The First “Japanese Supercar”
Ever wondered what was Toyota’s first Japanese super car? It was the Toyota 2000GT, the first sports car ever produced by the Japanese auto maker. It was first seen at the Tokyo Motor Show back in the year 1965 and went into production between the years 1967 and 1970. The sports car was made to show that the Japanese are also capable of producing sports car that could very much rival those created in Europe. It has also changed the view of the car enthusiasts in Japan as well as the view of those car aficionados who do not believe in Japanese vehicles.
The car went into pre-production in 1967. The Road & Track magazine sent it into a road test which made them say that the car was the most exciting and enjoyable car they have ever driven. It was even compared to Europe’s Porsche 911.
The Toyota 2000GT is now being considered as a collectible car. It was named “The First Japanese Super Car” but it sure did come along with a fair price, too.
The car appeared to look like the Jaguar E-Type because of the Goertz lines that it has but it was surely Toyota’s very own design. On its exterior body parts one can find pop-up headlights as well as large driving lamps in fixed locations on either side of the grille. These lamps come with plexiglas covers that cover them. It also features bumpers and plexiglas driving lamp covers.
It appeared on the Bond Movie “You Only Live Twice” where the car was made into top-down as the actor Sean Connery was not able to fit in the car. The car was modified slightly and the lamps and the shape of the turn signals were the ones that received some changes particularly.
