# Spyder? Ferrari, Toyota?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyder-ferrari-toyota/121855>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 1, 2002, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyder-ferrari-toyota/121855 "2002-08-01T12:35:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyder-ferrari-toyota/121855/1 "2002-08-01T12:35:29Z")

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Ok, this is a dumb car question, but I cannot find the answer to it. I see that Ferrari made the Spyder, looks like 1958 is the first year, though I could be wrong.  
The M2 Spyder is made by Toyota, since 1985, according to the Kansas City star.

My question is: Did Toyota buy the Spyder name? 1985?

If so, is there a website I am overlooking that has some of the models of the various years made by Ferrari? 1958-1971 or beyond?

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**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyder-ferrari-toyota/121855/2 "2002-08-01T13:17:17Z")

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Italian convertibles are always “spyder.” Alfa Romeo has one, Fiat had one.  
Why is a sedan a “Berlina” in Germany and convertibles are mostly cabriolet in many European countries. It’s just a name, not a TM.

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**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyder-ferrari-toyota/121855/3 "2002-08-01T13:29:47Z")

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Don’t forget [Mitsubishi](http://www.mitsubishicars.com/eclipsespyder/index.html)

-j

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**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyder-ferrari-toyota/121855/4 "2002-08-01T16:04:11Z")

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IIRC, a “Spyder” is not a registered, trademarked model of a certain company, but a body type…like sedan or station wagon.

Basically, any subcompact 2 seater sportscar…especially a convertible…is a spyder.

Triumphs, MGs, Toyota MR2s, Mazda Miatas, etc.

In Italian, “spyder” is pronounced “speed-aire”…a speedster.

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**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spyder-ferrari-toyota/121855/5 "2002-08-01T21:05:34Z")

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Actually, Toyota has made the MR2 since 1985, but there wasn’t an MR2 Spyder (convertible) until 2000.