This priceless, classic and athletic cabriolet was eternally mystified and created specifically for the 007 Bond movie “You Only Live Twice”, starring Sean Connery.
The sleek 2000 GT was not an adulterated version of the E-Type Jag…or a derivative of a Ferrari prototype. In-house designer Satoru Nozaki for Toyota is responsible for the curvaceous body lines and elegant flow of the 2000 GT. Nozaki was said to be inspired by the Lotus Elan.
This new supercar was the first venture for Japan to enter the world of classic sports and race cars. In a collaboration with Yamaha…351 of the all aluminum units were built on only one body style…’the coupe’…which stood at just 47 inches high. Only producing coupes became an issue when 007 producer Albert Broccoli saw the stunning Toyota prototype at the Tokyo Auto show in 1965…he asked the Toyota company to build two cars for the movie. Unfortunately Mr. Connery was 6.2ft and couldn’t fit into the coupe. So Broccoli asked for two cabriolets to be completed in less than two short weeks in order to begin filming immediately.
Eager to participate in the movie and garner the free marketing and notoriety for their new supercar…in a bold undertaking…Toyota rapidly fabricated and transformed two coupes into two exquisite convertibles at their Toyopet Service Center in Tsunashima. The basic 2000GT roadster houses a 2.0-liter straight-six engine, a 5-speed manual gearbox and shuts down the 0-100mph sprint time of 10seconds. In 1967 the 2000GT set numerous FIA world records for endurance and speed in a 72hr test.
Both of the 007 cabriolet film vehicles received white exteriors, black upholstery/interiors, with the addition of wire wheels sporting Dunlop RS5tires. There were no side windows and a nonexistent functioning convertible roof…instead it was simply covered by a tonneau top. By eliminating a convertible top.. it also allowed this exquisite masterpiece to maintain it’s gorgeous sloping fastback. It’s worth mentioning that the film car was full of gadgets, technology and special effects created by John Stears and his team at Pinewood Studios in England.
Connery reportedly loved driving the 2000GT…however made the Aston Martin more famous. Daniel Craig claims the 2000GT as his favorite of all of the Bond cars.
The coupes are exceptionally rare in their own right and are now demanding multi $millions depending on the pedigree and provenance of the car. One of the two mysterious and fabled cabriolets currently resides at Toyota Headquarters…and the other film car is at the magnificent Petersen Auto Museum, and both are considered to be literally priceless.
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