1990 Toyota Sera

History

Only produced for the Japanese market from 1990 to 1996, the most obvious unique feature of the Toyota Sera is its glass canopy. Extending out from the central spine up top, it combines an all-glass rear hatch sans steel frame to offer tremendous outward visibility. Then there are those butterfly doors.

Hinged at the top center of the windshield and bottom of the A-pillar, they open up and out in a fashion normally associated with McLaren supercars. However, according to CAR magazine, the Sera was first with its door design catching the eye of Gordon Murray, who then featured them in the McLaren F1.

Mechanically, the Sera is similar to Toyota’s Paseo, sharing the 1.5L inline-4, vented front discs and rear drum braking setup. Though it only made 104 hp, the Sera weighs in at a feathery 2,050 pounds. Between the funky design and relatively wild SLSS stereo that is very hard to find, this particular Sera represents all the best aspects of 90s era JDM compacts.