The Toyota 2000GT was the fastest brand-building halo ever | Revelations with Jason Cammisa | Ep. 25

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Toyota's 2000GT was one of the fastest cars in history. Its 16 international and world endurance-speed records have nothing to do with it: the Yamaha-built Toyota 2000GT did for Toyota in eight short years what took Hyundai more than three decades: it catapulted Toyota from the laughingstock maker of Japanese curiosities (like the 1958 Toyopet Crown) to the esteemed manufacturer of a Porsche-beating supercar.

Set out to be a world-beater, the 2000GT had the Jaguar E-Type in its sights (and its long hood) but the Lotus Elan under its skin. With a backbone chassis inspired by (read: shamelessly stolen from) the Lotus, the 2000GT competed directly with the best sports cars of its time.

In fact, its spec sheet reads like the best sports cars from decades later — with a 7000-rpm twin-cam engine, fully synchronized 5-speed manual, 4-wheel disc brakes, limited-slip differential, rack-and-pinion steering, and 4-wheel independent suspension with double wishbones at each corner.

The intricately and beautifully appointed interior features Rosewood and Mahogany woods finished by Yamaha's musical instrument division.

Its exterior design is often incorrectly attributed to Albrecht Goertz, but was in fact done internally at Yamaha and Toyota, with some inspiration taken from the Yamaha A5500X spec-built show car. Its similarities to the Datsun 240Z (Nissan S30 Fairlady) are unmistakable — but are the result of two cars designed in roughly the same era and with the same goals. Though let one thing be perfectly clear: the Toyota 2000GT cannot be a copy of the Nissan Fairlady Z; it came first.

In some ways, the 2000GT is the first Lexus, as it mirrors very closely the Lexus LF A: both had heavily influence from Yamaha, both were priced above their competitors, and worked as brand halos to catapult their markers reputations.

Learn about the history of the magnificent Toyota 2000GT here, in this episode of Revelations, researched, written, and hosted by Webby-award-winning automotive journalist Jason Cammisa.

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Jason Cammisa on the Icons | The definitive car review
Revelations | Untold Stories About Automotive Legends with Jason Cammisa

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Speaking of the LFA, we better get a Revelations on the LFA...and its V10. Listening to Cammissa talking about 16V heads and crank angles is a therapeutic process.

dhara
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I was stationed at Peral Harbor sub base in 1968. Every time I took public transportation from the base into Honolulu I had to make a transfer in front of a Toyota dealership. In that dealership was a 2000GT. I dreamed of owning that car, Msrp was over $7, 000, a Corvette was $4500. 50 years later the 2000gt is worth over 1 million dollars. Still can't afford one.

dougms
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Thanks for covering this car. Its criminally underrated, most people just focus on the eyewatering price and don’t appreciate the engineering behind that price. A bit like LFA back in the day.

camryt
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Effortlessly eye-catching car. One of the most elegant. clean designs ever.

alanparsonsfan
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The 2000GT really did put Japan on the map. Arguably the most beautiful car ever to come out of Japan.

peekaboo
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Every single episode that ends with a drive in the feature car... is SOOOO good. 11 minutes of info, then... engine rev and torque, engine sounds from the strategically placed camera on the front fender... that's what I'm here for. Awesome job Hagerty team.

chrisgramza
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Toyota's current image of reliability owes a lot to the 2000GT's near bullet proof resilience.

JohnFromAccounting
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FunFact: The James bond convertible version was a one of one, specially made for the movie as Sean Connery, at 190cm (6ft 2in), didn't fit in the cabin.

kennywallace
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This video series is so good. Anxiously awaiting the next one while likely watching this a few times over in the meantime!

EnthusiastAutoGroupCincinnati
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This man is so gifted and born for this. Sometimes when he is talking about another you think it ends there but then the next goes like that and you realize he won’t stop. Genius.

boxoffisa
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Love this. Especially the 200GT and LFA link... bravery, not an accountant changes the world. Sooo few people appreciate that.

jeremymoyse
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I didn't even know what Hagerty was until I saw the name in Gran Turismo 7's legendary dealership. I knew right then these guys had something to do with cars and their value - what I didn't expect was to find such consistently great, top-quality YouTube content. So good. Keep it up ♥

BrucifyMe
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This Series is just so good produced. Perfect balance of enthusiasm, Information, story telling and jokes.

FLIXXE
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The interior reminds me of the Lexus. I'm a vehicle inspector and I can tell you that I've inspected Lexus that are up to 14 years old. They all look just as beautiful today as they did the day they were sold. I believe that there are 2 reasons for this. First is the beyond superb quality of the build. Second is how well the owners take care of them. I've inspected every luxury brand out there and the Lexus tops them all. For both longevity and build quality. They are indeed the best.

billlittlejohn
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Automotive excellence as always! Just missed a little part where even Mr. Shelby raced a few 2000GT's back in the day 😅

j.d.
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i am now going to binge watch this whole series

HighBoi
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These episodes are so amazing I’ve literally started bursting out with laughter and “aahhhh” when Jason says a funny line. Never thought I would be this emotionally involved in a car video.

NOrlando
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those were the days, artists were making cars. Just look at how beautiful and elegant it is

basketbal
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I just can't get enough of the industrial art that is a nicely finished twin cam engine. And oh, at the end of the video, the gorgeous sound. I can only imagine how sweet it must be to drive a small straight six like that. The smooth balance, the responsiveness, and again, that sound.

Gerisheng
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I've been lucky enough to see the 2000GT from 'You Only Live Twice' in the metal, at the Toyota Car Museum in 2018. What's a stunning thought is that every car in the museum is required to be road legal, and drivable - which means that the Bond car is too, along with the 6 record holding 2000GT's in the museum as well...

martinlagrange