It was Nissan, not Toyota, who first commissioned the styling for a shapely 2-seat sports coupe from BMW 507 designer Graf Goertz in 1963. Yamaha built a running prototype, but Nissan backed out fearing its high cost and Toyota took over the project. The first Toyota 2000GT debuted at the 1965 Tokyo motor show featuring a twin-cam 1988-cc inline-six making 150 hp, a 5-speed gearbox, and an all-independent wishbone suspension. Built by Yamaha, the 2000GT's price was indeed high: $6800. Just 337 copies were built.
In 1968, with his Ford relationship over, Carroll Shelby entered two Toyota 2000GTs in the Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA) C-production category for under-2.0-liter cars. With factory support, the 200-hp Shelby American 2000GTs driven by Scooter Patrick and Davey Jordan faced tough competition from Porsche and Triumph and its drivers finished 3rd and 4th respectively in the point standings. At the end of the season, Toyota pulled the plug on its first factory-sponsored race effort in the United States. |
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