Sold for $935,000 at 2013 RM Auctions - Monterey.
The Toyota 2000GT was introduced in Tokyo in 1965 and it immediately put the automotive community on notice. Toyota, and Japan, were making a statement that they could compete with the world's best producers of sports coupes. The 2000GT, however, was not Toyota's idea. Yamaha, known for its motorcycles at the time, decided to begin work on a sports car, its first venture into the automotive industry. After Yamaha had completed the initial designs for the car, the 2000GT found its home with Toyota, Yamaha's second choice for a manufacturer.

The 2000GT was designed by Raymond Loewy and had been intended as a product for Nissan, who later decided not to take on the project. So Yamaha brought the plans for the 2000GT before Toyota.

The engine found in the 2000GT was based on the inline six in the Toyota Crown. Yamaha adapted it for use in the new model by installing new double overhead camshafts. The engine produced 150 horsepower and could propel the 2400 pound vehicle to a respectable top speed of 135. Handling was impressive thanks, in part, to its 49/51 weight distribution.

In 1967, the Toyota 2000GT played a starring role in You Only Live Twice, the fifth film of the James Bond series. Bond's Japanese counterpart drove 007 around the streets of Tokyo in a 2000GT. Connery's tall frame could not fit into the 45.7-inch tall coupe so Toyota built a targa top 200GT in order to further accommodate Connery, but producers ruled it out, because Connery's head stuck out far above the roofline. Finally, Toyota produced a convertible that fit Connery just fine, and it was used in the movie. Sadly, neither targa nor convertible ever went into production.

Production of the 2000GT lasted until 1970, with just 351 examples produced, and just 15% of those were imported to the United States. Toyota planned to produce nearly 1,000 examples annually, but sales were limited due to its cost. The price of the 2000GT topped $7,000 in 1967, which was over $1,000 more expensive than a Jaguar E-Type and Porsche 911, and over $2,500 more than a Chevrolet Corvette.

Chassis Number 10136
This car was produced on October 28th of 1967. It is a left-hand drive example wearing Bellatrix yellow paint scheme. It was destined for the United States and has always been in the hands of private owners with connections to Toyota dealers. As such, this 2000GT was always properly serviced and maintained throughout its life.

This car has been updated with a modern cooling system and custom radiator, to ensure it doesn't overheat. Currently, the car shows just 60,000 miles on the odometer.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2014