UPDATE (27/10/20): Bidding on this 1967 Toyota 2000GT for sale exceeded RM Sotherby’s upper guide price valuation. The auction concluded with a winning bid of $912,500 (almost £696,000 at current exchange rates) to a buyer who remains anonymous. Happy motoring, whoever you are!
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Enthusiasts the world over are in agreement that the Toyota 2000GT is unrivalled in terms of beauty and exclusivity. Acclaimed as Japan’s first supercar, examples rarely change hands. Yet we know where one of the finest is coming up for sale at auction.
Purchased by legendary US race driver Otto Linton (1917-2018), this Solar Red example was built in 1967 and wears chassis number MF10-10100. This means it was the one-hundredth car of a grand total of 351 units made during the model’s short, three-year production run. But more than that, it is one of only 62 cars made in left-hand drive for the important United States export market.
Sometime in the mid-Sixties, Linton acquired a Toyota dealership in Pennsylvania, USA, which put the famous Watkins Glen racer in the enviable position of being able to order a brand new 2000GT, a sports car he apparently considered one of his all-time favourites. As such, Linton held on to the rare coupe for a little more than 30 years before eventually passing it to fellow Toyota dealer Rich Jacobsen, in whose hands the 2000GT took its position in a private collection.
Six years later the 2000GT was acquired by Maine Line Exotics, a company which has specialised in this particular model since 1976 and has had the privilege of restoring at least 53 of the 62 cars originally delivered to the United States. This example was no exception to that rule, and its full restoration culminated in #10100 being exhibited at the 2007 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion as part of Toyota Motorsport’s 50th anniversary display.
Soon afterwards, the 2000GT was sold to renowned classic motor vehicle collector Brown Maloney, who drove it on the 2010 Copperstate 1000 road rally. Eventually, the Toyota made its way into RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection, where it is being offered to auction at a guide price of $700,000 to $850,000 (approximately £527,000 to £640,000 at current exchange rates) and with no reserve.
Described by RM Sotheby’s as being “finished to a high standard, this 2000GT has a very authentic and proper look, with correct finishes to the engine bay and well-fitted bodywork”. The interior is also described as “largely tight and crisp, with only minor patina, and the dashboard fascia and wooden steering wheel are both beautiful”.
Thanks to RM Sotheby’s for its assistance with this post.
Images taken by Darin Schnabel ©2019 courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
Toyota 2000GT for sale – bonus images:
It’s an amazing car, but you could buy 55 Aygo’s for that – more than one for each week of the year!
Hi Bryan,
Thanks for your comment.
We’re sure you’ll appreciate that history has a price, especially for a model as remarkable as this!
Thanks.
Yes, but you wouldn’t have the same pleasure
Yes but these Aygos are like eggs from supermarket….. we are talking here about a 2000gt WTF???
This is definately up there as one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
Definately a car I would buy if I won the euro millions.
Thanks for your kind words, Andy! The 2000GT certainly is a special car.
Where would you take it first?
The most beautiful car of all time for me. Far more desirable than any E-Type or Italian concoction, possibly the only thing I would trade my Bristol Fighter (1 of 9) for.
Hi Nick,
Thanks for your kind words. The 2000GT is definitely an iconic part of Toyota’s history.
You can read more about the History of the 2000GT here: https://mag.toyota.co.uk/toyota-2000gt-history/.
We wish you many more happy miles with your Bristol Fighter.
Thanks.
I so want one. Stuff and e-type, boring overpriced and tedious. This rocks.
Lol
How much did this car sell for please
Hi Dave,
The auction concluded with a winning bid of $912,500 (almost £696,000 at current exchange rates).
Thanks.
I have loved this car for a long time. I first saw it in an Observor’s Book of Automobiles back in 1966 or thereabouts. Stirling Moss wrote the foreword to the book and the design commentary accused Toyota of taking the design from the E Type which, I think, was a fair observation at the time. What was more difficult to see back then was that this car would become so much more desirable than an E Type. The GT86 goes some of the way to being a new version but it will never have the kudos of this car. I wouldn’t change any part of the design and regard it as perfect.
In tonight’s dream I will handle this transaction too
Theses cars sit with the best cars around totally stunning