To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Elkhart Collection event, 23 - 24 October 2020.
Estimate:
$700,000 - $850,000
- One of the most significant Japanese automobiles ever
produced
- One of 62 original left-hand-drive, US-market examples
- Kept for over 30 years by original owner and famed American
racer Otto Linton
- Restored by noted specialists Maine Line Exotics in the
original Solar Red
- A superb and beautiful example throughout
As its first venture into the automotive industry, Yamaha, by the
early 1960s already known for its motorcycles, decided to design a
high-tech, glamorous sports car. After the company completed its
initial design for the car, they offered it to Nissan, then to
Toyota, which accepted the project as an opportunity to prove that
their own engineers and designers could compete with the best on
the world stage.
Yamaha took the inline six-cylinder engine found in the Toyota
Crown and adapted it for use in a sports car by installing new
double overhead camshafts, bringing the total output to 150 bhp.
With a featherlight curb weight of just 2,400 pounds and a 49/51
weight distribution, the 2000GT had the perfect makings for a
wonderful driver's car, and top speed was a very respectable 135
mph.
The 2000GT was rare even when new, due to a towering sticker cost
$1,000 higher than an E-Type or 911, and $2,500 more expensive than
a Corvette. With Toyota still building its international
reputation, only 351 examples were produced, the vast majority for
the home market. Only 62 were completed with left-hand drive and
delivered to the United States, and most of those were sold to
Toyota dealers.
The example offered here, finished in the desirable color of Solar
Red, was one of three new 2000GTs supplied to Otto Linton, the
legendary Watkins Glen driver. Officially recognized as one of the
"Legends of the Glen," Mr. Litton had recently acquired a Toyota
dealership in Pennsylvania. He apparently considered this 2000GT
one of his favorite automobiles, reflected by the fact that he held
on to the car for over 30 years before passing it in 1998 to Rich
Jacobsen of Scranton, another Quaker State Toyota dealer. It would
be part of the Jacobsen Collection for six years.
In 2006 the car was acquired from Mr. Jacobsen by noted marque
specialists Maine Laine Exotics, who have owned or maintained
literally dozens of these cars. In their ownership a restoration
was undertaken, after which the car was exhibited on the Toyota
Motorsports 50th Anniversary Display at the Rolex Monterey Historic
Automobile Races in 2007. That same year it was sold to Brown
Maloney of Sequim, Washington, who drove it on the 2010 Copperstate
1000. Eventually it made its way into the Elkhart Collection.
Finished to a high standard, this 2000GT has a very authentic and
proper look, with correct finishes to the engine bay and
well-fitted bodywork. The interior is largely tight and crisp, with
only minor patina, and the dashboard fascia and wooden steering
wheel are both beautiful.
With the 2000GT having finally emerged from years as a fascinating
obscurity, the model is now appreciated as the well-engineered,
highly competent, and innovative sports car that it is. No
collection of performance machinery can be considered complete
without this Japanese legend. This example, with its Otto Linton
heritage and striking color, would be particularly suitable.To view
this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please
visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20.