Papercraft model of the Toyota 2000GT, the 1967 sports car that catapulted Japanese engineering's international reputation, famous for its appearance in the James Bond film “You Only Live Twice.”
| Manufacturer | Toyota |
|---|---|
| Season | 1967 |
| Category | Classics |
| Scale | 1:24 |
| Difficulty | Low |
| Estimated time | 2-3 hours |
| Print format | 1 A4 sheets |
| Source | Paper Model World (Takahiro Kojima) |
What you'll need: 200-250 gsm paper or cardstock, scissors or a craft knife, a ruler and glue stick.
Co-developed with Yamaha, the 2000GT proved Japanese industry could compete with Europe's great tourers, and its appearance in a James Bond film cemented it as a cultural icon.
The Toyota 2000GT grew out of a joint project with Yamaha, which contributed much of its engine and precision-engineering expertise, at a time when European grand-touring manufacturers still viewed Japanese carmakers with skepticism. Launched in 1967, it packed an inline six-cylinder engine with double overhead camshafts, a low-slung body inspired by contemporary European design, and a level of hand-built finish rarely seen in Japanese production of the era; total output stayed extremely limited, at just over 300 cars across its entire run.
Its biggest moment in the international spotlight came in 1967, when a specially built convertible version appeared alongside Sean Connery in the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice," since the standard coupe's roofline was too low to fit the actor. The car was also used to set several speed and endurance records at the Yatabe test track, reinforcing its image as a serious sports car rather than just a design curiosity. Because so few were built, the 2000GT is now one of the most prized and highly valued Japanese classics in the collector market.