Inside the cockpit, most of the stock equipment remains. Corbeau seats replace the original buckets and a custom six-point HUX roll bar surrounds the occupants in some semblance of safety. The steering wheel is an heirloom from the senior Plumley's 1967 Simca 1200S Bertone Coupe rally car.
Back in the 60s, Bruce Plumley was a member of the Renault Owners Club over in jolly ol' England. The group would run night rallies, with Bruce piloting a Renault R8 Gordini. All frog jokes aside, the little rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive box probably laid the groundwork for his appreciation of Toyota's two-seater. Years later, this appreciation would land him in his own 1988 MR2 SC.
Bruce elected to keep the stock supercharger in place, though it shoves more air via a re-sized 17mm pulley. An HKS header breathes into a custom exhaust stitched together by Deno, allowing all the leftovers of combustion to leave as quickly as possible. The OEM cams have been replaced with a set of KK108 TED Components bumpsticks that tell the 1mm oversized stainless steel valves when to do their jobs.
Hoping to maintain the same balance that led the car to autocross glory, the Plumley boys turned their attention to the aging suspension. The SC keeps its feet planted via Intrax race springs and Koni shocks, with stock-sized cross-drilled rotors, and a custom brake bias proportioning valve for fine tuning.
The SC's fenders have been trimmed to accommodate 17x8 Konig Monsoons wrapped in 225/40/17 Nitto rubber. Bruce's rear wing sits even further back than his son's.
While both cars showcase the dedication and caliber of work this family is capable of, they struggle with the street car/race car line. Bruce's supercharged '88, with its slightly more mature exhaust note, civil clutch and street brakes, manages to lean happily toward street duty.
Deno's, on the other hand, is the embodiment of a track car that got lost on the way to the paddock. The competition clutch is all go, the exhaust screams like a patented cop magnet and the race-compound brake pads squeal like a neglected Tempo. True, Deno's ride can chase down Corvette Z06s without breaking sweat and makes his father's car seem anemic by comparison, but for a leisurely jaunt anywhere that isn't paved in silky smooth asphalt, it's a little rough.
For those who are willing to sacrifice ride comfort for a few tenths of a second on the track, Deno's incarnation is the realization of so many daydreams. Its flawless rotation and cat-like grip make for one hell of a ride. For people who would rather not change their fillings as often as they change their oil, Bruce's MkI MR2 SC is a little more realistic. And civilized.
What does the future hold for this MR2 duo? Deno has a new 3S-GTE on its way and has every intention of building the beast to take more boost and spin to even higher revs.
As for Bruce's SC? Well, after his son gets his built block behind the seats, it just so happens that there will then be another turbocharged powerplant just lying around. At this rate, there's always the possibility of another MkI.5 in the family.
Deno Plumley's 1988 MR2 SC
Engine
Engine Code: 3S-GTE
Type: 1998cc in-line four, iron block, aluminum head, turbocharged and intercooled
Internal Modifications: HKS cams (272/264)
External Modifications: Spearco side mount intercooler, adjustable cam gears, custom fabricated intake manifold, 70mm BBK throttle body, custom three-inch exhaust
Engine Management Modifications: 1995 Supra Turbo fuel pump, 550cc/min fuel injectors, adjustable rising rate fuel pressure regulator, GReddy TD06 turbo kit, 35mm TiAL external wastegate, Hydra Nemesis EMS, 16-pound Odyssey dry cell battery (relocated to front)
Drivetrain
Layout: Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Drivetrain Modifications: 1991 Turbo E153 transmission, ACT six-puck copper-ceramic race clutch, Kaaz LSD
Suspension
Front: Ground Control coilovers, Tokico adjustable shocks
Rear: Ground Control coilovers, Koni adjustable shocks
Brakes
Front: 11-in. cross-drilled 1988 VW Corrado G60 front rotors, Wilwood four-piston calipers, adjusted bias
Rear: 11-in. cross-drilled 1988 VW Corrado G60 front rotors, 1993 MR2 Turbo calipers with custom extended brackets
External
Wheels: 17x7 (F), 17x9.5 (R), custom Kodiak
Tires: 205/40/R17 Yokohama Parada Spec 2 (F), 245/40/R17 Yokohama Advan Neova (R)
Body: Plumley-mod rear wing, flared fenders, relocated fuel fill tube, functional side intake, rolled rear fenders
Interior: Six-point HUX Racing roll bar, Auto Meter gauges, 1967 Simca 1200S Bertone Coupe aftermarket steering wheel, Corbeau seats, Sparco four-point harness
Bruce Plumley's 1988 MR2 SC
Engine
Engine Code: 4A-GZE
Type: 1587cc in-line four, iron block, aluminum head, supercharged, intercooled
Internal Modifications: KK108 TED Components cams, 1mm oversized stainless steel valves, ported head
External Modifications: 17mm oversized supercharger pulley, HKS header, custom 2.5-in. exhaust, adjustable cam gears
Engine Management Modifications: A'PEXi air/fuel controller
Drivetrain
Layout: Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Drivetrain Modifications: Stock
Suspension
Front: Intrax racing springs, Tokico adjustable shocks
Rear: Intrax racing springs, Tokico adjustable shocks
Brakes
Front: Cross-drilled rotors, stock calipers
Rear: Cross-drilled rotors, stock calipers
External
Wheels: 17x7 (F), 17x8 (R), Konig Monsoon
Tires: 225/40/R17 Nitto
Body: Plumley-mod rear wing, rolled fenders
Interior: Sparco four-point racing harness, Auto Meter gauges
By Zach Bowman
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