Estimated to be worth upwards of $3.5 million.
Updated 2/5/22: this Toyota 2000GT sold for $2.535 million, which is below the original estimate, but impressive all the same.
The Toyota 2000GT is one of the most important sports cars that the Japanese automaker has ever made, with surviving examples of the original 351 produced now regularly fetching seven-figures among collectors. This particular example ups the ante as one of the three coupes that Carroll Shelby used to introduce the Toyota 2000GT to American race tracks. Now, it's headed to auction.
To understand what makes this thing so important, let's take a brief trip back to the 1960s. Back then, Toyota needed something new to give it a presence on the international scene, something that could compete with the popular European sports cars of the time. As such, the Toyota 2000GT was given the green light, creating what is widely considered Japan's first supercar.
This particular example was the first serial-numbered chassis ever built, stamped as MF10-10001. It was also originally finished in red, touring the car show circuit to introduce the world to the Toyota 2000GT nameplate.
After strutting its stuff on the show floor, Toyota sent MF10-10001 over to Shelby American for competition in SCCA C-Production racing. Shelby was tasked with proving Toyota's worth on the race track, and to that end, he took delivery of three Toyota 2000GT coupes total.
Shelby and Toyota modified MF10-10001 with a variety of race-ready equipment, including Girling brakes, a new oil pan, a differential cooler, adjustable Koni shocks, a dual exhaust, and Halibrand magnesium wheels. The interior was stripped down and fitted with an aluminum dash panel and Stewart-Warner instrumentation, as well as a roll bar, racing harnesses, and a gated shifter.
Providing the motivation is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter DOHC inline six-cylinder engine, an engine that Toyota had developed in partnership with Yamaha. The 'six is topped with three Weber twin-choke carburetors, with output uprated to an estimated 210 horsepower, all of which is directed rearwards through a five-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. Front and rear independent suspension gives the lightweight coupe (less than 2,500 pounds) sharp handling.
With regard to the Toyota-Shelby racing effort, this particular 2000GT served as the team's development and backup car, with the other two examples serving as the primary racing vehicles. Shelby ended up fourth in the 1968 SCCA National Championship, securing 18 podium finishes, including four first-place finishes, eight second-place finishes, and six third-place finishes.
Fast forward to the '80s, and MF10-10001 received a full body-off restoration to return it to its original 1968 SCCA configuration, including peeling back the paint to the original livery.
All told, this Toyota 2000GT ticks all the important boxes for a collectible. Now, it's headed to the Gooding & Company Amelia Island Auction as Lot 42, slated to kick off tomorrow. Considered one of the most important Japanese cars ever built, MF10-10001 is estimated to be worth between $2.75 million and $3.5 million. Head back this way for the final price realized.
Of course, if that's a little too rich for your blood, there's also the 2JZ-powered Toyota 2000GT replica that Tuner Fan covered previously. Finally, as a side note, we should mention that Japanese cars in general are surging in value with regard to collectibility. That even includes '90s-era tuner cars like the Toyota Supra, Acura NSX, and Honda S2000, as we covered previously. Stay tuned for more.
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