In this movie, Bond never drove a white convertible Toyota 2000GT piloted cute Aki, a colleague from the Japanese Intelligence Service. Despite the fact that he did not show miracles superspy machine control, Toyota 2000GT deservedly gained the status bondmobilya.
The unusual design of Japanese cars, the selected filmmakers, quickly drew the attention of motorists, though, because before that James Bond preferred only British cars.
Supercar for the 007, and this time was fitted with a solid spy gadgets, designed with the latest science and technology by Sony. For license plates front and rear are mounted video cameras that transmit a signal to the monitors, built into the interior. This allowed Bond and Aki keep in touch with the head of the Japanese intelligence. In addition, the convertible was equipped with a radio telephone, a high-quality receiver, cassette player, who switched voice recorder in the glove compartment and even a miniature color TV. The current usual «filling» of the car — the dream of the 60s.
Film, Film, Film:
— Filmmakers of 007 for the first time significantly departed from the original plot of the novel;
— Directed by Lewis Gilbert twice refused to work on this film, but in the end agreed;
— Because of strained relations with the producers and the constant intrusion of journalists and paparazzi in his personal space (up to the toilet) Sean Connery refused to appear in the continuation of James Bond, and later stated that the role of Bond kills him an actor, he returned to the role of James Bond in the next Bond film, rejecting a bid of $ 1 million;
— The film is named after the first line of a haiku (national genre of Japanese poetry), written in the style of a famous Japanese poet Basho (you only live twice — live only twice, once when you're born — a time when you are born, and once when you look death in the face — the other, when you look death in the face), but in the book of haiku written by super agent and cited by him, and in that moment the film is omitted;
— The name of the movie «You Only Live Twice» proved prophetic for the crew: a team of creators was late for a flight and narrowly escaped death — has departed on a scheduled plane crashed shortly after takeoff, there were no survivors;
— During the filming of one of the operators of the film he lost a leg — an accident with a helicopter;
— Actress, sitting behind the wheel of Toyota 2000GT, did not know how to drive a car, creating the illusion of movement stunt six overs and cable, which is pulled over the car;
— The film's budget was $ 9.5 million, for 1967 it was an astronomical sum.
Film version
It is said that due to the high growth of Sean Connery (6.2 ft — 190 cm) in Japan appeared convertible sports car (in the Toyota 2000GT could put a man no taller than 5.8 feet). But the official version states that a «product placement» was one of the methods of promoting the newly created machine, and as directed by the filmmaker machine had to be open, is not it possible to effectively remove the shootout, and visible action actors.
As a result, instead of the windshield installed acrylic panel is completely removable — for close-up shots. Side windows, frames and controls were removed, the back was created by folding the roof simulator — specially for the film. All changes were completed in just two weeks.
Of the two original cars produced for the film, one located in Hawaii and returned to Japan, where he was completely rebuilt and sent to the Automobile Museum of Toyota in Aichi. Place the second car is unknown, but a few production cars have been converted at the replica of the car James Bond.
The actor, who plays in modern film adaptations of James Bond, Daniel Craig named the Toyota 2000GT bondmobilem your favorite all-time James Bond.
Original
Toyota 2000GT became a joint project of Toyota and Yamaha: Work on the concept began in 1963, after two years at the Tokyo Motor Show held public premiere roadster, and after a couple of years (in 1967) there was a Toyota sales start 2000 GT. This machine was made only three years, and in 1970 the model was removed from production.
Toyota has released just such a machine 351, two of them have been converted into convertibles especially for filming the movie «You Only Live Twice», 337 — released commercially. All machines are made on the production line at Yamaha, so as Toyota was involved only in the development of a sports car. 84 representative series had left the location of the steering wheel. All the cars were sold in the markets of Japan, US and Europe.
Model 2000GT got a unique exterior, even though it was designed on the platform of a conventional sedan: Double fastback with a streamlined body, long front and short stern. Design Toyota 2000GT is clearly reminiscent of its forms Jaguar E-type: climbing stylish headlights, chrome «fins» in the front and rear bumpers instead — tusks, round rear lights lighting, light alloy wheels. Most of the 2000GT were painted in red or white.
The technical characteristics of the Japanese roadster worthy of much attention, for those years, it was a breakthrough. Cars Toyota 2000GT had a 6-cylinder in-line DOHC engine with two camshafts, 12th valves and direct fuel injection. The engine was upgraded by Yamaha and is based on the engine Toyota Crown — in the 2-liter volume it produced 150 hp at 6600 rev / min and a maximum torque of 18 kg at 5000 rev / min. The fuel supply was carried out by three two-chamber carburettors — one for each cylinder.
Wheelbase is 2330 mm, the total length — 4175 mm, overall width — 1600 mm, and height — 1160 mm, weight of the vehicle — 1120 kg. Toyota engineers 2000 GT slides down the center of gravity for better stability and improved car body stiffness due to the progressive structure of the rear frame spars with closed profile. The rear-drive Toyota 2000GT established independent suspension on the parallel twin A-arm (formerly rear axle cars were zhestkozakreplennoy), reinforced front and rear disc brakes. Already at that time, this model was completed both mechanical and automatic transmission.
These specifications allow the car to develop the speed to 217 km / h in 10.1 seconds and a distance of 400 meters held for 15.9 seconds. Fuel consumption of 7.59 liters per 100 kilometers.
Design
Exquisite finish and the interior of Toyota 2000GT for the Japanese car industry of the time, to step behind the Western, could compete with the top interior design of sports cars made in England, for example, Jaguar.
Interior decorated with valuable species of wood and leather. Panels rosewood create a master company Nippon Gakki, producing musical instruments (now the company called Yamaha Corporation). The instrument panel is complemented by radio and clock function timing.
History of creation
Toyota 2000GT story began with that in the first Japanese Grand Prix three cars of Toyota won each of its class. Car sales soared, and the company's management had the idea to build a real sports car, not just a sports version of the mass model, namely a sports car.
By Mazda and Nissan almost at the same time with Toyota began to develop sports cars that would later become iconic: Mazda Cosmo Sports — the first production car with a rotary engine, Nissan (Datsun) 240Z — the best selling coupe, and Toyota 2000GT — the most beautiful and expensive sports cars of the time.
Designing a prototype instructed a small group of talented engineers, headed by Jiro Kawano (Jiro Kawano). Design Toyota 2000GT created Satoru Nozaki (Satoru Nozaki). His first drawings had opened the car headlights and the shape of the rear portion was not explicitly approved. As the experience of creating from scratch a car of this class, Toyota had hitherto not had to seek help from another Japanese engineering company — Yamaha, and, as it turned out, just in time: the head of the Yamaha Kawakami had quarreled with the President of Nissan Kawamata. Because of this quarrel it was closed completely finished project Nissan 2000GT, although the car had already been built. Someone thinks that the prototype Nissan A550X became the prototype Toyota 2000GT, but it is not: Nissan A550X in design had monocoque and engine production Yamaha.
Since January 1965 the team Cavanaugh continued working on the project since by Yamaha. To create a vehicle with a clean slate were picked up cars-referents: British sports cars Lotus Elan and Jaguar E-type. Jiro Kawano impressed appearance E-type, but the teardrop shape of the car on high speed lifted up the rear axle which made the car difficult to drive, and the standard of control was removed from the Lotus Elan.
Wind tunnel did not yet exist, but the 2000GT coupe design made with as low roof and low drag. The basis of the prototype took X-shaped backbone frame: in the Toyota experience has built this easy-to-manufacture design — build a space frame or tselnonesuschy body was more and more difficult.
Circling established essentially a racing double wishbones, and the first Japanese automobile disc brakes were installed around and rear limited-slip differential. Cavanaugh team together with representatives of Yamaha is actively introducing technical innovations, which is reflected in the final cost of the Toyota 2000GT.
At cheap and easy creation of X-shaped frame of the cap was a very high central tunnel and little space for transmission. Therefore, due to the small size of the transaxle case for the 2000GT was selected transmission from the small truck Toyota, that's only 4-speed was not suitable for the given dynamic characteristics — had to add a fifth gear.
Race
In addition to the civil version 2000GT prepared and racing — aluminum body was lighter by 230 kg, the model was equipped with a motor racing in 197 bhp and later 217 bhp But regulations obliged to release 500 cars, so this version is moved to the classroom full of prototypes such as Porsche 906 and Prince R380. However, in this class of car managed to finish third in the Japanese Grand Prix in 1966, and in 1967 she became the first 24-hour race at Fuji.
Toyota 2000GT set 13 world records, course and average speed. But a few years later, Porsche released the 911R specifically for records, which broke most of the achievements of the Japanese supercar.
As a basis for the racing version of the engine has been selected by a six-cylinder unit 3M Toyota Crown, which after improvements Yamaha (replacing the head unit and the installation of double camshaft) was estimated to give out 160–170 hp (but in fact only 150 hp).
As a result, three months after the start of work it is the prototype was presented at the Auto Show in Tokyo in 1965.
After the first exit on the test track under the control of the talented Japanese racer Shihomi Hosoya (Shihomi Hosoya) proved that the body is not strong enough: it appeared dents, cracks and deformation.
For the second generation prototype reinforced body, it was released version 5 copies of 280 A / II. After appropriate testing a prototype departed Carroll Shelby to explore and race setup options and two copies made in convertibles for the James Bond movie.
It is the high price of Toyota 2000GT ruin a great project. There was a prototype that could reduce the cost of production, a version of 390A: instead of expensive opening range — stationary, instead of expensive wood and leather trim — plastic. Manual Toyota declined from it: the price would be reduced slightly, which did not affect the demand, and the image of the model would have been spoiled.
To advance in the US Japanese have chosen the path of racing: sent to California three cars racing and invited Carroll Shelby, the most famous racer US for the full preparation of the car for touring car racing SCCA.
The first tests showed that the vehicle brakes are rather weak, and the body gives great roll when cornering. The team considered the legendary Carroll Shelby and can customize any car, so after the replacement of many components of the machine have been able to compete with the others. In the first season won four first prizes, eight second and six third that can be considered an outstanding result.
The standard machine is equipped with tires Dunlop, a Toyota 2000GT SCCA — rubber Goodyear, Carol Shelby was a distributor for the company. But even these efforts were not enough to rival Toyota 2000GT was the Porsche 911 in the minds of buyers. The cost of the supercar in 1967 was 2.38 million yen, or $ 6,800, and the Porsche 911T sold for $ 5995. Hopes for a huge US market collapsed: of all the issued serial copies of only 53 cars were sold in the United States.
Summary
Toyota 2000GT was the beginning of a new era for the company for the Japanese Toyota and the automotive industry in general. Earlier, Toyota released a small, reliable and affordable subcompact sedans and SUVs, and the release of Japan's first-class sports car Gran Tourismo company proved to the world the presence of a high technical capacity. In our times, these coupes and roadsters Toyota 2000GT rightfully wear the title of the most expensive and are considered worthy exhibits any avtokollektsii: prices at auction reached 375 thousand dollars.
