The MR2 was derived from a design project initiated in 1976 for a machine that offers an enjoyable ride with great fuel economy. And despite not wanting to produce a sports car, Toyota did exactly that. Initially coined as the 1981 prototype SA-X and designed by Seiichi Yamauchi, it debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show as the SV-3 concept car.

Over the next couple of years, the SV-3 concept evolved and finally, it was launched in 1983 as the Toyota MR2 (sometimes called the ‘Mister 2’). The MR2 is equipped with a 1.5-litre 3A inline-four engine with the handling and suspension capacity of a fully-blown sports car. And the engineering assistance provided to Toyo-ta, by Lotus Engineering and Roger Becker in particular, can be felt in the handling as well as suspension of this novel Japanese car.

American journalist David E. Davis once wrote that “God help the Italians if the Japanese ever decide to build supercars.” He was proved right when the MR2 won the Japanese ‘Car of the Year’ award at the 1984 Tokyo Motor Show.

This particular model is owned by Dinesh Jayawardana who is one of the country’s foremost racing car drivers. The MR2 was bought in 2016 and with the able as-sistance of the team at McLarens, he managed to bring it up to spec in a matter of six months with only mechanical work left to be done.

In fact, the engine block itself was remanufactured and brought to the country – and the machine has been running like a dream ever since.

While this white beauty has not been tested to its limit in terms of speed, it has raced in and won rallies associated with the Classic Car Club of Ceylon. So certain-ly, Davis’ words ring true!