1993 Toyota Sera

• Japanese Domestic Market model based upon a concept car.

• Dramatic wing-style pivoting doors.

• Superb driver visibility throughout the cabin.

The Toyota Sera shown in bright silver is a two-door economy sport car sold only in Japan and was conceived as a concept car which was brought to market virtually unchanged from the original concept design.  Toyota brought the concept vehicle to the Tokyo Motor Show in 1988 along with several other designs based upon the small Tercel and Starlet platforms using a 1.5 Liter 4-cylinder 16 valve engine but wowed the show with its butterfly wing doors that pivoted on the car’s A-pillar and window frame.  The door extended well into the roofline and featured curved glass panels that became a part of the roof when the door was closed.  Not only did the doors create a shocking visual when opened, but the large glass windows and clear roof panels, when combined with a curved rear-hinged glass hatchback, seemed to enclose the occupants in a virtual dome.  The airy feel inside the car added to its modern looks offers excellent visibility to the driver and passengers.

The Sera began production in Japan in 1990 and was sold exclusively in Toyota “Corolla” stores, a special type of dealership with limited models of Toyota vehicles.  In contrast, the mid-engine MR2 two-seater Toyota sports car was only available in Japan in Toyota “Vista” stores.  The Sera was much more a practical 2+2 commuter vehicle than its sporty MR2 brethren, but lightweight and an engine capable of 108 horsepower allowed the car to travel at highway speeds with ease.  The Sera never was considered for US import despite very positive reviews from the American motoring press, mostly due to its unique styling a door configuration.  It was so widely admired that designer Gordon Murray claims to have been inspired to build his legendary McLaren F1 supercar with similarly style doors.  Even so, Toyota claimed that building the Sera to US collision safety and emissions standards was impractical and would have required a complete redesign of the vehicle.  The Sera was also the first Toyota production vehicle to offer projector beam-style headlights.

Fortunately for a few lucky owners, regulations regarding the importation of non-US spec vehicles after 25 years of their manufacture have changed and several existing models have made their way stateside.  All feature right-hand drive steering but were available with either an automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual. This rare vehicle comes to the Audrain on loan from Museum member Tom Laferriere and graced the lawn of the Breakers at the 2023 Audrain Concours d’Elegance last October 2023. 

Specifications

Engine: 1.5-liter inline-four engine, front transverse mounted engine, dual overhead cam 16 valves, electronic fuel injection. Optional Supercharged 1.5-liter inline-four engine

Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive

Horsepower: 108 BHP

Performance: 0-60mph (a long time), Standing Quarter Mile (even longer)

Top Speed: Faster than a Volkswagen Beetle

Fuel Economy: 30 to 40 miles mpg.

Weight: 2,094 lbs to 2,315 lbs depending on trim level.

Safety Features: typically came equipped with standard safety equipment for its time, such as seat belts, airbags (in later models), and anti-lock brakes (ABS).