1988 MR2 Supercharged

[born_2b_wild]

ma sha Allah..awesome work done by you sir..and thank you for removing the peeli plates...

[Xulfiqar]

@HAshims and @ubaidz: Why the colour change? For a simple reason. In my head, the MR2 that I had always hoped to own was red. And now, that is how it is.
@Xulfiqar: The car certainly has some distinctive quirks and styling cues (believe me, I have them memorized for the past 25 odd years). The issue of it being designed by Lotus, though, seems to be a bit of an automotive urban legend...an idea, which this passage from Wikipedia will substantiate. As far as my knowledge on the subject is concerned, Lotus cars (and engineers) certainly WERE an influence on the AW11, but Lotus was NOT the design house behind it...

The small and light MR2 was something no one had expected from Toyota, known for their economical and practical family cars. The two-seat MR2 was definitely not practical as a family car, nor was it intended to be, having been designed instead with style and sport as priorities. The moniker 'Mid-engined Runabout, 2 Seater' was more than a marketing tool - it was the fundamental design philosophy. The folded angular lines evoked origami paper sculpture. Other cars with a similar design concept including the Lancia Beta Montecarlo, Fiat X 1/9 and the exotic Lancia Stratos were all produced in the 70s and early 80s. The most important features of the MR2 were its light body (as low as 2,095 lb (950 kg) in Japan and 2,350 lb (1066 kg) in the US), superior handling and lightly powered, small-displacement engine. The car is often referred to as the AW11, referring to the chassis code of the most common 1.6-litre, A-engined versions.
Some rumors have persisted that the MR2 was designed by Lotus. This is a reference to the Lotus M90 (a.k.a. the X100) project, but this was scrapped after a single prototype was built. This used the same engine and gearbox as the MR2. At the time, Toyota, along with the Chapman family was a major share holder in Lotus, but General Motors later acquired majority control. However, the MR2's suspension and handling were designed by Toyota with the help of Lotus engineer Roger Becker.[SUP][4][/SUP] Toyota's cooperation with Lotus during the prototype phase can be seen in the AW11, and it owes much to Lotus's legendary sports cars of the 1960s and 1970s.

well legend is that - Lotus were broke poor when this design was coined and they sold it out to Toyota. It was not even complete at that stage. Toyota then used their "simple approach" on it and made it easy. Its more like the Story of the mazda 1500 sedan but except the being broke poor bit.

All in all - I love the drive of this car, its like a 4 wheel motorcycle.

[Xulfiqar]

There was one MR2 in Karachi which has a 3SGTE - it was quite a task to get it done as the charge cooler is a piece of work. There is another with a 3SGE but that car owner was a very strange fellow who was some appraiser in Customs, he had all parts from an SW20 including the H-EPS, dashboard, suspension etc etc etc. But was a very bad businessman hence no-one would agree to work for or with him.

[fouadhafeez]

well legend is that - Lotus were broke poor when this design was coined and they sold it out to Toyota. It was not even complete at that stage. Toyota then used their "simple approach" on it and made it easy. Its more like the Story of the mazda 1500 sedan but except the being broke poor bit.

All in all - I love the drive of this car, its like a 4 wheel motorcycle.

I absolutely agree with the last part. To be quite honest, the only time I've had more fun on four wheels, has been on a go-kart.

More than sheer speed, or acceleration...it's how the car behaves on the road, and keeps you so involved with the driving process. Every time, you actually delay shifting until the engine approaches the redline, just to hear this little beastling spit and snarl and growl. And each time you do shift; it's like being on a roller-coaster that's taking you back up to one of those highs, again.

When I got hold of the car, someone told me on one of the MR2 owner forums that I'd feel five years younger every time I sat in the car and took it out for a spin. He was fibbing. I feel fifteen years younger!

[fouadhafeez]

There was one MR2 in Karachi which has a 3SGTE - it was quite a task to get it done as the charge cooler is a piece of work. There is another with a 3SGE but that car owner was a very strange fellow who was some appraiser in Customs, he had all parts from an SW20 including the H-EPS, dashboard, suspension etc etc etc. But was a very bad businessman hence no-one would agree to work for or with him.

I've certainly heard of these MR2s, but have no such intentions of my own. One of the most endearing qualities of the 4A-GZE is how it lends itself to being tuned - or turbocharged - so easily, on stock internals. Now in some other cars, I've been 'guilty' of some rather strange modifications, in a quest to enhance performance and/or reliability. Not so, with this car. To the point that I've managed to track down another complete 4A-GZE (with an LSD gearbox, no less), which is going to go into storage just to keep it stock and "geni-unn" in the future, too.

If it isn't broken...why attempt to fix it? And secondly, why tinker around with something that already approaches automotive perfection?

[ke70_2tone]

What the car originally looked like...

This is one of the most popular colours for the AW11 (which the Supercharged version of the MR2 is designated as). You'll notice the exceptionally good condition of the car, way back then, as well!

at last you posted the pics of before and after .. whenever i see these pics reminds me of early nineties my dad driving and i use to come out of the titop .. still have the original cassette of gloria estefan rhythm is gonna get you ... good old times.

you truly are the right owner who restored at its best

[fouadhafeez]

at last you posted the pics of before and after .. whenever i see these pics reminds me of early nineties my dad driving and i use to come out of the titop .. still have the original cassette of gloria estefan rhythm is gonna get you ... good old times.

you truly are the right owner who restored at its best

I can assure you that this car is very much a joint love affair with my entire family. Out of all the cars I own, this is the ONLY car that my wife will not only sit in, she'll actually be EAGER to sit in. My son and I drive in it EVERY day...with the top down, but NO music on. The growl-snarl-whine of the supercharger is music enough!

I always make it a point to thank previous owners of my cars for the love and care that they've lavished on the rides that eventually make their way to my home. Same applies to you, brother. Thank you. What a beautiful car!

[ke70_2tone]

I can assure you that this car is very much a joint love affair with my entire family. Out of all the cars I own, this is the ONLY car that my wife will not only sit in, she'll actually be EAGER to sit in. My son and I drive in it EVERY day...with the top down, but NO music on. The growl-snarl-whine of the supercharger is music enough!

I always make it a point to thank previous owners of my cars for the love and care that they've lavished on the rides that eventually make their way to my home. Same applies to you, brother. Thank you. What a beautiful car!

good to hear that .. i bet you have fun when the supercharger kicks in

your welcome..but whenever i come to rawalpindi let me drive it once :) i wanted to drive a titop and bought the mr2 red sunroof(no titop my bad) in 2008 so i sold to my friend which previously xulifqar told you about the 3sgte.

[fouadhafeez]

Some more "after" pictures...because all of us LOVE "eye candy" in the mornings.

[fouadhafeez]

good to hear that .. i bet you have fun when the supercharger kicks in

your welcome.. but whenever i come rawalpindi let me drive this once i wanted to drive a titop and bought the mr2 red sunroof(no titop my bad) in 2008 so i sold to my friend which previously xulifqar told you about the 3sgte.

You'll always be welcomed, in my home - and my "stable".

The kick that you get out of a 25 year old car tearing past much newer, and much more powerful cars, is sublime. The car's handling is surreal...almost intuitive. And yes, once the SC actuates, this sedate, cute little car turns into an absolute demon.

As a matter of fact, a lot of people have carried out 3S-GTE swaps in their MR2s, abroad. In my opinion, though, this is overkill. The "Midship Runabout 2 Seater" wasn't really designed to be a drag car / road warrior to challenge EVOs and Supras and GTRs (although it is perfectly capable of giving them a decent run for their money). It was meant to be something that is fast (when 'juiced'), fuel efficient, fun to drive, and gorgeous to ogle. So, while I concede that every owner has a right to do whatever he pleases to his car, swapping the 4A-GZE for something more powerful, or torquey...is NOT something that I'd ever consider doing. All the more reason to lay my grubby paws on another 4A-GZE...just in case.

[ke70_2tone]

You'll always be welcomed, in my home - and my "stable".

The kick that you get out of a 25 year old car tearing past much newer, and much more powerful cars, is sublime. The car's handling is surreal...almost intuitive. And yes, once the SC actuates, this sedate, cute little car turns into an absolute demon.

As a matter of fact, a lot of people have carried out 3S-GTE swaps in their MR2s, abroad. In my opinion, though, this is overkill. The "Midship Runabout 2 Seater" wasn't really designed to be a drag car / road warrior to challenge EVOs and Supras and GTRs (although it is perfectly capable of giving them a decent run for their money). It was meant to be something that is fast (when 'juiced'), fuel efficient, fun to drive, and gorgeous to ogle. So, while I concede that every owner has a right to do whatever he pleases to his car, swapping the 4A-GZE for something more powerful, or torquey...is NOT something that I'd ever consider doing. All the more reason to lay my grubby paws on another 4A-GZE...just in case.

thanks

actually when i bought it it was 4age 20v blacktop ..it was third day on road when suddenly check light comes on and i heard spun bearing at the speed of 60 ... i was never a fan of 3sgte i lways wanted to put 4agze but my dad hated the mr2 so i sold it and the friend of mine did 3sgte although the car was super fast from launch and yes it used to keep up with 2jz and 4g63 engine quite well

[salahuddin10]

Nice ride man, Mashallah. I too was sort of owned this car. My cousin used to drive it and all I did was to admire it. Later I got an MR-2 and built it myself, did 3sgte swap. Loved it an awesome machine and engineering done by Lotus and Toyota. Anyways here is another picture of your ride when we used to own it in Sahiwal.

By the it was on Nitrous when this picture was taken you can say the first ever Pakistani car to have a Nitrous setup.

[salahuddin10]

And here is mine something I over killed but still was worth every horsepower and was super stable to hold any amount of HP thrown at the chassis. I later had to sell it to someone who ruined it completly.

https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/d-i-y-projects/155141-mr2-mk1-mk1-5-project

The whole of the suspension was updated by the after market one. And it drove like a new car.

[born_2b_wild]

pls share a video of popup lights in action..

[fouadhafeez]

Nice ride man, Mashallah. I too was sort of owned this car. My cousin used to drive it and all I did was to admire it. Later I got an MR-2 and built it myself, did 3sgte swap. Loved it an awesome machine and engineering done by Lotus and Toyota. Anyways here is another picture of your ride when we used to own it in Sahiwal.

By the it was on Nitrous when this picture was taken you can say the first ever Pakistani car to have a Nitrous setup.

What a great picture! I love how this car has history, and how its owners (and those who've been associated with it) have such fond memories of it. Thanks for the share.

I read through your entire thread. Absolutely fabulous work on your Mister Two. Kudos for not JUST bringing the car back to life...but for making it such an awesome, intimidating ride. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant work.

On the other hand, like I said earlier, I plan on keeping this MR2 as stock as possible...and it's a testament to the previous owners that indeed, it's been KEPT in pretty much pristine condition that way. Which, in turn, permits me to keep the car free from any aftermarket / non-stock mods. DO thank your cousin from my side for having kept this baby so well, during the time he was its "Daddy".

Cheers.

[mr_drifter]

Nice car

[farazarif]

She's beautiful,
Another brilliant aquisition MashaAllah.

[levin]

almost bought MR2 in Florida in 92, test drive was fun. but I use to have loads of things to carry ard.

[jz]

this project is serious commitment to cars,lovely indeed,every aspec of the car had been looked into while doinng the project,hats off bro (Y)

[hassanazeem]

How did i not see this thread Fouad Bhai... Subscribed!! lemme get the pop corn and read through the posts please... u guys please carry on...