Okay, with some of the Toyota limited editions, there is a lot of info and some rumour, so the following is as best as I could research.

Note - if you suffer from Arachnophobia, then read no further ....


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First of all - TRD Japan was basically a divsion of Toyota TechnoCraft (TTC). Only a little English on the TTC site :(

TTC site

In 1996, TTC commissioned 88 (or 91 depnding on source) mk2 SW20 Spiders - these were basically cars that came off the Prodction line (assuming the T-bars with extra strengthening in the chassis) and were modified manually into SW20 Spiders. So, they were in fact factory Spiders.

Reportedly, approx 20 of the 88 were manuals and the rest were auto boxes. One or two were rumoured to be factory turbos (gen3 3S-GTE) and the rest were NA (Gen3 3S-GE). But it seems some were built right up to July 1996 and so, there are some very rare Beams SW20 Spiders out there :)

Of the original 88, 1 is in Ireland (me :) ) and afaik 4 in UK, 1 in the Netherlands, 1 in France and 2 in Germany. The rest reside mostly in Japan (there was an owners club there called the Open Car Army! Open Carm Army site (Japanese) )and hong Kong with a few in the US.

Most of the Spiders came in Lucerne Silver with a blue side moulding (a few came in red, mica orange, white and black that I have seen), standard rev4 wheels and no wing. Aside from expected chassis strengthening, the body panels were mostly standard with the engine lid being custom made for the Spiders.


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The hood was vinyl and had to be manually removed - it could them be folded and fitted in the boot.


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Interior din't receive any special treatment with just blue cloth seats/doorcards.

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Some original pics from mags and the factory production


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And for those that can read Japanese ...


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Original Pricing in Japan

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This next one seems to rate the Spider at 200ps - that would be the Beams motor ... I heard two different stories - one was that they were all made in 1996. The other was that most were made in 1996 but they were made up til 99, meaning there could be a few Beams versions out there. Actually, as I write this article, I've found more sites that say they were built from Feb 1996 til July 99.

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The Spiders being built at the Toyota Technocraft factory

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One of the Japanese guys laughing, thinking to himself "They should have spent a bit more money and made a proper roof" !

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And a few pics of SW20 Spiders which people have modified.

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Clean Toms kitted 2 :)

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3 Spiders together - might give you Aracnaphobia

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The Mica Orange Spider appears to have the Beams lump - so, maybe that proves they were made past 1996

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I normally don't like this kit but I think it might nearly pull it off - wouldn't get that myself though !

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TRD widebody Spider ... photoshop ?????

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Good write up Rob.

Were the spiders made from new cars or were they offered as a conversion, like the way TRD took in cars that people already owned to do the widebody conversion. I'm sure they were all new cars but the only reason i ask is that in the picture there where the workers are working on the car, the rear lights have the black trim faded and it has part blue/ part black side mouldings any ides??!

p.s. good call on spraying the side strips silver on your car, looks much better when you see it compared to a car that still has the blue strips

I orginally thought they were all new/made in 1996. But then after seeing the Beams engined one and as you say, faded trim etc.

I'd guess that most were made in 1996 and then it was offered as a conversion option up til July 1999.

I can't find anything definitive on it - prob has to go down as myth !

Spidey wrote:
I orginally thought they were all new/made in 1996. But then after seeing the Beams engined one and as you say, faded trim etc.

I'd guess that most were made in 1996 and then it was offered as a conversion option up til July 1999.

I can't find anything definitive on it - prob has to go down as myth !

Where are the MythBusters when you need them!

Good write up Spidey, Karma click 4 you!!

Saw this Spider pic on Speedhunters:

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Good link here of Spider pics: picasaweb.google.com/wdstrongjr/MRSpider?feat=directlink

Excellent write up Spidey, loads of questions answered there!

Very interesting and nice to see you have such a rare beasty

Not liking the blue strips at all, much better colour coded and with regard to the Veilside kit, shouldn't be on any car bigger than 1:24 scale

The TRD kitted one looks genuine enough, just a shitty quality pic IMO.

Fair play and KC+1 at ya!

Hey Spidey, FlashHarry gave me this animated gif for you. So here it is:

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:)

Quality write up Spidey! Some great info in there!

Ta, Quandry

Cheers, Dan

Great article Spidey. You've been KC'ed.....

Made for an interesting read!
Cheers Spidey, KC coming your way.

Saw this and thought of this thread spidey
Connect 4

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Infamous wrote:
Saw this and thought of this thread spidey
Connect 4

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Yeah, Tom at NVI cars imported and owns them. Bit of a fanatic !!!

I came across this link tonight.
I think most of it is already on here but I thought I'd share it for future reference anyways
www.mrtwee.nl/MyMR2.htm

Nice link, that's a great resource. KC!

He is the same guy that has the huge collection of MR2 models

www.mrtwee.nl/MR2Models.htm

!!!

An MR2.ie anniversary watch would go well in his collection

Nice article Spidey.

One question: Are You sure that There are a few in the US?
Because it's difficult (or impossible) to import a RHD car in the US, or am I wrong?
I informed on a US forum about people who own a MR Spider in the US, thay told me there aren't Spiders in the US.
Just like to know where the Spiders are now and how many there are left.

I also know that there are 2 Spiders in Switserland. (one in a Toyota museum)
1 in New Zealand, 1 in Malaysia, 1 in Hong Kong, 1 in Australia.
And still, 1 in the Netherlands, 1 in France, 2 in Germany (for sale)


Greetings from www.mrspider.nl

Hi

I got some of it from your site - great resource for the SW20 Spider

And a big welcome to MR2.ie

I know that some states are easier to import than others - Florida being one of them. A guy in Canada has recently imported a Spider. This is also another route which does mae it easier to get into the US.

The reason I said there was "a few" in the US was due to heresay on the US forums. I will try get some firmer numbers on MR Spiders in the US and post up.

Have you any plans for any modifications for yours ? or just enjoying driving it.

If you ever come over to Ireland, post up and we can arrange a meet.

Also interesting: an email from a Japanese guy who was a MR2 owner and fan.
He answered a few questions, for me a few years ago, after informing at TCC.


"So,the answer of the your question,

MR spider have three models

first(MR2 third model)feb/1996~jun/1996 output 74
second(MR2 forth model)jun/1996~dec/1998 output 7
third(MR2 last model)dec/1998~aug/1999 output 8

Prototype 3 totalproducts 92
You're right!!

and then
the first picture is records of first(new car) registration date.

8 is japanese era , named HEISEI.
This year is HEISEI 19.

HEISEI 8 year is 1996.
that means...
The first registration of this car is April 25, 1996.
It's a first model.

second picture is the date of the periodic inspection.

One month check is HEISEI 8,,,June 22 , 1996.
Six month check is HEISEI 9,,,march 19 , 1997.

As above.
Is there the information that you want to know elsewhere?

bye for now

yukihisa"

@ Spidey: I have no more plans for modifications. I try to keep it like he is now.

I think its too far for driving but if I come to Ireland I will let You know.

Peerke wrote:
Also interesting: an email from a Japanese guy who was a MR2 owner and fan.
He answered a few questions, for me a few years ago, after informing at TCC.


"So,the answer of the your question,

MR spider have three models

first(MR2 third model)feb/1996~jun/1996 output 74
second(MR2 forth model)jun/1996~dec/1998 output 7
third(MR2 last model)dec/1998~aug/1999 output 8

Prototype 3 totalproducts 92
You're right!!

and then
the first picture is records of first(new car) registration date.

8 is japanese era , named HEISEI.
This year is HEISEI 19.

HEISEI 8 year is 1996.
that means...
The first registration of this car is April 25, 1996.
It's a first model.

second picture is the date of the periodic inspection.

One month check is HEISEI 8,,,June 22 , 1996.
Six month check is HEISEI 9,,,march 19 , 1997.

As above.
Is there the information that you want to know elsewhere?

bye for now

yukihisa"

Great information there !! - in all the years, i never heard any breakdown on the production dates. Anything I heard was rumour and "legend"!

There is a spider currently up for auction in Japan.
It has some crazy body parts added on.
www.japaneseusedcars.com/auction/allday/...ctionNo-FUN1596.html

That softtop is stupid, pure and simple. When it's hidden like a good boy, the SW20 Spider has lines and curves in all of the right places. I wouldn't mind owning one for some eye candy.

Radical Lanzar wrote:
That softtop is stupid, pure and simple. When it's hidden like a good boy, the SW20 Spider has lines and curves in all of the right places. I wouldn't mind owning one for some eye candy.


I take it stupid is good

If you want your car to wear a hat, be my guest.

Radical Lanzar wrote:
If you want your car to wear a hat, be my guest.

Mine has a 'hard' hat (as I presume yours does too). The soft top is a very similar shape to the hard.

Strange comments

Radical Lanzar wrote:
That softtop is stupid, pure and simple.

I own one and its not my favourite part of the car. However, not quite sure i'd call it stupid.

If you can come up with something, please do post up your design

Well, as it just so happens, I am a web developer and I understand the logistics of modding body parts from video games. Aka with the proper resources I could make that a reality.

I'm thinking a more modern design, pays homage to the MR2, but even more taught lines. We're going to need a hard top that is retractable into the back.

Anyone got some extra money?

And Spidey, I do love the SW20 Spider. I love it even more when I found out it was NOT infact a modded MR-S.

[Edit] That raincoat the MRS wears is still stupid.