The Lexus LFA Would Never Have Existed without This Car

Here’s a brief introduction to the very first Japanese supercar — the Toyota 2000GT — and how it led to Lexus’ infamous halo car, the LFA.

Lovingly designed, hand-fitted bodywork. Bespoke, individually tailored interior upholstery. A driver-centric experience for the person of means seeking more than just a means of transportation. The finest materials of their time used in the construction both inside and out. These factors, among many others, parallel the development history of two of Japan’s finest GT supercars, the Toyota 2000GT and Lexus LFA. And the similarities aren’t just coincidence, either.

In the past, we traced the lineage of the grand touring philosophy in our Lexus LC retrospective. But there’s a certain missing link between a machine like a 2000GT and an LC. Only one vehicle produced by Toyota or Lexus in the past 10 years managed to capture that missing component – the LFA. To begin our exploration, we hand the floor to the team at Hagerty with an excellent video on the history of the 2000GT.

Japan’s First Supercar

The 2000GT represented a significant technical and philosophical leap for Japanese motoring. In the spirit of the great European automakers, Toyota set its sights incredibly high. They weren’t just building a beautiful handmade fastback. Toyota created a vehicle that was luxurious, fast, and a true pleasure to drive in every sense (For those with the means, anyway). As the video explains, Toyota sought to redefine its brand image, primarily overseas. And Toyota went about it in the most stereotypically “Toyota” way imaginable. 

Essentially, Toytoa adapted the design philosophy of greats like Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin, etc. And they effortlessly refined and overbuilt the concept into what’s unquestionably the apex of its class in Japan. It’s a habit of Toyota that really started back when they created the Land Cruiser from the Willys MB. Other models like the Supra, Corolla, Soarer, Hilux, and more follow this proven concept as well. As does, of course, the LFA.

Recreating Greatness

A common problem with artists is the dread of having to start a project over. The main issue lies in capturing that original essence of what made the first project special. Such was the case when Lexus designed the LFA. In fact, the original concept parallels many of the 2000GT’s fundamental principles. And while the LC succeeded the 2000GT’s grand touring heritage, the LFA focused more on the supercar experience aspect. In its day, the 2000GT was fast – really fast. In motorsport circles, the car propelled Toyota from a generic Japanese automaker to a respected, even dominant force in the quest for speed. And it accomplished this with class and prestige, both heavily emulated in the LFA.

Even superficially, the parallels between the 2000GT and LFA are striking. Everything down to the production numbers (337 2000GTs and 500 LFAs) closely resemble one another. The most prolific white color graces both vehicles heavily in popular culture, closely followed by red. They both feature naturally-aspirated engines with excellent sounds and satisfying gearboxes. And they both command hefty price tags, the primary consequence of being handmade supercars.

In truth, the 2000GT and LFA remain creatures of extremes in Japan. The former represents the birth of Japanese collector car culture, and the latter the ultimate resolution of these principles. But ultimately, if there’s one extreme that both cars unquestionably share, it’s best said in the words of Jurassic Park’s John Hammond, “We spared no expense.”

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M.C. Cuccio

I've been an automotive aficionado since I had baby teeth. My path was set when I first leaned on my grandfather's classic Porsche as I learned how to walk. One of my first memories was my mother sitting me behind the wheel of her Pontiac and talking me through the instrumentation and controls. Even though I was a mere three or four years old, I was instantly sold, and filled notebooks with technical drawings, sketches, and collections of manuals of all sorts of cars. I've actively tracked developments in automotive and motorsport technology for well over 20 years, and pride myself on being intimately familiar with the functions and history of a wide range of vehicles.

My primary goal as a writer and enthusiast is to equally learn and share what I've learned in a constructive and interesting way. I maintain connections with people from around the world and can read technical manuals in Italian, Japanese, and Spanish, granting me access to a wide array of resources. My primary focuses are deep-dives into historical topics, motorsport discussion, and learning about the complex mechanical elements of such vehicles. As such, my research is never perfect; as anyone into cars will attest, the more you learn about cars, the more you realize how little you actually know. Therefore, I always welcome fresh knowledge and corrections to help me better my work in the future.