This 1968 Toyota 2000GT Just Sold for $850,000
Hannah DeWitt
· 4 min read
The 1968
Toyota
2000GT is as beautiful as it is rare, and a lucky (and likely very rich) person recently had the honor of purchasing one. Classic car auctions often feature rare and expensive cars, and this particular gem from Toyota found a new home through an online auction.With its rarity and beauty in mind, it is not surprising that the winning bidder paid $850,000 for the 1968 Toyota 2000GT.
Beyond being one of the most gorgeous cars ever designed, the 2000GT is a historically significant sports car. According to
Jalopnik
, the 2000GT helped establish Toyota and Japan overall as major players in the automotive industry.
History of the 1968 Toyota 2000GT
Today, Toyota produces some of the best-selling vehicles on the market and is widely known for reliability. This was not always the case, though. In the 1960s, there was a negative stigma against Japanese cars in general. Honda motorcycles were relatively successful, but American drivers just didn't accept Japanese cars.
This remained true until 1965 when Toyota released a sports car so visually stunning that even harsh critics were left impressed. The Toyota 2000GT was first seen at the Tokyo Motor Show. It immediately demonstrated that Japanese cars had just as much quality, style, and power as cars from the United States or Europe.
Some writers from the time compared it to the Porsche 911, one of the most famous sports cars of all time. The acclaim of the Toyota 2000GT helped the rest of the world become more open to what Japan had to offer.
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The Toyota 2000GT is a high-performance car full of style
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Comparisons to the Porsche 911 are appropriate not just because of the 2000GT's style but because of its performance as well. The Toyota 2000GT is powered by an inline-six 1,988 cc engine that produces 148 horsepower. This engine was co-developed by Toyota and Yamaha, emphasizing the idea that Japanese manufacturers deserved recognition.
The body of the 2000GT is as aerodynamic as it is handsome, and this combination of style and function extends to its wheels. The 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels are an iconic part of the stylish classic.
Style extends to the car's interior as well, as the 1968 2000GT is a relic of its era in all the best ways. Wood is showcased on the dashboard, steering wheel, and manual shift, and it gives the car an air of sophistication. The 2000GT's vinyl seats also help give the car an elegant look.
How did the 2000GT make it to auction?
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To understand the winning bid that the 1968 Toyota 2000GT received at auction, it is important to know just how rare this car is. In total, there were just 351 units produced. Out of these, only 109 of them were left-hand drive models like the one that appeared at auction, and just 54 of them came to America.
According to
Bring A Trailer
, the car that was auctioned had spent time in a museum in Japan and arrived in the U.S. in 2013. It also has astonishingly low mileage, and the odometer states that it’s only been driven 12,000 miles.You might not drive a one-of-a-kind Toyota classic, but regardless of what you drive, you can still save money on car insurance. With
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