The Toyota Sports 800 Is The Forefather of Fun
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- Start with the Lexus LFA and trace your way back through Toyota’s sports car lineage, pausing along the way to admire the Supra, the MR2, the AE86, the Celica, and the 2000GT. But don’t stop there: follow the Japanese carmaker’s family tree to the very root of its sports cars and you’ll find the Sports 800, known to its legions of fans as “Yota-hachi.”
Little-known in the United States due its low export numbers, the Sports 800 is a true “hero car” in Japan, where it is one of only two cars ever to be inducted into the Japanese Automotive Hall of Fame (an institution that honors the people behind cars more than the cars themselves). The car earned this honor both for its innovative design (which owes much to engineer Tetsuo Hasegawa’s aerospace background) and for its immediate success on the race track, where it went head-to-head with Honda’s high-revving S800s in the great Japanese endurance races of the day.
A rare car by any measure, the left-hand drive models produced for the Okinawan market are today even harder to come by. No surprise, then, that the Sports 800 featured here is owner Scott Sylvester’s pride and joy. A fan of small cars ever since he first bought a Fiat 600 as a teen, his garage is home to everything from a Bianchina to a BMW Isetta, with a Messerschmidt thrown in for good measure. When talk turns to the Sports 800, however, Sylvester gets an extra spark in his eye. The rarity, the history, the design, the lightweight quickness…Yota-hachi’s story caught his imagination years ago and hasn’t let go.
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That is fantastic. I never knew Toyota made this. Only a two cylinder engine, but so well done. It almost looks a bit Lotus Elan from some angles. You've done a great job of restoring it. I agree, it's smart to have several less expensive vehicles/motor cycles than one really expensive one :) I'm really pleased you put this video up. Made my day. Cheers from down under. Rob
Thanks, although most of the parts I found were from Japan, I did find NOS hand brake cables and the stainless dash plugs in Australia where a few were imported.
Scott Sylvester
When I looked at it I thought the alloy wheels looked very much like early Mazda (RX7 ?). Are they original? Cheers Rob
The original optional wheels offered by Toyota for racing etc were Enkei wheels. Those are very rare and big $$. The wheels you see are indeed the first year Mazda RX7Toyo Kogyo wheels that happen to be similar to the original Enkei wheels. They are the same 13 inch, same offset and same bolt pattern! I found a set of new, but old Toyota center caps from the sixties and machined them into the center of the Mazda wheels.
Interesting. The wheels look good. What wheels did it have on it when you purchased it? What is the maximum speed of the car approximately ? Rob
xynudu All Sports 800s came with silver painted 12 inch wheels and hub caps specific to the S800. I still have all five original ones which look too skinny and small. Toyota claims the top speed with the long gears was 100mph. On that video I had an indicated 85 mph 3 times without any problem. Once before I restored it I had it to 95 which was a bit frantic. It's actually is very impressive at high speed aerodynamically, but not much fun on any tight corner over 70 like a modern car.
Love the car! Especially those 2000GT reminiscent headlights.
The other way around actually
@@nekot9274 Let me guess, you are the "mamma's special boy" retarded one.
My mother had one in high school. My grandfather was stationed in Okinawa and this is what she drove for a summer. Love that car. 20 some odd years later I went to live in Japan and send my mom pictures of them whenever I see them at classic meets. This is a terrific car. Absolutely fantastic. You guys are awesome!
and ... I understand, the only Left Hand Drive cars were made for Okinawa, where USA traffic rules applied?
1258 lb = 572 kg I'm pretty sure there are people heavier than that car!
+Kj16V Close, the heaviest human that ever lived was Manuel Uribe of Monterrey Mexico, weighing in at 1,235 lb.
+Kj16V Sure hope not! :) Certainly many farm animals are heavier though.
Kj16V brian shaw could basically lift one
That’s lighter than even the smaller F1 cars of the 2000s.
Yes but they move less gracefully unfortunate.
O dear never mind.
Only gripe is that the video wasn't longer. At the end I was expecting more, but I loved the way this episode was done, it made me feel special for being able to see a car that is loved and driven with soul. It kinda makes me want one...but then again I want a lot of older Japanese cars.
That's the coolest Toyota EVER!
No. The coolest is the Toyota 2000gt
And the most expensive now!
Nah, that would be a 1995 Corolla ofc!
im so happy that this car is in the hands of this man. such a rare car... he could go out and buy a sl 63 or sls etc.. but he choose to look after this and deal with the headace...true legend.. car and man
Most people my age (a teenager) have skylines and supras etc as there dream cars but for me this is easily in my top 5, I hope one day with hard work and dedication I can own one.🤞🏼
what a timeless beauty
That car looks beautiful. A true classic
As a lifelong Toyota fan I would love them to make something like this again; 2 seater fun car, maybe with the fab Aygo 3 pot engine, stripped down to basics and ideal for weekend and day trips. Doesn't need to be fast but look fantastic. I always say "It's not about the speed, it's about the style!"
The EPA and the dot will be tough to get approval. I believe the car era is over. Maybe a kit car and you could have one.
I am not personally Toyota's biggest fan. Don't get me wrong, they make superb cars, but I typically find their design quite quirky and slightly awkward, which though is also something I find ever-so-slightly appealing about them. Anyhow, I never knew that they made something like this little beauty in the video. That is actually a stunning piece of engineering and design, and knew I not it was a Toyota, I would definitely had guessed it was something british! :) I absolutely love it! :)
I agree. In learning more about the car over the years, it became evident that this car and the 2000gt were not designed or built in large by in house Toyota people, although they used the Publica for its bones. Toyota did not know how to build something to compete with Honda and get young people excited. Asegawa came right out the the plane world and had the advantage of creating a non Toyota for Toyota in the Datsun wind tunnel with Mr Sato to get them in the game. The flat twin engine was key to its small, saucer design and low production was a low risk I guess. The car was built at Kanto Works which Toyota later bought. Its a fragile car like a Lotus. Mr Asagawa only did 2 other cars for Toyota: the first Corolla and the first Celica. Maybe they should have kept him. Asagawa was here in the USA and spoke with some of the S800 fans. He thought Japan desperately needed a fun car, like small aircraft was fun.
I really love the profile of that car. Like the wheels too. Really sweet looking.
This car is so lovely. I have always admired it. This car shows passion that Toyota is somehow lost in to the winds of time. Oh how I want one of these cars... One can only hope.
I have a Nissan Figaro and also a Toyota Sera. The Toyota Sera's came with Automatic Transmissions except for 150 that had a 5 speed manual. Total production was around 15,000 ! They built 20,000 Nissan Figaro's.
Awesome car! I lose an average of 20 minutes of sleep every night because this channel always grabs me. This is a perfect example of such a cool under the radar kind of car story and exactly another 6:18 of less sleep for me. Oh well, this one was certainly worth it
Beautiful car, a credit to the owner. Love the fact that it's taken out and driven too.
Omg I'm seriously in love with this small machine! I just heard of it for the first time ever... great respect to the owner for the attitude and thanks once again for the great video Petrolicious!
Petrolicious = Art... Great cars, great videos, great overall vibe, great people...
Southern Californian here. I don't know where this was filmed but it was obviously within 100 miles or so of me. Our landscape has such a distinctive look, and our canyon roads are heaven to drive and cycle on. I love my home state 🥰
Yes, you are correct. That video was produced near my home in the East County canyons of San Diego.
"THAT'S A TOYOTA!??"
Yeah, Toyota used to be one of the cool kids back then
now its just an ordinary family car lol
What made this video great for me personally was when he closed the hood/bonnet with a microfiber towel. Shows u care.
Yeah, I had the red '66 (I believe), Dream. I am a friend of Jeff Guss. I retired, & 'moved-up' to a Honda CRX 250L Enduro, now - a lot of fun, both on & off road.
email me here at lilhonda@aol.com and we can catch up on that red Honda. It left PA to here in San Diego then back up to the east again.
I had not watched this in a long time. Paying more attention to detail, I saw an Isetta in one corner. This man is clearly of the quirky disposition. Bless him for it!
ボンネット閉め方、屋根のはずし方、ハンドルの持ち方どれをとってもこのオーナーの方の車に対する愛情を感じる。英語がわからないのが悲しい。
I met a fella with one of these except in red he got it down in Mexico so it had zero rust anyway , he punched out the cylinders and fitted custom pistons for an 884cc displacement it sure helped with the low end torque and hill climbing capability
what a gem! how can anybody dislike this video?
Omg, I can't believe you found an owner with a a Sports 800 worth doing a Petrolicious video on! I've always loved this car, it's like a 1960s Japanese version of an Alfa Romeo or Lotus. I always had a poster of the 2000GT and the Sports 800 together, and have always loved these two cars ever since.
I know where one of these is sitting. Its left hand drive too. Amazing to see one restored.
Reminds me of a Dwarf 2000GT....don't let the pint size fool you I'd call that a super car.
I miss this A Grade Petrolocious videos.
What an amazing car. Never heard of it before. Grateful to know such a rare find is still being driver and it perfect condition
As always, Petrolicious delivers a phenomenal video. If I could be as bold as to offer a tidbit of constructive criticism however: The scenery you guys film in is gorgeous, but in features past you've filmed videos in other geographic locations. It would be awesome if a degree of variety could be applied, just for the sake of experiencing a change of pace. Not saying the mountains surrounding LA aren't stunning, but you can't eat chocolate cake every day you know ;) Anyway, again, amazing work you guys, keep it coming!
Actually, that car was filmed 25 miles from Tecate Mexico, not LA
Scott Sylvester I thought it looked familiar. Is this near Crest-Jamul;? I used to drive my Sunbeam Alpines out there.
***** Yes, Jamul. Mostly Japatul Vally Rd and Lyons Valley Road. We are lucky to live and drive out there.
Scott Sylvester I had a small flock of Citroen's and Sunbeam Alpines, Rapiers... I lived in La Mesa in the early 1970's and have relatives in Crest since 1965. One put all the stain glass in the Catholic Church and was the captain of the fire dept. up there. But it's been 20 years since I visited.
The films are great ,The cars ,Well your taste ,A R100 mazda kills that motorbike
What a superb small car !
I have always had more fun in a small,less powerful vehicle than a large over powered one.
Great design. Please make another video to show us a little bit more of this rare treat!!
The most beautiful little car I never knew existed until now. Another to add to my dream car list.
Wow. Never knew Toyota made this. As a Cayman S driver by summer and a Toyota GT4 by winter, I am a huge fan of Toyota sports cars. Very special car.
Never knew this car existed, thanks for adding Japanese rarity to the mix :)
More classic japanese please :)
The lines around the rear wheel is beautiful.
This is such a ridiculously cool car... and I can't believe how quiet and smooth it is for an 800cc vertical twin.
doctor zaius Its actually a flat horizontal twin like a bmw MC engine. It's air cooled so its almost as noisy as a vw beetle engine although it does have hydraulic lifters, not solid lifter like the beetles.
Scott Sylvester Damn man, ya know... I must've known that at some point and just brain-farted it away. When the Subaru BRZ came out I remember looking up what other cars had horizontally opposed engines in a FR layout and it wasn't many! This, the Publica and whatever other Toyotas shared their bones, the Jowett Jupiter and Javelin, Tatras from the 1920s, early DAFs... and perhaps a few others but I can't remember them. Very strange choice from a packaging standpoint but fascinating regardless, and flat twins in particular are so cool looking (love those BMW airheads)
doctor zaius That's correct. But in terms of a "strange choice", Toyota had no choice other than to use a low profile, flat engine to get the hood and car sloped down, so it would be aerodynamic enough to win the 24 Fuji races and look sleeker than the competition (Honda S800).
Everything this owner said is the reason why I love my 67bug. Awesome footage as usual
What an utterly brilliant little car. It looks so friendly from the front. I want to see a whole docu about it.
The car community needs guys like this. Great car, great guy.
Can't wait when this car comes to gran turismo sport June update 2019 Toyota sport 800 with detail interior 👍😍
Scott, you have a wonderful car here. I love your passion and enthusiasm. Its what being a petrol head is all about. No need to explain why we love what we love, just love them!!
Elegant, small, beautiful! It doesn't matter what's the pricetag on them, all the cars they have on Petrolicious are really cars I could fall in love with, easily. And I'm always happy to see people preserve them so well, instead of adding a lot of stuff to the cars that in truth just takes away from their iconic style and beauty. I think the electronics in a modern car weigh more than this whole piece of art as a whole.
That's a great piece of Toyota History you have there! Drive it well, and find a home for it that'll display it for the years to come.
Thanks for all for the positive comments. Its pampered and stored on a lift in my San Diego hibby shop you see on the video. I am trying to plan for its future after me, which I am not looking forward to. Its a big hit at the few shows its been at. First place and top ten at La Jolla Concours, first place, Old School Japanese at JCCS Queen Mary too. It was even invited to the Pasadena Design Center Show a couple of years back by the head of design there. I was lucky it found me.
Thanks Scott
Sorry, I meant "hobby" shop
Another great little film! I've always liked those Toyotas because of their sophistication compared everything else that was around at the time of similar size. It makes my MG Midget look incredibly crude by comparison. A super restoration too; very impressed.
This guy has got an awesome vintage car/bike collection, as well as a badass garage. Kudos to this guy!
As an owner of a completely standard MR2 SW20 , I must say this is a fantastic Little Toyota you have!
It reminds me of British Sports cars of the time , There is definitely a pinch of Healey Sprite in there! Would love to see one!
its almost like a 60's mazda miata!
small, light weight, handles well, aerodynamic and not too expensive for fun
That final part,driving that idealic road with the mountains on the background and the sun going down just gives you the urge to get out there in the world on my motorcycle
Looks like a really fun little car!
I like the interior. Its probably my favorite interior of all cars.
Absolutely marvellous! Sometimes with super-cars, it is easy to get confused between the beauty of engineering and power/performance. A car like this brings you back to reality. Beauty does not only rely on powerful engines or astonishing performance, there is something else... and this car has it.
that last quote was right on the money
Saw one of these today in Murfreesboro TN at an Old Chicago, had no idea what i was looking at but loved it.
My dream cars: Toyota sports 800, Toyota 2000GT, Nissan Fairlady 240z, Alfa Romeo Spider 1967, Honda s800, Hakosuka GTR, Datsun 510 2door, Honda NSX and many many more which is hard to get. :( I only have my hyundai, but I still love it. :)
Wow! One of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen! I love love LOVE this car! Well done!
1268 lbs, 575 kg. To a weight-obsessed car guy like me, this is porn. Why, just why, can't they make such a light car today, despite the crash safety requirements.
Because everybody wants all this technology BS that I don't even use half the time. I bought a top of the line pioneer head unit just because it had bluetooth, didn't look like utter shit like the other head units and it sounded good.
There are still a few manufacturers that offer real "light-weight" cars - like the Caterham Seven 160 (the modern version of the Lotus Seven), which is a rather svelte 490 kg.
Phil... Yeah but those cars are like $40,000. Some major car company needs to make a striped down sports car like a 240sx but with a much more powerful engine.
you just said why, because all those safety equipements are heavy
This must be the most beautiful vehicle Toyota's ever made!
yet another great job. Your videos always leave me with the feeling of truly getting to experience the cars and the people behind them. Keep up the good work it was good to see the grandfather of the FRS
Amazing! love this car very surprising to see one in the US you can see the similarity in the headlights between this and the 2000GT that being said please do a video on a 2000GT!!!
Salute to you Sir! You are one lucky guy! Very Nice work there! :-))
This thing is BEAUTIFUL. Nobody can tell me today's cars have the same level of thought behind them.
Honestly my only experience with this car is in Gran Turismo (7 at the moment), but it really shows that you don't need large amounts of horsepower to have fun. Mind you, this car only has 44 BHP. Yes, forty four! The Honda S800 has 70 BHP, and yet the Toyota is just as fast, just as fun, and MUCH more civilized on public roads because it doesn't need to scream at you at 9000 rpm all the time. At cruising speed (say 60 mph) this little beauty actually sits low enough in its revs to offer a relaxing drive.
I will never have one in real life (with my 6'4" even a relatively spacious Sports 800 doesn't work), but I really wish modern car manufacturers would make cars like the Sports 800, Honda S800 , BMW Isetta or Fiat 500 again. Small affordable cars can still be fun!
I first saw this car from my favorite animated TV series titled Gatekeepers, this is the car that Shun Ukiya owned and drive. I didn't expect that it is an iconic car from Toyota.
Very nice video (as always), I always find it nice to have my car knowledge expanded, and this is the perfect way. Keep it up Petrolicious!
細部まで丁寧にレストアされまるで新車のような輝きを放っています。
Thanks for another very nice car video, it is nice to see how much effort and love some people put in old cars and make them look like new and share their experiences and show very rare treasures to everyone!
Small, light agile little cars are quick and so much fun to drive. Colin Chapman thought so too.
There's something you don't ever get to see. Very nice.
Man, that is a gorgeous roadster. I love lightweight balanced cars. I would definitely buy one. Thanks for sharing
Its one of very few japanese cars that I actually like. It has some nice Italian style to it.
Thank you. Thank you so much for this. May you all live on.
*OMG - That moment when Petrolicious puts out a video ☺
I'm in love!!! Thank you for sharing.
I love the videos this channel produces. I could ramble on about why, and what I think makes them great. But that doesn't matter. They are just great videos. Keep up the good work!
thank you for making this video i have always want to here one of these run and i was so sad when i didnt get to go to jccs this year so just know you simply made my day ps i love toyota huge on classic toyota being a first gen celica owner
I had to reply to you mentioning your first gen celica. You may already know this, but Mr Hasegawa, the Designer of the Sports 800 went on to design only 2 other Toyotas. The first gen Corolla and then your first gen Celica. Too bad you missed JCCS. This Sports 800 was displayed at Toyota next to the #88 Sports 800 racer!
A beautiful film about a wonderful car. Thanks for keeping it alive and bringing us this video.
You look at it, and it looks proportional, but when he gets out of it, you realise just how small this car is. World needs more of those lightweight and very small, but still fully-featured cars, not like Caterhams and Atoms.
Old school toyotas are very underated, because when you think "classic" usually an american muscle car comes to mind.
But classic japanese cars are just as nice!
From this beutiful s800, to a datsun 510!
I personally own a old school toyota myself, a 1985 celica gts, people ask me about it all the time.
Love my 84 sr5 hachii new to Toyota but classic Toyota is simple
Love this guys and how they look at their cars.
the 800 is sweet, however what about the '60s Toyota 2000GT as the true forefather of the LFA ?
Beautiful car. It really makes me wish that Toyota would take a good look back and make something this unique and fun again. Maybe it will spread to their other cars, it worked for Mazda.
Agreed. But wasn't the Toyota 86 in 2012 an attempt at exactly that? I'm sure they were heavily restricted by safety, emissions, and price, but I thought they did an excellent job.
I wish ALL car manufacturers were to look back (pre-80s) and design their car in a way that doesn't compromise timeless aesthetics.
It is an attempt but not a wholehearted one imho. It won't make the Corolla fun to drive again. It won't bring back the xB/bB.
New supra soon
***** I like the Top Gear review of it. I feel like they understood what it was meant to be.
To please everyone else, it'd be cool if they offered a high performance version of the GT86. Maybe with a turbo?
A priceless piece of history.
This is always truly been one of my favorite cars the shame that there aren't more of them in America. I'd love to have the privilege of owning one.
What a jewel, especially the interior !
Headlamp positioning is a it off, but overall the car looks very handsome (with a hint of cuteness to it). Great video!
A wonderful story, well told and filmed with music to match.
It's like I can see where the Supra got its looks from. It's crazy.
Wow that's close to just half the weight of my aw11. This thing must be a blast to drive. Awesome review :D
one of the coolest toyota cars EVER, besides the landcruiser fj40 and the 2000gt
Always really interesting, always beautifully filmed, this is such a good channel and I can't wait for the next one!
Most people who aren't car enthusiasts associate Toyota with boring cars like the Camry. But being an auto enthusiast I associate them with cars like this. I just wish they made more fun sports cars. The BRZ/FRS/GT86 is only one, they need more
Beautiful.
This restored version should be left alone. He should build another one with a 2JZ-GTE supra engine and running gear.
well now i have another car on my dream collection list!
By far one of the best episodes. Great job!!
Great looking little car, has a timeless appeal, and so clean. Thanks for posting.
What a fantastic little gem.
Thanks for sharing this video,wonderful little car.
Just when you're about to give up on the world because of stuff like ISIS, wanker bankers, corrupt politics etc., up pops Petrolicious.
Thank you for another beautiful video and kudos to Scott Sylvester for keeping the Yota-hachi’s story alive.