Toyota built the 2000GT, a sports car introduced in 1965 that helped establish Japan’s international performance-car reputation.
The 2000GT was developed in cooperation with Yamaha and was first shown publicly at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1965. Yamaha contributed to development and production, while Toyota marketed and sold the car. Its carefully shaped body, designed by Satoru Nozaki, drew attention for its low proportions and clean lines.
Power came from a 2.0-litre inline-six engine based on Toyota’s Crown unit and modified with Yamaha-developed features. The car also used independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes, equipment that gave it an advanced specification for its period.
Only 351 production examples were built between 1967 and 1970, making the 2000GT rare. It appeared in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, although the film cars were open-top conversions created because Sean Connery was considered too tall for the standard coupé.