THIS PERFECT SUPERCHARGED TOYOTA MR2 IS FOR SALE AT NO RESERVE

A time-capsule Toyota MR2 AW11 just hit the market – and it’s an absolute gem. It’s a supercharged 1988 model in Dark Blue Pearl, five-speed, with only 20k miles. The car shows clean, stock hardware, fresh maintenance, and the right options – T-tops, pop-ups, and the aero add-ons fans chase. It comes with books, partial service records, and a clean history. It’s being offered on dealer consignment by Bring a Trailer with no reserve, so someone’s getting a serious score. At the time of publishing this article, the bidding war is at $18,750.

A Supercharged Engine Right Behind The Seats

The highlight here has to be the 4A-GZE. Toyota stuffed a supercharged 1.6-liter DOHC four behind the seats and paired it with a stout five-speed. Factory numbers land at 145 hp and 140 lb-ft, which doesn’t sound wild until you feel the low-end punch and hear the whine kick in. Toyota gave the blower an electromagnetic clutch, so it only spins when you ask for it. It’s nerdy, efficient, and very ‘80s – in the best imaginable way. Period testing from Car and Driver put the SC MR2 at roughly 6.5 seconds to 60 mph and a 15.0-second quarter, quick enough to hassle bigger-priced coupes then and now.

This car looks right. Dark Blue Pearl paint (Toyota code 8E3) sets off the teardrop 14-inch alloys unique to the supercharged trim. The Aerodynamic Spoiler Package, color-keyed skirts, and the rear sunshade give it that late-’80s JDM vibe without going overboard. The removable glass roof panels and pop-ups complete the throwback. Inside, you get bolstered black leather buckets, the three-spoke wheel, and the analog gauge stack with a supercharger “BOOST” light – pure arcade. Air-con and an AM/FM cassette keep it period-correct.

The seller hasn’t just let it sit. Since 2012, the car picked up regular fluid changes and smart preventative work. The fuel tank and pump were replaced, the battery and valve cover gaskets are new. The brake system got attention – fresh fluid plus pads and rotors. The power door lock module was just replaced, and the tires are General Altimax RT43s dated 2021 in the correct 185/60R14 size. A recent compression test backs up the health claim.

The Perfect Balance

Why the fuss about the AW11 SC? The first-gen MR2 (1985–1989 in the U.S.) landed like a scalpel when most small sports cars felt blunt. It used a lightweight chassis, razor steering, and a mid-engine layout tuned with input from Lotus engineer Roger Becker. In the U.S., Toyota added the supercharged variant for 1988–1989, pairing the 4A-GZE to a beefy E51 five-speed and stiffer suspension bits. The combo woke up the car without ruining its balance. Toyota also gave the SC model those specific “teardrop” wheels and a few trim touches, so you can spot a real one from across the lot.

Performance still sounds impressive decades later. The 4A-GZE’s Roots-type blower and Denso intercooler bring torque early, so the car jumps off the line and fires out of tight corners. It weighs well under 2,500 pounds in SC trim, so the numbers still feel lively today. Enthusiasts love how the chassis talks – quick turn-in, neutral attitudes, and a forgiving edge that flatters good inputs.

Source: Bring a Trailer

2025-11-10T21:34:53Z