Toyota 2000GT

Information

This 2000GT is one of the very first built. It bears chassis number MF10-10008 and was imported with a sister car to England for the filming and promotion of the James Bond film 'You Only Live Twice' in 1966. The two cars were white and were ultimately not used for filming, as two spiders were ultimately specially made for this purpose. They were also not used to promote the film, with one of the spiders touring motor shows. The two cars were stored in the Eon Production reserve until Sidney Caine, the production's Designer and Art Director, became interested and bought MF10-10008 for £1,000, enough to pay the taxes and costs incurred by the production. In July 1968, it was registered in his name, and he was even caught by the police while driving at over 220 km/h.

After spending two years in a Brighton garage, it found a buyer in the person of Viscount Charles Raynham of Norfolk. Not rich, however, this man is looking for a sports car. Unfamiliar with the 2000GT, he himself says he paid only £1,800 to acquire the car from HR Owen's garage in 1971 (HR Owen has been a renowned car salesman since the 1940s).

It only has 18,000 km on the odometer, but the paintwork is no longer very fresh, and a small impact damaged the front end. According to the newspaper cited above, in a 1983 article, the bodywork was made of aluminum. Repaired, it was repainted gray. The mechanics also needed an overhaul. From then on, Toyota used it for its advertising, in exchange for which it was meticulously maintained by the brand's general agent for the United Kingdom, Mike Copeland, as well as the workshop manager, Derek Jones.

Over the next decade, the engine, gearbox, and axle were rebuilt, along with a few minor parts, but always with the aim of keeping the car in as original a condition as possible. It appeared in several specialist magazine articles in the 1980s and 1990s, being considered the only 2000GT in England. In July 1983, it had 72,000 km on the clock.

Auctioned on May 24, 1995 in Monaco by Brooks auction house, lot 205, it was estimated at around £25,000. The hammer fell at £35,000 and MF10-10008 left the United Kingdom. (According to Motorbase.com , it reportedly went for 32,240 FF.