST205 Toyota Celica GT-Four. Powered by a version of the 3SGTE often seen in the back of the SW20 MR2, this particular car boasts the rally-dominating all-wheel drive system that dominated WRC with Carlos Sainz in the prior generation ST185 model. This last version of the turbocharged and rally-bred Celica is infamous for being banned from competition due to a turbo restrictor that hid peak boost until competition use, it may have been a blow for Toyota's constructor's team but privateers continued to use this vehicle with high levels of success even during the ban by WRC.
Overall it was a great turnout, even considering the rain and the far drive for some, each vehicle represented its owner's taste and intent, and that's to be celebrated. There is already a follow-up that you can learn more about by clicking here: MR2 Meet Orlando.
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