Australian-Delived AW11 information.

I love these cars.
The first Aussie Adubs are now becoming classics, and there's just no Australian-Specific information out there. Even in Australia, It seems as though a genuine half of the AW11's I see are grey imports. The Aus AW11's may be pretty damn dull in comparison to the variety of Jap models we could import, but ehh.. the fact they've been cruising around Australia's streets for 25 years, makes them cool to me!
I have tons of MR2-related literature I've gathered over the years, and it just sits here; So I'm going to start. Everything i know related to the Australian AW11's.
Please, any info here that seems wrong, lets clear it up. :)

Introduced in November 1987 (an exact date would be nice..)
The first cars have a build date of August/September 1987

All based on the MK1B, 1986 Update, AW11 NA.

The Australian MR2 was fully imported, and produced in Japan.

Australian MR2's have the Model Code:
AW11R-WCMQFQ
AW11: With 4A-GE Engine
R: Right-hand Drive
W: MR2
C: 2-door Coupe
Q: Australia
F: EFI and DOHC
Q: Base
M: 5-speed Manual

Vehicle grade is listed as 'GT'

Prices, from period magazines:
1987 12 - $31,400
1988 01 - $31,400
1988 03 - $31,400
1988 03 - $32,185
1988 11 - $33,250
1989 01 - $33,250
1989 11 - $33,250

To give an idea of Price nowadays, in 1988:
Toyota Corolla CS Hatch - $13,885
Toyota Corolla Twincam hatch - $18,595
Toyota Supra Sports - $56,580
Holden Commodore SL Sedan (base) - $17,741
Holden Calais Turbo - $31,774
Porsche 911 Carrera coupe - $146,124

AW11 sales numbers:
1987 - 146
1988 - 399
1989 - 265
1990 - 120
total - 930 cars.

to put that into perspective:
- The USA and Canada received 96,666 AW11's
- Japan kept 40,982
- 163,845 AW11's were produced in Total

1 in 176 AW11's produced came to Australia - a miniscule 0.57%!

They are the rarest of the MR2's imported to Australia, and had the shortest sales run.

known/seen exterior colours:
- Red
- Black
- white
- Burgundy (m)
- Dark Blue (m)
- gunmetal Grey (m)
- White/Silver (tt)
- Shadowtone Grey (tt)

Interior colours:
- Black
- Blue

Options:
- Sunroof
- Air conditioning (dealer fit)
- Two tone and metallic paint options
- Cruise Control. maybe. Its not listed as an option in the brochures I have, but its not listed as a standard feature either. I've just seen too many without it, and two magazines reviews mention in 1988 mention it as an option (at $455, and then at $650). As far as i can guess, it may well have been standard on the first lot of cars, then changed to an option.

Aus delivered AW11's are similar in spec to the Japanese G-Limited cars.
They have the full aero (wing, side skirts, roof spoiler), electric windows, trimmed wheel, adjustable seats, alloy wheels, etc.
They have parts that were options in other markets - the colour-coded mudflaps and the machined face teardrop wheels.

Interesting points:
- Australian delivered AW11's start around chassis number 127,000
- Black mirrors and door handles, all years. we never got the 1989-update mirror style.
- Trimmed wheel, shifter, and handbrake. The Trimmed handbrake is usually kept for leather trim cars only (so no Japanese cars), so is a somewhat odd inclusion.
- MK1A taillights and garnish, not UK/Euro spec version. This was to clear standard size 6 letter Australian plates, which foul update lights by mm.
- Original fitment was 185/60 R14 Bridgestone Potenza RE88's.
- Phillips AM/FM Radio cassette with separate (half-din) nine band graphic equalizer (08690 - 00805). Radio (08600-00814). Equalizer (08692-00801). (If anyone is trying to source one, this can also be found in second gen V6 Camry's)
- Largeport, red&black lettering, 7-rib block, TVIS, 4AGE. 88kw. all years
- C52 5speed Manual only.
- front and rear swaybars. (US market dropped the rear bar on later years)
- Sunroof storage setup is unique, as it mounts behind the passenger seat - not in the frunk. It has a shade and bag, and straps mounted on the firewall similar to the setup that mounts the T-Top shades.
- Unlike other markets, the jack doesn't mount to the inner guard. it sits in the grey tool bag loose in the wheel well.
- Spare wheel is a full size alloy, and has no cover. Most markets received a space saver and cover.
- The Teardrop alloys are the (US/Japan) machined face style, not the UK/Euro painted version. Although a directional design, there are only rights.
- The steering wheel is marked 'TOYOTA' in the centre, like UK/Euro cars (Not 'MR2' as on Japanese/US versions). The trimming goes the full length of the spokes, unlike all but the Japanese cars.
- The Cruise-Control stalk sits on the left of the coloumn - mirror opposite to the indicator. This is RHD and UK/Euro/RHD-specific. LHD market cars are on the wrong side, and Japanese cars marked 'auto-drive'.
- Rear colour-coded mudflaps are standard.
- Like the UK/Euro cars, there is a plastic strip on the edge of the bootlid, just above the lights.
- Electric aerial on the rear right quarter panel.
- Orange/clear front indicators with the parker lights, like UK/Euro cars.
- The decal kit is the same as fitted to AW11's in every market, with the exception of the US which had marker lights on the front and rear (it was otherwise the same). In total their are 14 decals, 6 pieces that are combined with the bump strip, and one badge.
Interestingly, this is the easiest way to pick a repainted AW11, as people often leave out the eagle on the rear bumper (having one full pinstripe the length of the bumper). The Pinstripe decal is also one strip with 3 lines in it, not 3 pinstripes together.
Similarly the side skirts are another telltale, as they are blacked out in the guard area and underside, where the stones would be hitting. Most people (including me!) paint them the body colour, then slap em on! - no blackouts. :)

Magazines:
Car Australia - Nov 87. MR2 preview/review.
Car Australia - Jan 88. MR2 review
Car Australia - Feb 88. Mr2/exa/vortex/crx comparison
Car Australia - Nov 88. MR2/X19 comparison.
Wheels - Nov 87. Mr2 review
Wheels - Mar 88. Exa/Crx/Mr2 comparison
Modern Motor - Dec 87. Mr2 review
Modern Motor - Mar 88, MR2/CRX/EXA comparison.
Modern Motor - Jan 89. MR2/X19
Modern Motor - Nov 89. Capri/MX5/CRX/EXA/MR2 comparison
Sports Car World - Spring 89. MR2 review
Royal Auto - Feb 88. MR2 review

Major Technical Specifications:





Australian MR2 Manual and service book.


The Phillips radio booklet.



New Car Information, for Australian Toyota dealers.









Australian AW11 Brochure.
I bought this off ebay for bloody 50 or 60 bucks from memory..! ha. good times.
Understand that these pictures are manufactured out of Toyota stock images, with some mighty impressive cut and paste work.
Any variations to that brochure that anyone knows of? That brochure shows the 1986-88 cloth, and no LED wing - so there may well have been an update for 1989. If you have a copy if this brochure, have a good look for any differences to the one I've shown..


Advertisement from Modern Motor, January 1988


Toyota Australia Twin and Quad Cam engine range.



Toyota Australia model range brochure, 1987



Toyota Australia model range brochure, 1988
SPECIFICATIONS:
Overall Length - 3950mm
Overall Width - 1665mm
Overall Height - 1250mm
Wheelbase - 2320mm
Front Track - 1440mm
Rear Track - 1440mm
Ground Clearance - 140mm
Turning Circle (m) - 9.6
Fuel Tank Capacity (L) - 41
Kerb Weight (kg) - 1115 (not sure how they measured this, but thats high)

ENGINE:
Twin Cam 16 valve fuel injected (4A-GE)
No. of cylinders - 4
Piston displacement (cc) - 1587
Max torque (Nm @ RPM) - 139/4800
Max power (kW @ RPM) - 88/6600
Bore & stroke (mm) - 81 x 77

BRAKES:
Front - ventilated disc with audible alert wear indicators
Rear - Solid disc with audible alert wear indicators

TRANSMISSION:
Close ratio 5 speed manual
1st 3.166; 2nd 1.904; 3rd 1.310; rth 0.969; 5th 0.815. Reverse 3.250

FEATURES:
- 4 wheel independent suspension
- MacPherson strut front suspension with gas-filled shock absorbers.
- Independent dual link rear suspension with gas-filled shock absorbers.
- Alloy wheels
- Power windows
- Power door locks
- Power remote-controlled rear view mirrors
- Automatic headlamp-off system
- Electronic tachometer, voltmeter, coolant temperature and air pressure gauges (fairly sure they mean 'oil' pressure)
- Digital quartz clock
- Retractable headlamps
- Colour-keyed anti-lift front air dam with flexible edge (the 1987 brochure says 'feedable' edge!)
- Colour-keyed front and rear bumpers
- Colour-keyed side skirts
- Colour-keyed rear spoiler
- Colour-keyed wide side protective mouldings
- Rear window sunshade with logo
- Front anti-chip protectors (no idea what this is)
- Tilt adjustable steering wheel
- Sports seats with 7-way drivers side adjustment
- Velour seat trim
- Centre console storage compartment
- Front and rear luggage compartments
- Remote bonnet/rear boot/engine compartment and fuel filler releases
- Electronic AM stereo/FM radio cassette with 9 band graphic equalizer and 4 speakers
- 185/60 R14 series tyres

OPTIONAL
- Dual stage air conditioning
- Removable moonroof


Toyota Olympics ad, Herald Sun, 1988
 



Toyota range, August 1989.
'HITS OF 89'
 

As you can see, the AW11 was the poster-car for Toyota in its day..! :) Take that, A70 Supra! :P
 
 
 
Sunroof glass and shade storage bag, and straps behind passenger seat:




Pictures when standard:




Last picture shows what are just MK1A lights and garnish, and the strip on the edge of the boot.


Teardrops


standard interior.
Toyota centre, full trimmed wheel, trimmed handbrake lever, stock headunit and cruise control stalk. The leather cover on the shifter has come off.


Tapedeck.



Frunk area.
There is an alarm switch next to the kerbside headlight there, thats obviously not original. the rest there is original. the toolbag is down the bottom of the wheel well.

Standard Australian-spec engine bay:





The decal on the intake manifold has come off in the smaller pics there.
Notice the EGR pipework off the intake manifold too; the manifold is blank there in many markets.


Now, if anyone has anything else to add, please let me know!
I'm after any period pictures, photos from dealers, motor shows, press releases, etc.
A price list, and a colour/options/accessories brochure of any sort would be great.
I would LOVE an AW11 Australian press release. Would happily buy it if anyone has one.

Also, if anyone knows anyone, or can pull any stings - get any favours - whatever -  at Toyota Australia..
I'm sure somewhere they've got the original import orders for these cars, that would even list information as basic as the VIN and interior/exterior colour. Id love to get hold of this, even if i have to dig though piles of text and numbers to make sense of it.

Other than that, I will update this thread with any new information I find. I currently have the 1989 Australian Toyota range brochure on the way..! :)

Love your work Ross. I recently gave the Victorian MR2 Club a copy of the new car features booklet and a full workshop manual on cd ifit is any use to you or other AW11 peeps i am sure they could make you a copy.

Love it .......... thanks Rds.
 
AFAIK the only external colours Aussie delivered MR2 into Australia were Red, White & Black.  This policy by Toyota Australia continued to the 1992/93 SW20.

I have (somewhere) a dealer issued reprint of what I think was a Wheels magazine article on the 3 sporty Toyotas of the day, namely MR2, Celica and Supra, in which they attempt to determine which is "best".  Unsurprisingly in the end they concluded each suited a particular type of buyer, although most of us on this site would probably beg to differ.  I'll scrounge around for it and if I manage to find it I'll see about scanning it for you, assuming you don't already have it that is.

Amazing attention to detail, thanks for this! Actually, I'm chasing a space saver tyre like above, will post a request in the parts section. :)

Awesome job mate..

Wow, i cnt beleive i just found this thread!! Bloody awsome!! Ur an inspiration to us adub owners!!

Flighter
The radiator overflow bottle came with an opaque plastic cap (like the reservoir itself) that disintegrated after a while, and the replacement is the much hardier black one you see in the photos.  While I can't can't categorically rule out that the later cars had the black cap, the early ones definitely did not.

 
Do you think that was a bit of a design fault from Toyota originally? I remember almost cooking my engine due to that seemingly insignificant piece of plastic, which at the time was the white opaque variety.