The only Toyota to be manufactured with butterfly doors was the Toyota Sera, a sporty hatchback that was available in Japan between 1990 and 1996. However, if you want a set of these stylish doors, you might be able to find an aftermarket door kit compatible with your Toyota.

Butterfly doors are stylized car doors that open by moving up and out along a vehicle’s A-pillar. They’re usually found on high-performance sports cars such as the McLaren F1,

Chevrolet Corvette C8

, or Lamborghini Centenario, but any car with butterfly doors is sure to turn heads.

Looking to import a used Toyota Sera with butterfly doors, or want to modify your current Toyota? Check out this useful guide on Toyota butterfly doors.

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What Toyota has butterfly doors?

Toyota has only manufactured a single vehicle with butterfly doors: the Toyota Sera. This compact little hatchback was only available in Japan between 1990 and 1996, but thanks to its unique all-glass cabin and stylish doors, it remains a favorite among leading automotive experts, including

Car and Driver

If you want to get your hands on a Toyota Sera today, you could be in for a challenge—only about 16,000 Sera models were ever manufactured, so they aren’t easy to find. Start by talking to a trusted import dealer, who can help with the research, logistics, and buying process.

Toyota Sera overview

The late 20th century was an interesting time for the automotive industry, as leading car makers began to experiment with new, innovative designs—one of which was the concept car that inspired the Toyota Sera.

First introduced at the 1987 Tokyo Motor Show, the Toyota Sera began as a mini coupe called the AXV-II but was ultimately released as a hatchback in 1990. It was the first Japanese car to be mass-produced with butterfly doors and featured an all-glass cabin that extended the vehicle’s windows up and around the roof. Because of this design, it got very warm if left parked in the sun, so Toyota included air conditioning and power windows standard—features that were still somewhat uncommon at the time.

The Sera was powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder 5E-FHE inline engine that made 110 horsepower and got 7,900 RPM. It came with standard power steering, right-hand drive, and optional anti-lock brakes. Plus, its pint-sized stature offered an impressive fuel economy of around 43 mpg combined—that’s on par with some contemporary hybrid vehicles!

Of course, if you’re buying a Toyota Sera in 2022, you’re probably not concerned with engine specs and fuel economy. This little hatchback’s greatest appeal comes in the form of its unique body style, including the bubble-top glass roof, and attention-grabbing butterfly doors.

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How much does a Toyota Sera cost?

If you bought a new Toyota Sera in the '90s, your final costs would have been in the ballpark of $11,000—and today, you could end up paying even more than that for a used Toyota Sera! Because costs can vary drastically based on import duties, dealership or broker fees, and the condition of the car itself, a used Toyota Sera could cost you anywhere from around $5,000 to upward of $15,000.

If you plan to import a used Toyota Sera, don’t forget to work with your insurance provider to secure specialized coverage such as imported car insurance or

classic car coverage

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What are butterfly doors?

The term butterfly doors is often used interchangeably with scissor doors or gullwing doors—but they aren’t the same. While scissor and gullwing doors open vertically, butterfly doors open in an up-and-out direction from the car’s body via a set of hinges installed along the A-pillar. They’re most commonly found on exotic cars, race cars, and supercars—but Toyota went against the grain by manufacturing the ultra-affordable Sera with these stylish doors.

Let’s go over the other types of unconventional car doors.

Scissor doors open by rotating vertically on a hinge at the front of the doors. Often referred to as “Lambo doors,” these doors are usually associated with Lamborghini models like the Countach and Aventador—but you’ll also find this door style on the Bugatti EB110 as well as the Mazda Hakaze concept car.

Gullwing doors also move vertically but utilize a set of roof hinges to open—think the iconic DeLorean from Back to the Future. The classic Aston Martin Bulldog was also manufactured with gullwing doors, as is the

Tesla Model X.

Suicide doors swing outward like traditional car doors, but they open from hinges on the door’s rear side rather than the front. They’re more common than the other non-standard door types and can be found on the four-door

Toyota Tacoma

pickup truck, the

BMW i3

hatchback, and some models of the

Honda Element

. Other automakers that have made use of suicide doors include

Mercedes-Benz

Nissan

, and Ferrari.

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Can you add butterfly doors to a Toyota?

Even if you own a sporty

Toyota Supra

, your Toyota is probably fitted with a set of traditional car doors that open outward. But drivers who want to soup up their vehicle with a set of sporty butterfly doors have the option of purchasing an aftermarket door kit.

In most cases, you’ll have the option of purchasing a butterfly door kit or hinge kit through your trusted car mod mechanic or buying one through a specialized vendor like

Vertical Doors, Inc

. And if vertical Lambo doors are more your style,

CARiD

has several Toyota-compatible conversion kits. Keep in mind that this type of modification isn’t cheap—the kits alone often cost between $750 and $2,000.

Before you install a set of butterfly doors on your beloved

Toyota Camry

Toyota Corolla

, or

Toyota Celica

, be aware that a door conversion is considered a major modification, and can impact both your warranty coverage and your

car insurance

. Talk with your insurance provider about whether you need custom parts and equipment coverage for your new car doors.

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