 Akiko Wakabayash |
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Toyota's 2000 GT |
In the vacant area behind the two seats they fitted a voice-activated tape recorder, an FM receiver and a small colour CCTV screen for live communication and surveillance. In the glovebox was a VCR and cordless telephone, video camera's being positioned behind the licence plates. After the action shots were taken in Japan, most of the close-cockpit footage was done back in Pinewood, but strangely, some in-car footage was done with an entirely different machine, probably a Sunbeam Alpine. The 2000 Roadster appeared in three scenes of You Only Live Twice, the first having been when Aki drove Bond to meet MI6-contact, Mr Henderson, after a meeting at a wrestling match. Then, after breaking into the safe of Osato Chemicals, Bond was rescued by Aki under a hail of gunfire. The final scene was the most enduring as, after arranging a meeting with Mr Osato, Aki again saved Bond and as they sped away, they were pursued by some of Osato’s henchmen in a black Toyota sedan. Aki radioed for assistance and the chasing car was eventually dumped into the sea by a helicopter with a large magnet! Made on a budget of $9.5m, You Only Live Twice premiered in June 1967 at the Leicester Square Odeon in London and went on to take $111.6m at the worldwide box office. |
Toyota's 2000 GT |
By contrast, the rear bodywork was totally new, just the original back bumpers and taillights having been retained. Both examples were completed in White with Black cockpits. Each car was equipped with a set of wire wheels, neither having side windows or provision for a hood of any sort. One of the Roadster's would be used for filming whilst the other would act as a back-up, the back-up car staying with Toyota in Japan when shooting in the Far East was over. It was equipped with a largely standard interior, the film car being fitted out with a variety of gadgets by John Stears and his renowned special-effects team from Pinewood Studios in England. |
Toyota's 2000 GT |
After the movie was completed, the gadget-equipped car taken to England mysteriously disappeared although its control panel later turned up on a Roadster-recreation in the Cars of the Stars Museum in Keswick. Meanwhile, the back-up car with its standard interior was used for promotional purposes and displayed at the Geneva Salon in March 1967. It was then re-painted blue and emblazoned with garish 007 decals. Another repaint followed, this time in grey, and it briefly served as the Fuji Speedway course car before later turning up in Hawaii in 1977. Toyota bought and restored it and this car now forms a central part of their factory museum. |
