The Toyota 2000GT was launched in 1967 and after a three-year period, production ended with only 337 units being produced. As part of its Heritage Parts Project, Toyota Gazoo Racing will reproduce replacement parts for the rare model and will offer them for sale locally and internationally.
The project aims to reproduce replacement parts no longer available to Toyota collectors and sell them as genuine parts. This follows after the firm produced and sold replacement parts for the A70 and A80 Supra models since May 2019. The Toyota 2000GT came into being through collaboration between Toyota and Yamaha Motor Co. The stylish Toyota came fitted with a 2.0-litre DOHC straight-six engine, four-wheel double-wishbone suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, radial tires, magnesium alloy wheels, and retractable headlamps and could achieve a top speed of 220 km/h.
This all resulted in the vehicle achieving great feats, setting three speed-trial world records within the 10 000 miles, 15 000 km and 72-hour categories. Furthermore, it continued setting 13 more international records and won high placements in various international racing events. It also starred alongside Sean Connery in the spy film James Bond, You Only Live Twice.
The project will prompt collaborations in between Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyota plants and divisions and other suppliers and aim to start selling the reproduction parts form 1 August 2020. More information regarding the parts is available on the Toyota Gazoo Racing website and order books are open. The parts will also be available through official Toyota dealers and can be requested in the same process as genuine parts.
In an effort to mitigate the reselling of the parts, sales will be limited per car. Some of the parts that will be available are will be for the five-speed manual transmission including transmission-related gears, synchro hub and sleeve, gaskets and oil seal kit, bearing kit, snap ring kit, thrust washer, shift fork, differential-related final gear kit and ring gear set bolt.
Toyota South Africa Motors still retains possession of its own 2000GT heritage vehicle and has recently decided to conduct an all-round restoration to the vehicle. The project will be documented in stages and updates will be released via editorial pieces.
