The Toyota 2000 GT was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1965, but until 1967 was not available. Since West was seen as an exotic car, star of the James Bond film “You Only Live Twice” was filled with class and style. Today is undoubtedly the most coveted Toyota Classic.
The 2000 GT Toyota showed the world that was more than a trade-mark; it knew how to make super cars. The 2000 GT was designed with a view to racing, Toyota had already won the Japan GT Championship in 1963 and although in the short existence of the 2000 GT, raced legendary as the 1968 SSCA Camponato of Carol Shelby’s hand, was never a car with much luck on the track.
Its design is due to Satoru Nozaki, who was assisted by the head of Toyota’s competition for those then, Jiao Kawano. His line was characterized by curved lines and muscular, but light-looking, as it only had a height of 1.16 m and a length of 4.2 m. The design of the windshield was similar to an airplane cockpit, with large expanses of glass, it was not designed by chance, one of the secrets of the 2000 GT was its careful aerodynamics (with a CX 0.30), is it providing unmatched stability at high speeds.
On the front are two large headlights on each side of the grill and two more on the type retractable hood, these lights were removed in the racing versions. At the rear, we find a dual exhaust is reminiscent of the Jaguar E-Type, the fall back also remind us of this, but here you opt for double headlights and a bumper testimonial, consisting of two metal bars placed vertically the central part of the rear.
In regard to its engine was an inline six, the same as riding the Crown saloon 2.3 that originally was barely 110 HP, but with the addition of a stock provided by Yamaha barbell succeeded in increasing the power until the 150 hp. The light figure of Toyota 2000 GT, caused headaches for the engineers, beginning with the impossibility, due to lack of space a V8 engine, the chassis beams, complicating the installation of gears, which came from a truck Toyota.
The transmission was a five-speed, somewhat noisy and imprecise. The tree was very short transmission of only 60 cm. The address was quick and precise; the first address type zipper riding a Toyota, the cornering, the steering stiffens his driving resulting pleasant demanding roads. Disc brakes were Japanese, Sumitomo, Dunlop although licensed; offered generous dimensions of 280 mm. 15-inch wheels were made of magnesium, rode a 165 HR tires.
The interior looks like something out of an Italian sports era; he found black leather bucket seats, wood paneling, and a lavish instrumentation. Yet the lack of space inside moves, being somewhat uncomfortable driving position for a person of a certain size. The trunk is something just about 150 liters.
The Toyota 2000 GT, although it was not a commercial success, it produced 356 units, opened the way for Japanese sports marketing in Western markets. We can therefore say without risk of error that is the father of cars like the Toyota Celica, the Dotson 240 ZX or the Isuzu 117. The actual price depends greatly on the market in Japan tend to be more quibbles in Europe is almost impossible to get one, especially considering that only 82 were produced with LHD, and most of them ended up in the U.S.. With what it cost at the time could have purchased 24 Toyota Corolla, now the relationship has not changed much since the price of one of the few Toyota 2000 GT that we can find for sale can get out for around 300,000 €, a premium price a rare Avis as the Toyota 2000 GT.
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