Awesome so that makes my car a 1989 as it has the colour coded folding mirrors, led wing, white/silver paint instead of the white/grey etc. The build date on mine says 9/1988 from memory.
 
Better change my sig from 88 then :)
 
- 1989 updates came in in late 1988, so if you want an '1989' spec car, you can still get one.
- all 1989's came with the folding, update, colourcoded mirrors, chrome keyhole surrounds, the LED wing, and (if it was targa) the targa's were mirrored.

Tin top SC's are one of the most desirable combo's outside of the super editions etc. If you check the build plate on the front side of your frunk it should be AW11-WCMQR.
As for which factory grade it is, you can usually figure it out by the trim levels and accessories that come with it, 90% of the time SC's are usually a "G-Limited". RdS has a good write up about this on the mr2oc forums.
If there's anything curious about your car we'd definitely like to hear about it. JDM SC's came in both black and blue interiors but if yours has cruise control or maybe a series 1 console and doors then do tell.

I have a copy of the 1988 JDM brochure for the AW11 ( not the so-called 1989 model which I own, on which production commenced in late 1988) and it shows five models were available in Japan, the "S", the "G", the "G Supercharger", the "G-Limited" and the "G-Limited Supercharger". Some facts I have been able to translate from the brochure which has as its principal slogan "The Powered Midship":

• There were six models of stereo available for the car, including a top-end CD player. The stereo units were all single DIN (possibly JIN if they were just for the JDM), but each installation hd two single components, including radios, cassette, players and graphic equalisers. My 1989 had an OEM double DIN cassette unit which I have replaced (but kept) with a Toyota six stacker that has a rear view camera and MP3 capability.
• The "S" and "G" models had steel wheels, the "G-Limited" had the original square mags and was available in two-tone paint, and the "G-Limited Supercharger" had the teardrop alloys.
• There was an OEM 28Mhz CB radio offered to fit the dash, plus a ski-rack. The ski-rack looks so ugly in the brochure but must have been practical.
• The brochure has a section called "Mechanism For Midship Power" which describes the supercharged engine as the "LASRE (then a strange symbol which I can't reproduce here)4A twin Cam 16 Valve Super Charger twin cam of 1587cc displacement and with electronic fuel injection". The "S" model was powered by the LASRE 3A-II OHC 4 Cylinder of 1452cc displacement.
• Aerodynamics of all models were Cd=0.34, Clf=0.06 and Clr=0.01 (OK, Cd I understand, the other two??)
• The same section says that the suspension system is called PEGASUS - Precision Engineered Geometrically Advanced Suspension.
• The cruise control stalk comes off the left hand side of the steering cluster, exactly opposite the indicator wand. Mine has this fitted and I can atest to how well it works with the automatic.
• None of the four interior configurations shown in the brochure has leather seats, and the brochure does not have leather as an option.
• The small metal badge on the consoles in all the pictures say "Toyota MR2" with no mention of "Supercharger". My 1989 auto has the same badge and no mention of "supercharger".

I stress that this info was for JDM cars so others for export could be different, but if anyone is into AW11 Trivial Pursuit I hope that this helps.
 
On the other things that people have discussed I agree with trying to keep original cars "original". You can make mods like I have done which help with handling and braking, but don't do anything that cannot be reversed, buy spares when you can even if you don't need them right at that moment, and don't throw anything out.
 
The question of "classic or not" will always come up and I believe that these cars will become classics, if they are not headed that way already. However, it should never be about how much they are worth, because you will always find bandits who try to make as much as they can. What it should be about is preserving the excellent engineering of these cars and making sure that we do still have some originals around in 20 years time.
 
Just my humble opinion.

tralfaz

I have a copy of the 1988 JDM brochure for the AW11 ( not the so-called 1989 model which I own, on which production commenced in late 1988) and it shows five models were available in Japan, the "S", the "G", the "G Supercharger", the "G-Limited" and the "G-Limited Supercharger". Some facts I have been able to translate from the brochure which has as its principal slogan "The Powered Midship":

• There were six models of stereo available for the car, including a top-end CD player. The stereo units were all single DIN (possibly JIN if they were just for the JDM), but each installation hd two single components, including radios, cassette, players and graphic equalisers. My 1989 had an OEM double DIN cassette unit which I have replaced (but kept) with a Toyota six stacker that has a rear view camera and MP3 capability.
• The "S" and "G" models had steel wheels, the "G-Limited" had the original square mags and was available in two-tone paint, and the "G-Limited Supercharger" had the teardrop alloys.
• There was an OEM 28Mhz CB radio offered to fit the dash, plus a ski-rack. The ski-rack looks so ugly in the brochure but must have been practical.
• The brochure has a section called "Mechanism For Midship Power" which describes the supercharged engine as the "LASRE (then a strange symbol which I can't reproduce here)4A twin Cam 16 Valve Super Charger twin cam of 1587cc displacement and with electronic fuel injection". The "S" model was powered by the LASRE 3A-II OHC 4 Cylinder of 1452cc displacement.
• Aerodynamics of all models were Cd=0.34, Clf=0.06 and Clr=0.01 (OK, Cd I understand, the other two??)
• The same section says that the suspension system is called PEGASUS - Precision Engineered Geometrically Advanced Suspension.
• The cruise control stalk comes off the left hand side of the steering cluster, exactly opposite the indicator wand. Mine has this fitted and I can atest to how well it works with the automatic.
• None of the four interior configurations shown in the brochure has leather seats, and the brochure does not have leather as an option.
• The small metal badge on the consoles in all the pictures say "Toyota MR2" with no mention of "Supercharger". My 1989 auto has the same badge and no mention of "supercharger".

I stress that this info was for JDM cars so others for export could be different, but if anyone is into AW11 Trivial Pursuit I hope that this helps.

On the other things that people have discussed I agree with trying to keep original cars "original". You can make mods like I have done which help with handling and braking, but don't do anything that cannot be reversed, buy spares when you can even if you don't need them right at that moment, and don't throw anything out.

The question of "classic or not" will always come up and I believe that these cars will become classics, if they are not headed that way already. However, it should never be about how much they are worth, because you will always find bandits who try to make as much as they can. What it should be about is preserving the excellent engineering of these cars and making sure that we do still have some originals around in 20 years time.

Just my humble opinion.

 
 
few more interesting things to note:
- The 1989 Brochure shows the G-Limited (not supercharger) with the teardrop alloys too. Those wheels were at least an option since 1986 on the G-Limited, as the 4AGZE is really the only thing that separates the G-Limited from the G-Limited, Supercharger in spec/equipment.
The G was naturally the equivalent in spec to the G, Supercharger - again the difference was the supercharger setup only!
- The Teardrops are right-side only - there are no lefts. (Lazy bloody Toyota!)
- I've never seen a Japanese AW11 with leather. Closest is the Super-Edition 1, which has the half-leather seats.
- That cruise control stalk is RHD and Japanese-specific. JDM cars had 'auto-drive' on the stalk..!
My Aussie-delivered car has the cruise-control. On a side note and AFAIK; cruise, air, and sunroof were the only options outside of special paints (two tone, the triple grey, metallics).
 
I have both the surf-board and ski Racks, which due to the targa-tops are hardtop/sunroof only.
From what I understand, Toyota eventually made a targa-specific version of the racks, which sat at the top of the A-Pillars. It had different feet on the front bar.
 
 
Another interesting thing to note, and this isn't just Toyota: The photos in the brochures are almost entirely cut-together - manufactured. Its epic.
In the days before photoshop, they manage to make the pictures look real!
 
 
 
Link to MR2OC thread i made with a heap of interesting info:
http://mr2oc.com/showthre...6&page=1&pp=20
:)
 
 

Knightrous

worldwalker I guess I could be thanked for not dropping the 3VZ in it then? Just as well I didn't have the space at my old place :P

Indeed, 1MZ is the bare minimum for any V6 conversion... Putting a boat anchor (3VZ) in there would just be sad :)

Boat anchor huh ... :P In my defense, I was planning to boost the 3VZ