- Toyota 2000GT is one of Japan's all-time great sports cars.
- Example up for auction has opaque history, including engine swap.
- Styling is a blend of early and later 2000GT elements.
A "mysterious history" is expected to boost the selling price of a Toyota 2000GT up for auction in Tokyo on June 21.
The 2000GT is already one of Japan's most sought-after classic sports cars. Jointly developed by Toyota and Yamaha, it was produced in limited numbers between 1967-70, with just 337 examples built including prototypes.
Equipped with cutting-edge technology for the time, including a DOHC engine, 5-speed fully synchronised transmission, and four-wheel disc brakes, the coupe has since become an automotive icon.
This particular example is thought to be one of the most unusual ever offered for sale. Stamped with chassis number MF10-10003, records indicate that it rolled off the production line on November 24, 1966: approximately six months before the official market launch.
Rather than being classified as a standard production vehicle, it was registered under the category of “special vehicle,” which included competition and experimental cars. This establishes it as an important early pre-production chassis.
Official paperwork suggests that the car originally left the factory fitted with engine number 10007. However, after more than half a century, it is now powered by 3M engine number 10502, although there is no known documentation to show when or why the swap happened.
The car was also not road-registered until January 1971 (well after 2000GT production had ended), making it likely that this example spent an extended period outside normal commercial circulation. The current owner is the fifth in the car's history.
The car is an interesting blend of both early and late-model design elements. Externally, the car wears styling elements introduced after the August 1969 facelift, including smaller fog lamps and enlarged rear side reflectors.
But the cabin reveals the early-type center panel, featuring Yamaha’s solid woodwork accented with silver trim. The interior door handles are also of the early bar-type design, but headrests introduced on later models are fitted. The seatbelts remain date-marked from 1966.
BH Auction estimates a selling price or ¥140-160 million ($875,000-US$1m, or up to NZ$1.7m).
The auction commences at 3pm JST on Sunday June 21.
