The world’s appreciation of the 2000GT was soon apparent. A total of 62 were sold in the United States out of 351 worldwide, and values tripled within 10 years. The 2000GT is now the equal of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing or the BMW 507 as one of the most collectible post-war sports cars and arguably the most desirable Japanese car ever made. Some cars inspire us because their aesthetic beauty; others because of their performance and character; and the truly great cars do both. But unlike Italy or America, Japan didn’t have a cultural heritage of high-performance cars. The Toyota 2000GT is without compare, having no rivals in its day in Japan. It didn’t remotely resemble anything else that Toyota had ever conceived. It was created in a world where there was no competition and is all the more impressive for that. Today, it stands as one of the high points that define the 20th century automobile.