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Shelby Toyota 2000GT Becomes Most Expensive Toyota

30 March 2022

This Shelby tuned Toyota 2000GT has regained its crown for being the most expensive Japanese car to be sold. After selling at the Gooding & Co's auction in Florida for the dollar equivalent of £1.931 million, it beat the previous record held by a 2020 Toyota Supra GR. It comes to no surprise that this striking car has taken the title.

After this limited production sports car was introduced in 1967, it completely changed the view that the automotive world had on Japan. Japanese cars had the reputation of being dull and practical up until the 2000GT. It demonstrated its competitiveness with major European manufacturers, and proved that the Japanese could produce exciting and flamboyant cars just like the Europeans. Today the two-seater, mid-engine sports car is extremely collectable as just 351 standard models were built. This particular Shelby model had been under the same ownership since 1980, and has showcased at several motoring events in this time. It is one of just 3 made, making it far from surprising that this car has become the planet’s most valuable Japanese car.