Is the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet too common for you? Toyota might just have the ultimate droptop crossover in the form of an open-top Century SU . The bad news is, there’s only one in the entire world, and you have to be a sumo champion to get a ride in it.
Last week Akio Toyoda was appointed to a new job, head of the Japan Sumo Association. Apparently the Toyota chairman is also a big sumo fan. He’s reportedly good friends with Hakuho Sho, the renowned yokozuna that holds a record 45 championships. Obviously, Toyoda couldn’t let his bud ride in a car made by another manufacturer, so he commissioned a one-off “parade car” to be used in official sumo ceremonies.
Strictly speaking, it’s not a convertible because there is no way to close the roof, since it will be primarily used as a parade car. It wasn’t merely a matter of lopping it off, though. Toyota had to make a custom trunk panel to replace the space that would be left by the missing tailgate. A raised rear bench replaces the standard back seat. Toyota engineers sought out a furniture maker to create it, and made it strong enough to support a 400-pound wrestler or two.
Toyota has made a number of one-off roofless cars, including a Century for the Japanese royal family and an open-top Mirai Popemobile. In the past several generations of Crowns have also had their tops chopped to use as parade cars for sporting events.
The Toyota Century was named so because its debut in 1967 coincided with what would have been the 100th birthday of Sakichi Toyoda, founder of the Toyota Group and great-grandfather of Akio Toyoda. As it happens, December 28, 2025 will mark the Japan Sumo Association’s 100th anniversary, so it’s only fitting that a Century become the official parade car.
Time to become a Sumo champ.