Hi Guys - as my search for a stock & straight MR2 turbo continues I'm beginning to realise that the odds of finding become less with each passing year. I would prefer Gen 2 or later and HT over Targa but many I have inspected have dreadful at times suspicious spray jobs (I would prefer something with dull faded but original paint rather than coverups). Can anyone provide me with the contact details of a good Sydney metro body shop with SW20 experience where I can get 1. An opinion before buying & 2. Resto experience to bring the right car back to "as new condition"? Has anyone gone this route before and what if any pitfalls? One more thing - has anyone heard more about import rules being relaxed soon to again be able to import very late model MR2s? Thanx+++ Guys.

Sadly, there's no indication that import laws will change anytime soon in favour of importing MR2's. I know there's been talks though.

How many have you looked at? Are you very fussy with mileage etc? Quite a few good examples have popped up here. A usual mobile automotive inspection is detailed enough to check for repair history or paint work.

Thanx for your response, its been a long time - first started looking when Steve Roache was importing through World Wide Holdings - I am fussy, but only expect that people would have records as I have kept myself on all my cars - so mileage is OK as long as its documented. I must say there's many odo's that read around 150k on cars that look like they've gone 350K! Keep hoping one will pop up that's not half way across the country. I travel to Japan regularly and have seen some beautiful cars over there in sort of holding yards?? - its like torture!

Fair enough. Been over there myself & seen a few decent ones in the flesh. Where is Aus are you? Nik_Lee just picked up a minter.

Mr2wanted, did you happen to go to Mallala in SA in September?

No Rick - its been a tough year to get away anywhere. Better chance in 2015 to get some leave. What did I miss this time (LOL)?

I met a bloke there from the eastern States (i think) that was looking for a HT in good condition. He is also looking for a good original condition one. I thought it might have been you.

i've fixed every version of them, hundreds of times, and years ago did lots of serious body repairs like complete front and rear 'cuts'. its hard to find one that has not been crashed, many of them seriously. they were so expensive in their day, insurers fixed some pretty badly damaged cars and we got a lot of them to do locally. 
I reckon you will be looking for a while. I'll bet almost every import has an altererd speedo, some dramtically. There are give-aways.
Even a "good" SW20 is not worth professionally painting, but if you plan on keeping it, then its a "project" and $ dont really matter. I still agree with you, find the straightest, cleanest one you can and worry about paint last. Dont forget, mechaincs are always cheaper to fix than body

mr2twanted
Hi Guys - as my search for a stock & straight MR2 turbo continues I'm beginning to realise that the odds of finding become less with each passing year. I would prefer Gen 2 or later and HT over Targa but many I have inspected have dreadful at times suspicious spray jobs (I would prefer something with dull faded but original paint rather than coverups). Can anyone provide me with the contact details of a good Sydney metro body shop with SW20 experience where I can get 1. An opinion before buying & 2. Resto experience to bring the right car back to "as new condition"? Has anyone gone this route before and what if any pitfalls? One more thing - has anyone heard more about import rules being relaxed soon to again be able to import very late model MR2s? Thanx+++ Guys.

mr2twanted - I've got a brother-in-law that has one in very good original condition that will be up for sale in the very near future (like Feb 2015).
Its an original gen 2 1992 GTS hard top Turbo.  Hes on this forum, username: 92 Hard Top, shot him a PM. Hes a link below.
http://www.mr2australia.com/MR2play/Profile/2776/