Toyota created the Toyota 2000GT, developed with Yamaha and shown publicly in 1965. The elegant two-seat coupe was Toyota’s first major Japanese sports-car project and was intended to demonstrate that Japan could produce a sophisticated grand tourer for international markets.
Yamaha contributed engineering and production expertise, while Toyota supplied the overall vehicle program and used a modified version of its 2.0-litre inline-six engine. The car featured independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and carefully finished interior details, including a wood-rim steering wheel.
Toyota built only 351 production examples from 1967 to 1970, making the 2000GT rare even when new. Its appearance in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice increased its international visibility, although the film cars were specially modified open-top versions. The 2000GT is distinct from the later Toyota Supra, which became another Toyota performance nameplate.