What’s that, you say? You’ve never seen the Top Gear segment where they drive the Toyota 2000GT? That’s because it just aired as part of a BBC special to coincide with the lastest James Bond film, Skyfall (in which the spy resurrects the classic Aston Martin DB5). There are many reasons why Daniel Craig could be the best Bond ever, but he sealed the deal with his answer to Richard Hammond‘s query of what his favorite Bond car was.
“I love that little… Datsun in Japan,” says Craig. Okay, so perhaps he’s not exactly a frothing Toyotaku — or perhaps he’s more of a J-tin anorak than we could ever imagine and was thinking of the Fairlady Z-based 2000GT by Roadster Garage — but what he meant was You Only Live Twice‘s Toyota 2000GT.
Hammond agrees as we smash cut to southern California where he’s driving the Pegasus White beauty from the Toyota USA Museum’s collection. Though a short segment, it’s produced with all the stunning cinematography and helicopter tracking shots that Top Gear is known for, and it’s well worth a viewing.
Even just a couple of years ago, a Top Gear segment on the Toyota 2000GT probably would have mocked it ruthlessly. But when Hammond calls it “exquisite,” “absolutely gorgeous” and “even without the Bond connection, a very important car” — with nary a mention of the E-Type as Brits are genetically obligated to do whenever the owner of a long hood/short deck GT is within earshot — it’s clear that the 2000GT is finally getting some long-deserved recognition as a classic that can stand on its own.
Watch the whole BBC special or start the 2000GT at 2:44 in part two.
Awesome segment. What a contrast in presentation of a Japanese classic, vs. Transformer’s p.o.s. backhanded comment. I’ve driven all the brand new Camaros including the SS, and I think they’re clearly delusional on what a p.o.s. is.
Full version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH3Zq07JE8o
Lotus Excel use a Supra rims @ 58:23 or maybe Im wrong.
You are not wrong! Toyota owned a stake in Lotus at one point and many Toyota components can be found in Lotus cars. AE86 taillights on later Esprits, W58 transmissions on Excel, etc.
And the Aw11 Mr2’s suspension was designed by a man from lotus.
Ben:Any chance we might get an article on the Lotus/
Toyota relationship? I’d love to be more knowledgable on the subject.
Nope, you are correct. Those are 100% supra rims. Got 5 in my garage haha
Very strange though..
On a side note, i believe Lambo Diablos used 300zx headlights.
It might’ve been from the Toyota Museum, but it’s not listed in the credits.
It’s wearing California manufacturer plates.
“with nary a mention of the E-Type as Brits are genetically obligated to do whenever the owner of a long hood/short deck GT is within earshot”
Hit the nail on the head there.
Best bond? Ehh, I prefer the older movies with their dry humor. They’re all to srs bsns nowadays.
What’s this about the 2KGT being based on a Z??
He’s exactly like Batman now, complete with own Alfred, but that’s okay cause I like The Bat Man.
That 2000GT linked to in the article was built by Roadster Garage, a company that puts 2000GT bodies on S30 Zs and Miatas.
The Z-based roadster that they mention above is actually a conversion that was done a few years back due to the super-rarity of 2000gts and the abundance of the old z chassis. If I remember its basically a Z with a 2000gt shell. However, the 2000gt and Z do have some weird lineage together due to some twisted Nissan-Toyota-Yamaha manage-et-trios that I don’t really remember the details of.
Yeah, I loved watching this programme and I was really, really pleased to see the 2000GT being presented so beautifully, and on a par with the DB5.
As a hardcore Toyotaku and Bondotaku (?),I enjoyed that show beyond description.
Toysport in SoCal has one of the rare 2000GT’s in red! They usually have it out for viewing whenever the weather is good, and/or at car events…
Did you guys post the Jay Leno vid of him driving THE Bond 2000GT?