Shelby-built Toyota 2000GT up for auction in the United States

While there’s no doubt that the values of Japanese icons like the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7 and so on have recently gone through the roof, there is still one car which stands head and shoulders above the rest: the Toyota 2000GT.

The 2000GT is considered the true beginning for Japanese sports metal, and has been a car which has consistently commanded seven figure sales prices at auctions long before anything else from the land of the rising sun started appreciating.

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Photos: Gooding & Company

While any 2000GT is a unique beast, this one could take the cake for the most desirable of the lot.

This exact car was part of Toyota’s brief collaboration with Carroll Shelby and his Shelby American race team, as Toyota was looking to change their image with a successful racing campaign in SCCA C-Production category in the US.

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The 1967 chassis MF10-10001 was not only one of three 2000GT’s prepared by Shelby American, but the auction house also claims it to be the first serial-numbered 2000GT ever built.

The book Toyota 2000 GT: The Complete History of Japan’s First Supercar, says MF10-10001 was completed in September 1966, making it the first of just four pre-production cars.

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Those cars were used for promotional duties in the US, before eventually landing in the hands of Shelby to help kick start Toyota’s racing aspirations.

The 2.0-litre, twin cam six cylinder engine remained during the migration from street to race car for this 2000GT, but adjustable Koni shocks, a diff oil cooler, dual megaphone exhausts, Halibrand wheels and upgraded brakes were all fitted to prepare it for racing.

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During their racing campaign in 1968, the three Shelby-prepared 2000GT’s (two race cars, one spare) were driven by Dave Jordan and Scooter Patrick, who yielded the Toyota team fourth in the overall teams championship in SCCA's National Championship that year.

Toyota shifted their racing focus shortly after so the 2000GT became a marketing tool for a little while, before making its way into the current owners hands in 1980.

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The owner completed a body-off restoration to the car's original 1968 racing spec, which was completed in 1994.

The car has since been used at many historical events, including the likes of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Monterey Historic Automobile Races.

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This is the first time the 2000GT has been offered for public sale since 1980, with the Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island auction kicking off on March 4.

Only 351 2000GTs were built, and with the historical significance of this one unparalleled, it’s anybody’s guess on how much it’ll sell for – but we’d expect a figure of at least US$1.5million.