The Toyota 2000gt stands as a testament to groundbreaking automotive engineering and design. Its inception can be traced back to September 8, 1965, when Toyota and Yamaha formalized a collaborative agreement aimed at pushing the boundaries of sports car technology. However, the seeds of this iconic vehicle were sown earlier, in December of the preceding year, with the initiation of a joint development project specifically for what would become the Toyota 2000GT.
Toyota took the helm in defining the overall blueprint and aesthetic vision for the car, establishing its fundamental parameters. Yamaha, under Toyota’s guidance, shouldered the critical responsibilities of elevating engine performance and meticulously crafting the body and chassis designs. The team assembled for this ambitious endeavor was notably youthful, with an average age of approximately 30. While united by a profound passion for automobiles, their collective experience in actual car manufacturing was surprisingly limited.
The Toyota 2000GT development timeline was aggressively set, targeting an unveiling at the prestigious Tokyo Motor Show in October 1965. At the heart of the project was the engine, a 2000 cc inline 6-cylinder unit initially found in the Toyopet Crown. To unlock significantly greater power, this engine underwent a transformation to a DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) configuration. Adding a distinctive visual touch, the cylinder head covers were treated with a matte black wrinkle finish. This design choice, borrowing cues from exposed motorcycle engines, was a rare and innovative application in Japanese automobiles of that era, typically concealing engines beneath hoods.
The creation of the Toyota 2000GT’s body and prototypes was a journey of numerous firsts and innovative techniques. Based on Toyota’s foundational design sketches, the team translated concepts into full-scale diagrams and meticulously constructed wooden frameworks to guide the shaping of sheet metal. For the hood and trunk lid, Yamaha leveraged its expertise in handcrafting FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) molding, a technique honed in their boat manufacturing division. Prototypes for components like the roof, fenders, and doors were painstakingly shaped from sheet metal by skilled artisans. Inside the cabin, materials like wood were chosen for the steering wheel, gearshift knob, and instrument panel, adding a touch of luxury. However, using natural wood in car interiors presented challenges, particularly in preventing splits and cracks under extreme summer heat. The team successfully overcame this obstacle by applying advanced woodworking techniques refined within Yamaha’s musical instrument manufacturing operations. Further advanced technologies were integral to other aspects of the car, including the cast magnesium disc wheels and the meticulously hand-sprayed body paint.
Through the integration of cutting-edge technologies available at the time, the prototype Toyota 2000GT was realized. It made its grand debut at the 1965 Tokyo Motor Show, captivating audiences and setting the stage for its future as a production vehicle.
The Toyota 2000GT further solidified its performance credentials by achieving remarkable feats during speed trials, establishing three new world records and 13 new international records. The transition to commercial production of the 2000GT commenced at the newly established Iwata Factory, with the initial phase of construction completed. Interestingly, the production process closely mirrored the prototype creation, characterized by a high degree of manual assembly. Despite being termed “mass production,” each Toyota 2000GT was essentially hand-assembled with meticulous care. Body production, in particular, was a process of continuous refinement and problem-solving. Challenges included perfecting the operating mechanism for the curved glass windshield, a pioneering feature for a domestically produced car, and ensuring consistent color matching between FRP and sheet metal body parts.
Before reaching the market, each Toyota 2000GT had to undergo a rigorous final inspection to meet Toyota’s exceptionally stringent quality standards. The 2000GT faced hurdles in meeting these criteria, particularly in areas like eliminating water leaks and resolving wiper blade squeaking noises. However, with persistent effort, each issue was systematically addressed, culminating in the completion of the first market-ready Toyota 2000GT model in February 1967, marking the birth of an automotive icon.
