posted at the Cohort by William Rubano
We’ve covered Honda’s brilliant S500/600/800 sports car, which had tiny high-winding DOHC fours that revved up to 9,500rpm and made up to 70hp. Toyota was undoubtedly shocked by that, and felt they had to offer something in the same category too. The result was the little Sports 800, powered by an 800cc version of the air-cooled boxer twin from the Publica 700 sedan. It made a still-decent 45 hp but at a mere 5400 rpm. But if it wasn’t exactly a screamer like the Hondas, it was still a fun little bomb on Japan’s roads at the time.
Only 3,131 of these little pint-sized Lotus Elan-mobiles were ever made between 1965 and 1969, and only some 10% still exist, so this is one of about 300. I’ve certainly never seen one in the flesh, although maybe there was one at the Lane Museum.
The lift-out targa roof was one of the first of its kind.
It shows quite a bit of British influence in the cockpit. The gearbox started out non-syncro, but was synchronized in 1967. The Sports 800 was built by Toyota subcontractor Kanto Auto Works. The design credits go to Shozo sato, who was on loan from Datsun, and Toyota engineer Tatsuo Hasegawa. Weight (1275 lbs) was kept down by selective use of aluminum and steel in the unibody.
It’s a genuine midget in today’s auto world.
Very nice. Good clean fun.
These are great, they make a Miata look like a large car. There are usually several on display at the Japanese Classic Car Show in SoCal every year. They kind of remind one of an angry Chihuahua but in a good way.
A basic fact of life that bicyclists and motorcyclists have always understood: If you’re small enough to be vulnerable, you need to be tall enough to be seen. Recent tiny cars, both Euro and Japanese, are made with this fact in mind.
In this car your head is at bumper height. Suicidal.
You can see “bits” of the larger Toyota 2000GT (hope I have that name correctly?) in this car, though not sure which came first.
On one of my trips to Japan in the mid 80s I bought a small plastic model kit of this car. It is still in it’s plastic wrappings. I bought it because I had never heard of this Toyota before and had a choice between this and the 2000.
Love the car, and that “Sunday Drives NY” program is intriguing. Pricey, but looks like fun. Scratch that classic car itch before you take the plunge at an auction and spend even more, perhaps.
I knew they were small but parked next to the range Rover it looks like it should come with pedals!!
Lovely little thing. And so rare!
Good thing it’s got a Targa roof so the Sean Connerys of the world could fit in it without having to make a drop-top, unlike the 2000GT…
Very sweet little thing, especially for, er, those who without genetic ambitions of heighthness in their makeup.
not sure about that height thing. Photos look like you are sitting below the door sills so maybe headroom is not as bad as it looks. reminds me of my friend’s 75 Spitfire – it also looks incredibly small and short next to any car but at 5’10” he fits in fine.
Here is a shot of the engine bay, from a car featured in this post:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/car-show-classics-toyota-australia-marking-the-end-of-an-era-part-1/