Toyota’s Bond movie star
Launched in 1965, the 2000GT was Japan’s first supercar
Watching a re-run of the James Bond film You Only Live Twice I could not help but be impressed by the timeless lines of one of the car stars - a Toyota 2000GT.
The film car was a unique convertible but on the market was the stunning coupe version which was styled so beautifully.
Pop- up headlamps, aggressive driving lamps behind glass cowls and sweeping curves made it a fine choice for a superhero film.
But the 2000GT did not need Hollywood to fan its fire because it could hack it in the glamour stakes all on its own.
Made for Toyota by Yamaha who also designed the glorious twin-cam engine, the car was produced between 1967 and 1970 with 337 being produced.
The six- cylinder 1,998cc engine driving the rear wheels turned out 150bhp and could zoom up to 137mph.
These stats, its quality and film appearance made this the first truly collectible Japanese car and its popularity has never decreased.
In fact it revolutionised the automotive world’s view of Japan, indicating that Japanese auto manufacturers could produce a sports car to rival European makers, in sharp contrast to Japan’s image at the time as a producer of imitative and somewhat boring practical vehicles.
Media reviewers compared it to the Porsche 911 and preserved examples can now bring high prices at auctions.
Many credit the GermanAmerican designer Count Albrecht Goertz, a protege of the great Raymond Loewy as the driving force behind the car.
Goertz had gone to Yamaha to develop a two-seater sports car for Nissan but this did not progress.
Yamaha also worked for Toyota, who as the most conservative of the Japanese car companies wished to improve its image, Toyota accepted the proposal, but employed a design of their own.
The 2000GT’s smoothly flowing bodywork was in aluminium with scarcely any bumpers at all.
It was extremely low, just 45.7in to the highest point of the roof. The last few vehicles were fitted with air conditioning and had automatic transmission as an option.
The interior offered comfortable, if cramped, accommodation and luxury touches like a rosewoodveneer dashboard and an auto-seeking radio tuner were included.
Toyota entered the 2000GT in competition at home, coming third in the 1966 Japanese Grand Prix and winning the Fuji 24Hour Race in 1967. In addition, the car set several FIA world records for speed and endurance in a 72-hour test.
All in all a Japanese firecracker of a car which made the world sit up and take notice of Toyota, paving the way for later performance cars including the ultra-quick Supra.