Bond is back! The 25th James Bond film, No Time To Die, is in the cinemas now and has revived interest in the debonair British spy. What better time to remind you of James Bond’s Toyota 2000GT, which featured in the movie You Only Live Twice, the fifth in the Bond series, way back in 1967.
Appearing in the midst of the Swinging Sixties, James Bond’s Toyota 2000GT, predominantly driven by main female star Akiko ‘Aki’ Wakabayashi in the film, was no ordinary 2000GT, if indeed there is such a thing! Even Daniel Craig, who plays Bond in No Time To Die, has hailed the 2000GT as his personal favourite Bond car.
Thanks to the experts at CommanderBond.net and 2000GT.net, we can share ten interesting facts about the first Toyota supercar and its place in the 007 canon.
- The Toyota 2000GT was unveiled at the Tokyo motor show in October 1965. It would become the star of show and was later seen in car magazines around the world, where it likely caught the eye of Bond producer Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli.
- Thanks to the overwhelming popularity of “Zero-Zero” (as 007 is often referred to in Japan), Toyota was happy to assist with the supply of cars for the You Only Live Twice movie.
- The first two 2000GTs to be used in the film were coupes (similar to that pictured above) but it soon became apparent that Sean Connery was too tall to comfortably fit in the car and filming of the interior shots proved tricky.
- As a result, Toyota created two 2000GT roadsters to ensure the film crew could capture all the shots they needed. These were the only open-top 2000GT ever officially produced.
- The film’s main female star, Akiko ‘Aki’ Wakabayashi, was unable to drive, so two Toyota test drivers operated the pedals and gears for her.
- Toyota (and ‘Q’, of course) installed a range of Sony gadgets to James Bond’s Toyota 2000GT. These included CCTV, a VCR, cameras behind the front number plate, two-way radios, voice-controlled tape recorder and an audio system.
- The original coupes were sold on and remained in private ownership in the UK until 1995. Both models are now back in Japan.
- The fate of the cars used in the film is less clear. Back in the 1970s one of them was reported to be wrecked, although the company who was tasked to dispose of them were rumoured to have sold it to a private buyer.
- The other 2000GT roadster was discovered in Hawaii in 1977 and eventually brought back to Japan and restored, where it now takes pride of place in the Toyota Museum. It is regarded as one of the most valued cars in the collection.
- In total, 351 2000GTs were produced (including for racing and movies) and 150 were shipped outside of Japan. It’s unknown how many are still in circulation but any put on auction can expect to sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
For more information about James Bond’s Toyota 2000GT, visit CommanderBond.net.
Details in this article were correct at the time of publication.
Toyota should produce a “modern” version perhaps using the yaris gr running gear and an auto for us with bad backs!
Classic of it’s time.
The in-car shots in the movie of the dashboard are actually of an Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider. In one of the shots, you can even see the blue hood!
A little referred plausible origin of the ‘double oh’ or oo7 stems from Queen Elizabeth I special advisor John Dee. His communiqués with HRH were signed ‘oo7’. oo : for HRH eyes only; and 7 : from numerology.
Within the context of zero zero 7 there is a difference;-)
Please, please, please Toyota, make this car again. It is so beautiful, by far and away the best car to come out of Japan. I don’t think Yamaha need much persuasion to make the engine, judging from Japanese chatrooms, there’s a lot of eagerness in Japan to do it. So come on Toyota, do it!
Please Toyota! Do for this car what Eagle did for the E Type, but make it more affordable. It’s without question the best looking Bond car but beyond that it’s arguably one of the best looking roadsters ever made. There is a current thirst for classics, especially classics with modern running gear. I’d bet that a limited edition of 500 would sell without any marketing costs at all!
Just watching You only live Twice, so had to find out what happened to the 2000GT , pleased to hear 1 of the 2 used as the film car still exists , Toyota have it in the Toyota Museum seems the most appropriate place for it.
Be vey surprised if it’s not appeared in several Bond car Shows. Must be the 3rd most well known 007 car after which is obviously the most famous the silver DB5 ,white Lotus Esprit then the 2000GT.
I think you can add to that short list the DB9 Daniel Craig drove in Casino Royale.
The car is not too memorable. Not too special
The DB9 was in fact a clone based on a Ford F something, they needed 4×4 and clearence to the ground. (some were real)
I read here today because we have a S2000 in for a paintjob, and remembered it from a Bond movie back in the 70ties, i saw it late in the 70ties, as i was 16-18 years old.
One commenter suggested that Toyota should remake the Convertible 2000 GT with modern Technology in a Limited Edition of 500 that would sell out quickly without any marketing cost. Up that to 500,000 and they would still All be gone within a year…One of the Most Beautiful Sports Cars ever made!!!
Interestingly Yamaha built the complete original cars