It doesn't feel right, writing a blog with the theme "JDM Sport Muscle Car Legends" without naming the Toyota 2000GT. Many call the car with the Grand Touring class is the first Japanese sportcar. Hey, what about 800 Sports? Ah, even though it looks sporty, with only 800cc engine, is the performance quite sporty? Certainly not!
Toyota 2000GT Japanese First Sportcar
Design Toyota 2000GT, just like the 60s era sportcar from Japan like Datsun 240Z Fairlady . Mimic the Jaguar E-Type! Originally, 2000GT was a famous designer design for Albrecht Goertz for Nissan, but because Nissan felt less comfortable, the 2000GT design was later refined by Satoru Nozaki, to later become a 2000GT prototype with 280A code (prototype 2000GT).
Not only imitating, 2000GT made a special Toyota to slaughter the E-Type! With lighter weight, more compact size & better handling, 2000GT actually has a great chance to become a successful car. Oh yeah, why does 2000GT use the main light pop-up model? After I searched for information, it turned out that this was because of the American traffic law which required that the headlights should be 2 feet higher on the asphalt.
Not enough? 2000GT is the first Japanese car to use discs on all four wheels, as well as .... LSD (Limited Slip Differential)! No wonder there are many media & testers who say handling 2000GT is better than the E-Type!
Just look at the cabin! In his day, many people (especially the European & American public) thought that Japanese cars had a poor quality workmanship. However, because Toyota wants 2000GT to be able to align with the sportcar of the two continents, Toyota has chosen a skilled & meticulous hand-work method.
Toyota, designed the 2000GT seriously. The technology is quite advanced and innovative for the size of Japanese cars in its era, such as the installation of independent suspension models on 4 wheels, long arm control & rack & pinion steering for more responsive control.
Switch to the engine. Toyota installed an inline engine (which explains why its nose is long!) 6 cylinders from Toyota Crown. The DOHC engine with this 2000cc Mikuni-Solex carburetor is a collaboration between Toyota & Yamaha. With a power of 150pp & topspeed of more than 200km / h, 2000GT is one of the fastest cars of Japan in its time.
Since 2000GT is a Grand Tourer car, of course a comfortable & spacious cabin is an absolute thing. Forget about the passenger seat, because the 2000GT which was also created by the kabriolet version specifically for the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice" is indeed more suitable for both to enjoy, splitting the wind and streets casually.
In fact, many say, that if the Toyota emblem is removed, maybe people will think this cabin belongs to Jaguar E-Type or the famous European sportcar has a cabin that is very beautiful & artistic. Bingo Sports, a top-class car specialist from Tokyo, Japan, managed to rebuild the car cabin of the rival Mazda Cosmo Sport carefully & as if it had just come out of a showroom!
Not only on the highway, Toyota also brought 2000GT to the racing arena. From the Japan Grand Prix to Fuji 24-Hours, Toyota won all the competitions. Caroll Shelby's racing legend himself uses 2000GT in the SCCA arena! But the most phenomenal were the records recorded 2000GT in the FIA 72-hour endurance race that made Porsche make the 911R to beat Toyota!
With a very limited number of production (only 351 units), today 2000GT has entered the exotic sportcar class, 1 level with Alfa Romeo & Ferrari. A very great achievement for the size of a Japanese car, and of course ... Is proof that Japan is indeed able to make everything!
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