When purchased: July 2019
From: Private sale
Price: £0
Ext colour: Blue
Int colour: Black
Engine: 2.0L, DOHC 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated
Gearbox: Manual
This 1996 Toyota MR2 was a barn-find, rescued from certain lingering rusting doom under a tarpaulin in a front garden in Wiltshire. It broke my heart to see it gradually decaying under that flapping sheet, and so in July 2019 I made it my mission to see if I could get it going again. This is a 60,000 mile pristine 2-owner car that had sat dormant for 5 years.
Incredibly, thanks to superior Japanese build and component quality, all it took to revive and drive home this 23-year-old car was a new battery, a tyre compressor, and some engine oil. That’s it! The engine starts on the first turn, and an hour later it was sitting in TheCarGuys’ garage having a much needed valet.
The MR2 was then given a full service, and it’s currently having some rust repaired before it will be sold, and hopefully find a home with someone who will use it as it is intended.