• Part of The Degenève Collection
• One of only 337 examples of Toyota’s iconic halo car built between 1967 and 1970
• Equipped with a 2-litre twin-cam straight-six, five-speed transmission, and four-wheel disc brakes
• Conceived to rival the Jaguar E-Type and Porsche 911

Superlatives are all too often abused in the car world, but in the case of the Toyota 2000GT the praise is fully justified—and then some. The most significant, coveted, extraordinary, beautiful… All can surely be applied to such an astonishing machine. Small wonder that this masterpiece of high-performance chic forms the centrepiece of The Degenève Collection, a showcase curated by one of Europe’s longest-serving Toyota dealers.

A collaboration between Toyota and Yamaha, the 2000GT was unveiled at the 1965 Tokyo Motor Show before going on sale in May 1967. Conceived to demonstrate that Japan could rival the best Europe had to offer, Toyota had its sights firmly set on Jaguar and Porsche, while the 2000GT’s backbone chassis pays obvious homage to Lotus. Beneath the sleek bonnet, there was a 148 horsepower 1,988 cc twin-cam straight-six fed via triple Mikuni-Solex twin-choke carburettors. There were independent double-wishbone suspension and disc brakes all round, plus a five-speed transmission, limited-slip differential, and 220 km/h top speed. And then there was the styling. With such exotic lines, the 2000GT was the obvious transport for 007 in You Only Live Twice. But the centre-lock magnesium-alloy wheels, vast driving lights and Zagato-inspired roofline all shouted endurance prototype—so Toyota dutifully took its movie star racing, notable results including first and second in the inaugural Suzuka 1000 km.

In all, a mere 337 2000GTs were produced from 1967 to 1970 but, remarkably, this is the third to have belonged to the current owner. One of the arguably more attractive first-series cars (of which 233 were built), “MF10-10050” is a right-hand-drive domestic-market example that left the Yamaha factory on 26 July 1967. Finished in the original Pegasus White, the Toyota is said to have been restored before being imported from Japan in 2013. Since arriving in Europe, it has been a focal point in a Toyota showroom and made appearances at events including Epoqu’Auto in Lyon and Auto Rétro in Vetraz-Monthoux. The car’s recent history is told in a video produced by the Petrolicious website.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa23.