Tree falls on million-dollar Toyota
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}1967 Toyota 2000 GT (file) (Toyota)
It’s not exactly a case of “Man Bites Dog,” but a tree in Japan has hit a million-dollar sports car, destroying the extremely rare coupe.
The Toyota 2000 GT, one of only 351 built between 1967 and 1970, was being driven down a road in the country’s Toyoama prefecture on the west coast when a 100-foot tall tree fell on top of it.
According to Japanese broadcaster NHK, the tree was rotten on the inside, but was a protected species and couldn’t be chopped down. Amazingly, while the car was absolutely flattened, the driver only suffered minor injuries.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 2000 GT is considered Japan’s first supercar. Inspired by the Jaguar E-Type, it was a joint effort between Toyota and Yamaha, which designed its 150 hp, 2.0-liter inline-6-cylinder engine.
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The car became famous around the world when Sean Connery’s James Bond character took a ride in a custom convertible version of the 2000 GT in the film “You Only Live Twice.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Toyota never put the drop-top model into production.
Prices for the remaining cars have skyrocketed in recent years, topping $1.15 million at an auction in Fort Worth, Tex., in 2013, making it the most expensive Asian car ever sold.