An exceedingly rare Toyota MR2 TRD-2000GT is available to bid on in Japan. Different sources report that between 35 and 37 units were made in total.
Toyota launched the road-legal sports car 23 years ago to celebrate the successes of its racetrack-only counterpart. Rather than produce new vehicles at the factory, the TRD crew upgraded existing ones.
The original tuning package only included a body kit and a 10cm (4”) increase in wheelspan. Toyota Technocraft carried out the rest of the customization to ensure that every car would be unique. Rumor has it that one example was boosted as high as 500 hp (373 kW). In essence, the customization was so extensive, cars were considered completely new and were even given new VIN numbers to reflect it.
The manufacturer also produced a few crate kits for those who didn’t mind some elbow grease, and tuners also chimed in with their own options and accessories. However, the seller of this example claims it is as genuine as an MR2 TRD-2000GT can be.
Having been used for 26 years and 240,000 kilometers (around 149,000 miles), the car received a fresh paint coat 5 years ago. As one may expect, its condition otherwise is less than ideal: multiple sensors and the transmission clutch need replacing, and other units should probably be checked, too. Aftermarket parts are limited to the exhaust system and the differential, as well as a satellite navigator inside.
Toiling under the hood is a two-liter engine with undisclosed specifications.
The current highest bid is slightly above 1.5 million Japanese Yen, or $13,616 USD at the current conversion rates.