The Toyota Sera is an interesting sports coupe because it uses butterfly doors that hinge at the bottom and tilt up and forward. Built from 1990 to 1996, it was never imported into the U.S., so rare sightings like this only come with right-hand drive. However, since 2021, the Sera can be imported legally without having to comply with U.S. emissions and safety standards thanks to a loosening of regulations by the NHTSA. From Enfield, Connecticut, this oddity may still be available here on Facebook Marketplace for $12,000. Be the first kid on your block to have one! Thanks for the cool tip, Chuck Foster.
Besides the butterfly doors, the design of the Sera also relies on a mostly glass roof canopy. That’s in addition to the windows that curve upward into said roof. Production numbers for the hatchback are fairly small given the number of years in production. Just under 16,000 Seras were built and more than 99% of them were registered in Japan. They all had a 1.5-liter inline-4 with fuel injection that output 104 hp on their home turf. The Sera was one of the first production cars to have projection headlights.
The seller’s car is well-used at 147,000 miles but apparently also well-maintained. We’re told the timing belt was replaced before the vehicle was imported, along with new wheels and front brakes. Both sets of door struts have been taken care of and the hatch struts are waiting for the same treatment, and the car comes with replacements so the seller can take care of that. Imperfections with this Sera are said to include a small chip in the windshield (not sure where you’d go to get it replaced), and there’s a small paint chip on the spoiler.
This Toyota comes with an interesting option, the SLSS. That stands for Super Live Surround Sound and is said to be an advanced audio system for automobiles. With all sorts of cool sound-producing perks, the SLSS came with 10 speakers. While the system is still in place with this car, the speakers are not. If you’re in the market for a little auto that you’re not likely to see repeated anywhere, could this Toyota be for you?
Don’t expect an exciting drive, under the skin and those flashy doors it’s basically a Tercel.
Sold Toyotas for several dealerships from Louisiana to Cali … don’t knock the Tercel … a Supra it was not, but for an affordable, reliable, and economical car it fit the bill for those who couldn’t afford a Corolla … and the 6-speed Tercel AWD wagon was an entity all to itself, like the Paseo in the 90s … I once sold four in a month which upset my Toyota management because Toyota was on allocation at the time and you got what you sold – so we got more Tercels than the big money-makers like Corollas and Celicas … the 80s were a wild time selling, and making money with, Japanese imports …
I had an 86 Tercel and loved that car. I loved everything about it!
If someone hadn’t pulled out in front of me I’d still have that car. It’s very difficult to find one these days.
At least the Tercel/Paseo based mechanical bits should mean those parts are readily available and reasonably priced.
“I’ll take Stupid Questions for the California DMV for $500.00, please…”
My question is …
Should the door glass break is it warm driving only in the future as no one would have a replacement likely?
Very unique car….
I think its definitely worth the yen…
Not for me but at least it’ll run forever being a Toyota with proper maintenance of course.At 150k it’s just getting broken in.glwts.
Ah, yes, the case of the missing speakers.
What’s that about “a loosening of regulations by the NHTSA” since 2021? Haven’t heard about that, but this is legal to import anyway, as it’s been well over 25 years since its date of manufacture.
Just make sure it comes with legit paperwork proving it was actually first imported here after 2015, as that’s what the Feds would go by; it’s not legal to import a car younger than 25 years and just store it until its 25th birthday. Sure, some lax states might title/register it before then, but that doesn’t matter to the Feds and would actually work against you as proof it was here before it was legal to import.
Since these can be legally imported into the U.S., this price sounded a bit high to me. I found this website form a quick search and these can be had with a lot lower mileage for a lot cheaper.
https://carfromjapan.com/cheap-used-toyota-sera-for-sale?sort=totalPriceUSD
I have had one of these for three years and find it very Toyota strong, and dull. Other than its unique shape, interesting doors, RHD and interior, the lack of enthusiasm keeps me from driving it much. It’s hot in there on sunny days, even with the roof inserts in place.
I’d heard McLaren coppied the door movements for their version, interesting because Japan seems to copy others ideas so often.
No.
Think Safelight techs would do on-site glass work on these?
chipped windshields can usually be repaired and made almost invisible.
Saw one of these up close and in person back in March of this year. Cute little car. I, 100%, could not get inside this car and I am only 6ft tall. The guy who owned it was 6′ 4″ and had not even climbed into it yet.