Someone actually drives the only 1995 Toyota MR2 GT1 road car ever built
Published on Oct 24, 2023 at 11:59 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Oct 24, 2023 at 1:15 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
How can you tell if somebody is a true gearhead?
Easy, look for that one person who uses a rare, one-off racetrack-friendly car as a daily.
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That’s what this guy is doing with the car you see here.
Somebody is actually using a 1995 Toyota MR2 GT1 as a daily driver.
Friendly reminder, there’s only one of these in the world.
It looks a bit extreme, and that’s because it is.
Under the hood beats a 4.0-liter heart (borrowed from a Lexus), delivering 590 horsepower.
It does 0 to 60 mph (0-97 km/h) in just over three seconds.
Partly because of the power, but also because the car is so light.
It only weighs a hair over 1,000 kg – or 2,200 lbs.
Even though it’s based on the road-going Toyota MR2, which is basically just a joyride convertible, this car was designed for the Japanese Grand Touring championship.
Back in the 1990s, constructors had to build at least one homologation (ie, road-going) car in order to be able to compete with the racetrack-only equivalent.
And that’s why the car you see here exists.
Dubbed Sard M8, it’s a one-off that’s been re-engineered by Toyota’s tuning branch, which is known as Sigma Advanced Research Development.
Or SARD, for short.
Despite the carbon fiber body, low stance, and the big wing at the back – this car is perfectly road legal.
And the price? No one knows, for two reasons.
Firstly, because there’s only one in existence – this one – and secondly, because it’s not for sale.
Considering how crazy the pre-owned market has gotten in recent years, if the owner were to sell it, it’d probably go for six figures – at least.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
