It’s no secret that Japan’s home automotive market saw a plethora of vehicles in the 1990s that made car-loving Westerners green with envy. The rest of the world has been denied possession of some rare examples of JDM, most of which have never heard of transmissions.
While most car enthusiasts are crying out to find and own one of the performance-oriented examples found in Toyota’s back catalog, like the fast Supra Turbo and AE86 Levin or the simply great Celica Supra, it would be wise to check out some of the less to look at strong examples like the Toyota Sera. It is truly a masterpiece of molded glass and cutting edge design, as a future collector’s item that is in the starting blocks.
It differs from other Toyota models with its incredibly curved doors, the large areas of glass that make up the roof roof, and its still futuristic design. Check out the reasons why we actually like the weird and the wonderful Toyota Will be.
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The rather unique Toyota Sera
Sold exclusively in Japan, the Toyota Sera is a wildly designed car from the nineties that wouldn’t look out of place while gliding through the trash-strewn streets of a blockbuster Hollywood movie. Despite being over thirty years old, it could easily appear in a movie that depicts a not-too-distant future.
A radical departure for Toyota upon its release, the Sera contrasted with its sportier, second-generation MR2 sibling. While this car was focused on absolute performance, the Sera was firmly an exercise in technology and style.
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A sculpture on wheels
With large surfaces made of contoured glass, the Sera is truly a masterpiece of styling and automotive glazing. The “roof roof” consists of six individual sections that offer the driver and passengers an unbelievable all-round view.
Originally presented in 1988 as the AXV-II concept vehicle, the Sera’s monocoque construction is underpinned by the chassis and mechanics of both the popular Starlet and the reliable Paseo.
8th
Butterflies, not seagulls
Based on the openings of the later McLaren F1, the doors of the Sera were supported by large gas pressure springs and balanced with secondary struts. Each door can be opened with a minimum distance of 43 cm.
Due to their impressive movement thanks to their unique hinges, aptly referred to as “butterfly doors”, the units in the stern area were supplemented by a large, single curved hatch that managed without a steel support frame.
7th
Modest but reliable performance
Under the shapely Sera bonnet hides a rather mediocre engine, especially when you consider that Toyota had a number of far more exciting engines available at the time. Thanks to its 1.5-liter in-line quad with 105 horsepower, the Sera would get to 60 mph in about 12 seconds since all that glass isn’t exactly light.
What it lacks in firepower, however, the sexy Sera makes up for by being extremely reliable thanks to its little-stressed mechanics and being able to collect large kilometers without major problems as the oily parts are made to last.
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Chic interior styling
As impressive on the inside as the Sera is on the outside, the 90s styling has stood the test of time, with the deeply padded sports buckets still looking modern and inviting. Just like the individual, very comfortable seat cushions in the rear.
Although the dashboard and the instrument cluster are wrapped in a strip of gray plastic, they are neat and easy to read, with bright oranges on black numerals and lettering throughout the binnacle.
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Demanding options
For those looking to further enhance their artsy statement on wheels, buyers can add a variety of sticker / strip packs, a phone / fax combo, ski racks, patterned lens tint, and very useful parking sensors.
For audiophiles looking for the ultimate sound experience, the Super Live Surround Sound system can be selected. This meant that 10 speakers, a powerful subwoofer, a digital sound processor and a dual cassette / CD player had to be installed.
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A tuner’s favorite
With its distinctive looks that set it apart from most of the other JDM classics on the road, the Sera has gained a huge following. Some choose to freshen up the styling with large rims, body kits, or a color swap.
While others take a different path and prepare the car for easy rallies as a tribute to its bigger Celica brother. It is achieved through additional pod lighting, a racing trunk spoiler, lightweight Enkei alloy wheels and the oh-so-important mud flaps.
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Smells as good as it looks
When purchasing a Sera buyer, buyers could choose one of two fascinating types of air conditioning / air freshening systems. The ‘CleanAce’ was a stand-alone device that was mounted inside the inner skylight and was intended for smokers.
In contrast, the ‘Air Fantasy’ system was mounted centrally in the console below the stereo system and connected to the air conditioning. A selection of fragrances was offered, ranging from Morning Green to White Herb to Sazan Floral.
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Cardiac bypass
Simply marked as “show all” and “don’t go,” there are a number of options for those looking to make a Sera go faster. The quickest and easier way is to switch the drivetrain to that of a fourth-generation Starlet GT, which increases power to 135 hp.
If that’s not enough, the small 1.3-liter turbo unit can be increased to a reliable 190 hp with little effort. In addition, deep pockets and the addition of lots of mechanical mods can deliver up to 300 horsepower.
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An affordable JDM gem
Either as a standard show-and-shine beauty or as the base for a standout performance car build, the Sera is a fantastic departure from the usual line of cars that tend to grab the attention of those with an unusual JDM -Search for rarity.
The Sera was only sold as a new car in Japan and is only available as a right-hand drive. Despite its rarity and exclusive look, the values remain rooted in the affordable warehouse. Decent examples that cost around $ 10,000 and are marketed as a flashy bargain.
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About the author
RJ Waldron
(89 articles published)
After beating his teeth on the UK street racing scene in the late 90s and early 00s, he disappeared from the spotlight only to return just 20 years later. An avid motorist RJ particularly likes JDM and Italian cars and is a seasoned multi-industry writer.
More from RJ Waldron
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