By the mid-1960s, Toyota saw the need to create a halo model – one that would raise international awareness of the Japanese brand. Toyota aimed high, seeking to compete with the finest European sports and GT cars. During summer 1964, Project 280A commenced, which ultimately led to the creation of the legendary 2000 GT.

In developing this all-new sports car, Toyota partnered with Japanese motorcycle giant Yamaha for the engineering of a two-liter, twin-cam six-cylinder engine based upon an existing Toyota cylinder block. Inspired by Lotus’ lightweight Elan, Toyota engineers designed a clever backbone chassis that allowed the car to sit low to the ground, while concealing a fully independent suspension. Weighing less than 2,500 pounds, the 150 hp straight six gave the car a 0–60 time of 10 seconds and a top speed of 137 mph. The 2000 GT’s extremely low center of gravity and neutral weight balance produced a very satisfying driving experience.

Key to the project was impeccable and distinctive styling. Following numerous revisions and engineering trials, Toyota’s in-house stylist Satoru Nozaki’s low-profile fastback coupe design came to life. Many of the car’s design cues were unique and remain influential to this day. With an overall height of less than 47", a curvaceous body, and brilliantly executed details, the 2000 GT was simply stunning.

It is safe to say that, with the 2000 GT, Toyota accomplished its original objective: to establish a presence on the world’s automotive stage. Though Toyota had initially set sales goals of 1,000 cars per year, the high cost of constructing these exotics brought the project to a close after just 351 were built, with only about 60 having been exported to the US. So scarce were the 2000 GTs that most of the American dealers on the allocation list were sent only one car each. It is certain that they attracted curious enthusiasts to Toyota dealerships and drove sales of all models at a critical time in the company’s expansion into foreign markets. Some of the massive success Toyota has enjoyed in the decades since may be traced back to these few magnificent, hand-built cars.

The 2000 GT presented here, chassis MF10-10001, maintains a special place in the history of this groundbreaking Japanese sports car, as it is the first serial-numbered example built and the first of just three examples that Shelby prepared for SCCA C-Production racing, Toyota’s first foray into US motor sports.

As documented in Shin Yoshikawa’s definitive book Toyota 2000 GT: The Complete History of Japan’s First Supercar, MF10-10001 was completed on September 27, 1966, making it the first of just four pre-production cars completed that year. Originally finished in Solar Red (code 2310) and configured in right-hand drive, MF10-10001 is one of the original show cars used by Toyota Motor Sales USA to introduce the 2000 GT publicly. Following its promotional duties, MF10-10001 was designated as a company car for Akiri Miki, a Toyota executive eager to take the new 2000 GT racing in North America.

Although Toyota had successfully raced pre-production versions of the 2000 GT in Japan between 1965 and 1967, the company was keen to demonstrate its prowess in the US – the single most important market for automakers. At the time, the SCCA’s C-Production category appeared to be an ideal proving ground to pit the 2000 GT against rivals from Porsche, Lotus, Triumph, and Datsun.

Peter Brock was initially tapped to develop the 2000 GT for competition use, but Carroll Shelby persuaded Toyota executives to work with his team, based on their consistent track record for producing winners. Once he had secured the contract, Shelby entrusted the development of the 2000 GT to an experienced team led by Rich Erickson, Lew Spencer, and Phil Remington. During summer 1967, Toyota allocated three cars to the project: MF10-10001, 10005, and 10006.

That September, MF10-10001 underwent extensive testing at Riverside International Raceway, where it was entrusted to ex-Honda Formula 1 driver Ronnie Bucknum. To prepare the 2000 GT for SCCA racing, Shelby and Toyota engineers fitted the cars with dual megaphone exhausts, Girling brake calipers, adjustable KONI shock absorbers, a differential cooler, modified oil pan, and special Halibrand magnesium wheels wearing Goodyear racing tires. Inside, the car’s elegant rosewood dashboard was eschewed in favor of a simple aluminum panel filled with Stewart-Warner instruments, while a roll bar and racing harnesses were installed for safety. The most noticeable modification was a beautiful Ferrari-style gated shifter, which provided a precise gear change.

In October 1967, Shelby Racing sent a letter to the SCCA announcing its intention to enter the Toyota 2000 GT in National C-Production events during the upcoming season. By December, the three specially prepared 2000 GTs were ready to make their competition debut. Chassis 10005 and 10006 were to serve as the primary racing cars, while 10001 was retained as the backup entry and for continued development use.

Throughout 1968, the Shelby-prepared 2000 GTs were driven by Scooter Patrick and Dave Jordan, veterans of the Otto Zipper Racing Team. At the end of the season, the Toyota-Shelby team had placed 4th in the SCCA National Championship standings, behind Porsche and Triumph. Although they failed to secure the championship, it had been a successful demonstration of the 2000 GT’s potential, with four 1st, eight 2nd, and six 3rd place finishes. Dave Jordan praised the Toyota’s performance stating, “It was a terrific car…The handling was phenomenal. Great brakes, very stiff. The only thing that was lacking was by mid-season we couldn’t match the horsepower that Porsche was developing.”

By the close of the season, Toyota had invested nearly $500,000 in its SCCA racing program and decided to shift focus to the development of a Group 7 sports car for Can-Am competition. While it had not been as successful as Toyota had hoped, the company made the most of its SCCA exposure, featuring the Shelby-prepared 2000 GTs in its sales literature for the model.

After its racing career, MF10-10001 was displayed at Gulf States Toyota in Houston, and then returned to Toyota’s North American headquarters in Southern California, where it was retained as a demonstrator for special events. Having been painted many times over the original racing livery, the car laid fallow for over a decade until it was sold to well-known collector Jeff Lewis of Newport Beach, California.

In 1980, the consignor, a gentleman widely regarded as the foremost 2000 GT specialist, acquired MF10-10001 from Mr. Lewis. Over the next decade, his workshop performed a complete body-off restoration, with the goal of returning this significant car to its original splendor. During this process, the 2000 GT was carefully disassembled and stripped to bare metal, one coat at a time, to reveal its original livery. After years of research and meticulous preparation, the Toyota was faithfully restored to its original 1968 SCCA configuration, including its unique Shelby mechanical components and historic white and metallic blue racing livery.

Immediately post-restoration, MF10-10001 debuted at the 1994 Vintage Celebration at New Hampshire International Speedway, where it won First in Class. In 2004, the 2000 GT was invited to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it was driven up the hill by Dr. Akihiko Saito, the former CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation. When Toyota was honored at the 2007 Monterey Historic Automobile Races, this car was among the twenty-five 2000 GTs in attendance. More recently, this 2000 GT has received First in Class awards at the 2013 Lime Rock Sunday in the Park Concours and the 2017 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

In addition to its many concours accolades, MF10-10001 has been successfully campaigned in historic events, including multiple outings at Lime Rock, Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, and Moroso Park. It was also featured in a Japanese documentary about the 2000 GT and is pictured in several books on the marque and model.

Given its unique status as the first serial-numbered 2000 GT produced and its important role in the Carroll Shelby-run SCCA racing program, MF10-10001 is surely among the most significant Toyotas ever built and, arguably, one of the most important and influential Japanese automobiles of all time.

In the same ownership since 1980, and never before offered at public auction, this 2000 GT is a truly remarkable machine – one worthy of the finest collections.