Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

Widebody Configuration, W/rare Hardtop, Many Toyota Options And Extra Parts on 2040-cars

US $19,475.00
Year:2001 Mileage:62212
Location:

United States

United States

I have been a Spyder owner since I bought the very first one in my county when it was introduced for North American sale in 2000.  That car, sadly, was totaled by a friend in North Carolina.  So, while I had a choice of just about any other car under $30k, I chose another Spyder.  I've always admired the Porsche 911, but I couldn't afford one that was new enough to be reliable. I found my "Porsche 911" in the Spyder: mid-engined, lightweight, 2-seater, great styling, great on gas mileage - all this with great Toyota quality and reliability.

My second vehicle was just as my first - color and everything - and I drove that to about 147,000.  For my third, I wanted a car that I could use for a Widebody configuration, something I lusted for ever since I saw my first one at Tail of the Dragon during one of our Spyderchat.com annual meets in April.  A couple years ago, one became available and it became the platform for the car I am selling here.  A student in Detroit had been the second owner, and he only drove it during the summer months.  Otherwise, it was stored in a garage during the winter months.  Before the purchase, I ran a CARFAX and Service History from Toyota, and found that everything he told me about the structure and maintenance of the car was as he said.  I flew to Detroit and drove it back to Florida.

This car is adult-owned, and has never been smoked in.  It's garaged during the day so it's not exposed to the harsh Florida sun.  The CARFAX shows one minor collision with the first owner, and second owner stated she said RF fender was slightly dented from a parking lot accident.

The Build.  
     In preparation for the professional installation of the Widebody kit, I took off all the fenders, and the front and rear bumpers. This allowed me unfettered access to the structure of the car and drivetrain.  For each wheel well, I used POR-15 (a silver-colored paint/chemical that protects against rust) to provide extra protection for the long term, and then followed it up with Chassis Black for aesthetic and additional protection.  I also had ready access to the suspension pieces, and coated them, too.  In no matter what environment you operate your car, you can be assured the body will maintain its integrity for many, many years.   I also protected the steering rack and other metallic areas under the front hood (affectionately called the "Frunk").  In addition, I replaced the standard brakes with cross-drilled rotors and ceramic pads in the front and semi-metallic pads in the rear.

     I chose the installer based on a recommendation from another widebody owner in nearby Orlando.  He had about 24 years experience in the body shop business, and had several custom bodywork projects behind him.  After talking with him about my expectations, I knew he was the right choice. I saved a little money by having my widebody friend help me hang the panels on the chassis, and the installer took it from there when he got the car.  There were a couple areas the manufacturer of the kit did not perfect, and he massaged the install to make sure gaps became even, etc.  During painting, he blended the kit with the doors and both front and rear hatches to make sure there was no difference in paint or clearcoat finishes.

The Body and Chassis.
  • 66,212 actual miles
  • APR Performance S-GT Widebody, professionally installed and painted to blend with existing panels and doors
  • Rare Toyota Removable Hardtop, two different driving experiences with hard and softtop.
  • Foldaway soft top is in great condition with no holes or leaks, glass rear window with defroster
  • GTC-300 Carbon fiber Adjustable Wing
  • Rare Toyota TRD Sportivo Racing Suspension (matched set of struts, springs, and sway bars), lowers car about 3/4".
  • Front and rear TRD strut bars help stiffen the chassis for razor-sharp response
  • Chemically protected against rust in wheel wells and suspension pieces
  • No squeaks, no rattles, everything works
The Powertrain.
  • 138 HP, 4 cyl engine, power-to-weight ratio is 16.0:1. The original engine was replaced by a Toyota dealer due to a design defect in 2000-02 engine.  This is a 2003 motor with approximately 18,000 miles, and regular oil is changed every 5,000 miles
  • 2 year old Interstate battery
  • Lightweight flywheel
  • Performance clutch (changed when the engine was replace approximately 18,000 miles ago)
  • 5-speed manual, with TRD shift lever
  • Injen Cold Air Intake (occasionally, this will throw a check engine light).  Stock intake is included if you want to revert back to stock
  • Rare TTE European Dual Exhaust (excellent sound, quiet at idle, medium at highway speeds, and really lovely at acceleration)
  • upgraded brakes (drilled rotors, ceramic and semi-metallic pads), anti-lock
  • SSR Professor MS3-R 3-piece lightweight alloy wheels, 18x10, rear (+15 offset),  24 lbs ea, and 18x8, front (+3 offset), 24 lbs ea
  • Yokohama S-Drive tires, 225/35R-18 (about 75% tread left)
  • Recent alignment
The Interior.
  • Original tan leather seats in excellent condition, no wear spots or tears
  • Ice-cold air conditioning - gotta have that in Florida...
  • Toyota Keyless Entry with audible alarm, Immobilizer key system
  • Toyota Brushed Aluminum dash kit
  • Alpine CDE-HD138BT stereo (Bluetooth, USB, aux output, CD)
  • Polk Audio speakers in doors, and Polk Audio 6x9's in rear luggage doors
  • Rockford Fosgate PBR300x4 4-channel 300 watt amp
  • Hidden antenna
  • carpet and mats are in excellent condition
  • Inside plastics have no scratches
Extra Parts.

Headlight covers, fiberglass, can be painted to match paint

Plastic Frunk Surround and cover

00-02 Side intake grills

New OEM floor mats in the bag (matching interior)

Brake dust plates

00-02 Rear bumper mesh pieces (new)

Stock intake pieces w/K&N filter

A/C evaporator and heater cores

Four MR2 Spyder travel mugs

Two MR2 Spyder t-shirts

160-watt car amp

Custom bike rack (very rare)

Custom fiberglass center console

Toyota Cruise control

Bag of nuts, bolts, and fasteners

Stock rear strut brace

TRD Aluminum Instrument rings (rare)

HVAC Gauge Panel

European car horns (hi/low)

Stock shifter

Clear side-marker lenses (not the disco style, but OEM-look) - rare

"Roadster" rear emblem (from Europe) - rare

Official Toyota Repair Manual (Greenbook)


I have books and records.  No warranty available or implied.  I have a clear title readily accessible.


Due to eBay's "no-link" policy, I will provide the CARFAX and Toyota Vehicle Service Report upon emailed request.

Happy Bidding!!!  This is a fantastic car and I hate to see her go...

If you require professional shipping, I will contribute $200 if you choose the Buy it Now price.

Auto blog

Stirling Moss-crashed 1956 Maserati 450S to be auctioned in Monaco

Sun, 06 Apr 2014

RM Auctions has some very special and expensive Italian sportscars of the 50s and 60s consigned for its auction in Monaco on May 10, but the one that currently carries the highest estimated value at between 4 and 5.5 million euros ($5.5 - $7.5 million) is a 1956 Maserati 450S with some very interesting provenance.
The Maserati started its life as a six-cylinder 350S that Stirling Moss drove in the 1956 Mille Miglia race. Unfortunately, the brakes failed, and it crashed into a tree and nearly into a ravine. Moss and his co-driver weren't injured, but the car was kaputt.
Maserati repaired it and used the chassis as a test mule for its new 5.7-liter V8 racecar called the 450S. It featured an extended wheelbase to fit the larger engine and a new body with a single seat. The racer hit the track again at the hands of Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1957 Buenos Aires 1000 KM but retired with transmission issues. Later that season, it crashed again at the 1957 Mille Miglia at the hands of driver Jean Behra. After that, the car sat around the workshop until it was sold without an engine in 1965.

Maserati Ghibli revealed ahead of Shanghai debut

Tue, 09 Apr 2013

We knew it was coming, and here it is: the 2014 Maserati Ghibli. Maserati's plan of selling 50,000 cars per year by 2015 starts with the Ghibli, which will be positioned in a more volume-friendly market against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series. The Ghibli will make its official debut later this month at the Shanghai Motor Show.
Although our first look at Maseati's newest sedan is limited to just three images, we can see that the car will have a sportier exterior design than its bigger brother, the Quattroporte, to go with an equally luxurious interior. Under its long, sleek hood, Maserati has confirmed that the Ghibli will utilize a pair of 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engines - one gas and one diesel - both mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions. A rear-wheel-drive configuration will be standard, and the Italian automaker's new Q4 all-wheel-drive system will be available.
Scroll down for the brief teaser press release.

Former BMW M boss and Maserati CEO killed in freak motorcycle accident

Mon, 19 Aug 2013

It's a tragic coincidence that on the same weekend the BMW M4 Coupe Concept was introduced in Monterey, one of the men most integral to BMW's M and Motorsports divisions, Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, was killed in England. Kalbfell, a vintage motorcycle enthusiast, was set to compete in the Lansdowne Classic Series at Brands Hatch and had an accident during a practice session. After going wide at Druids Corner and falling, he was hit by a competitor following close behind and died of his injuries after being transported to hospital.
Kalbfell, an engineer, began his career at BMW in 1977 in the communications department; a decade later he was chairman of BMW M GmbH, overseeing development of some of the cars responsible for the myth of M. In 1994 he was named chairman of BMW Motorsport, and his cap full of feathers includes getting the BMW V12 into the McLaren F1, getting the BMW V8 into two Morgan cars, along with developing BMW's Formula One engine and return to the sport. Not incidentally, he also assumed leadership of Project Rolls-Royce after BMW bought the British marque in 1998, which means he oversaw the Goodwood factory upfit and the creation of the Phantom.
He left Rolls-Royce for a brief stint at Fiat, heading Alfa Romeo and Maserati, then went into consulting for clients like Lotus and Paragon, who built the Artega GT. As Autocar notes, Kalbfell "had an abiding sense that customers needed to be attracted to cars by their aura and reputation, not just their engineering." He will be missed.