Toyota 2000GT
A low-volume Japanese grand tourer that demonstrated Toyota's engineering ambitions in the 1960s.
Overview
Toyota launched the 2000GT in 1967 after developing it in collaboration with Yamaha Motor. The two-seat grand tourer was produced until 1970, with only 337 examples manufactured, making it one of the rarest road cars in Toyota’s history.
Its specification placed it among the technically ambitious sports cars of its era. The 2.0-litre double-overhead-cam inline-six drove the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. Independent double-wishbone suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, rack-and-pinion steering, magnesium-alloy wheels and retractable headlamps completed the package.
Before the production car’s launch, a 2000GT established three world and 13 international endurance records during speed trials. The model also gained a wider audience through the specially converted open cars used during the Japanese sequences of the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice.
Generation
2000GT (1967–1970)
The 2000GT remained a single-generation model. Its compact cabin, long bonnet and flowing fastback roof enclosed an X-shaped backbone frame, while its small production run was entrusted to Yamaha.