One of the most influential Japanese cars in history, the Toyota 2000 GT is highly sought-after, with only 351 ever built, and roughly 60 of those exported to the US. Even among those, this is a special example. The first serial-numbered 2000 GT chassis, MF10-10001, was completed on September 27, 1966, and was originally finished in Solar Red. In a bid to enter SCCA C-Production racing, Toyota handed it and two other examples over to Carroll Shelby and his team, who plussed the cars with exhaust, brake, wheel, and suspension upgrades, and also added a roll bar, racing harnesses, and a Ferrari-style gated shifter. The other two examples were used as the primary racing cars, while MF10-10001 was the backup, thus seeing less wear and tear. In 1980 it was purchased by a noted 2000 GT specialist, who spent over a decade giving the vehicle a complete body-off restoration, bringing it back to its original 1968 SCCA configuration complete with its historic white and metallic blue racing livery. With such a rare provenance, and in pristine condition, it’s one of — if not the — most desirable 2000 GTs on the planet.
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