The MR2 Owner's Club of New Zealand

While most of us know that model code for the MKII MR2 is SW20 other may not know the VIN code (not the same as the model code) there are 4 types.

The model code is SW20 for Japan and SW20L or SW20R depending on if they are LHD or RHD for the rest of the world.
The VIN code is a bit more specific for the exact car it applies to. In Japan the don't have the traditional JT type VIN code rather it starts with 0634101. This is due to the fact they don't need to say where the car comes from as it is a local manufacturer.
J meaning Japan and T meaning Toyota.

One thing I found interesting is the SW** part of these codes depending on what market the car was built for.
In a nut shell this applies to the following.

JT163 SW20 was for the UK/Europe/Australia/NZ G/G-Limited/GTi-16 market with the 3SGE
JT2 SW21 was for the USA/Canada market with the 5SFE
JT163 SW22 was for the USA/Canada market with the 3SGTE
JT163 SW23 was the UK/Europe 3SFE

I knew about the 3SFE version of the SW20 but I didn't know it had a specific designation as SW23 in the VIN code. I was aware of the SW21 and SW22 for the USA market cars but wasn't quite sure what each number meant.

Another thing I recently found was that the USDM 5SFE is under the SW21 model code and not the SW20 like all others. That explains why there are approximately 114000 SW20 chassis codes but 138000 listed under the colours.

You can also boil down the model codes themselves

S = The S series motor these came with
W = This was the chassis designation for the MR2
2 = The 2nd W chassis
0, 1, 2, 3 = these are the sub categories for the chassis code

This seemed to be for most Toyotas up until the 2000s sometime

I remember there was a basic website where you were able to put in your MR2 chassis code and it would give you all sorts of factory specification information (what options it had, when it was made, etc...). I can't seem to find that link anymore. Does anyone have it?

www.toyodiy.com is another. That one says my car is automatic and build on 1989.... Fail.