The Toyota Museum in Torrance, CA houses a collection of milestone vehicles representing Toyota’s history in the U.S. It is valued at over $17 million, and includes a variety of vehicles dating from 1958 to present, as well as a considerable assortment of motorsports vehicles. Opening in January 2000, it is the only Toyota Museum outside Japan; the Toyota Automobile Museum is located in Nagoya, Japan.
The museum is open to the public, with reservations required. To schedule an appointment, contact Susan Sanborn at 310-468-8726 or email [email protected]. With the coporate move to Texas, it isnt clear how long the museum and its collection will stay in Southern California, so make sure you check it out soon! Here are a few of our favorites!
1961 FJ25 Land Cruiser
The Land Cruiser, introduced in 1958, was one of the first models sold by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. It was first tested in 1951, climbing the sixth station of Mt. Fuji – the first motor vehicle to accomplish this drive.
6-cylinder OHV 135 hp
Retail price: $3,050
1961 sales totaled 249
1967 Toyota 2000GT
The Toyota 2000GT appeared as a prototype at the 1965 Tokyo Motor Show and was introduced as a production model in 1967. Toyota hired British model/actress Twiggy to stand alongside the car on stage at the 14th Tokyo Motor Show in October 1967. Twiggy went on to own #10130, and the car appeared in the British TV sitcom Ugliest Girl in Town. The 2000GT also appeared in the 1967 James Bond movie You Only Live Twice. Bond actor Daniel Craig named the 2000GT as his favorite Bond car.
6-cyl DOHC150 hp @ 6,600 rpmRetail price: $7,230337 were produced; 54 were imported to North America
1971 Celica ST
The first “sporty” car in Toyota’s linuep to be sold in America.
4-cylinder in-line SOHC. 108 hp @ 5500 rpmRetail price: $2,598
1971 sales totaled 17,572
1982 Celica Supra
The 1982 Toyota Celica Supra was the flagship of the Celica family.
6-cylinder DOHC
145 hp @ 5,600 rpm
Retail price: $14,900
1984 SR5 Truck
A black 1984 Toyota SR5 was featured in the movie Back to the Future.
22R 4-cylinder SOHV EFI
100 hp @ 4,800 rpm
Retail price: $8,958
1993 Supra Turbo
The Toyota Supra made the duPont Registry’s “Top 100 Cars of the Century” in 1999.
6-cylinder DOHC Turbo320 hp @ 5,600 rpm
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds
Retail price: $39,900
1993 sales totaled 2,887
The 2000 ‘Ultimate Celica’
The Ultimate Celica was engineered by Toyota, Rod Millen Motorsports, and Toyota Racing Developement.
2.0-liter, 4-cylinder, twin cam, 16-valve, iron block with aluminum alloy head
All-wheel drive
500 hp @ 8,000 rpm
349 lbs.-ft. of torque @ 5,500 rpm
Lexus LFA Super Car
Three concept versions of the Lexus LFA were created, the first making its global debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Production began in December 2010 with a starting price of $375,000. Production ended in December 2012 with 500 vehicles produced.
Lexus 2054 Minority Report Concept
The Lexus 2054 is a concept car designed for the 2002 Steven Spielberg film Minority Report.
Eagle MKIII GTP
Built and raced by Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers, the Toyota Eagle MKIII was arguably the greatest car ever seen in IMSA competition. Debuting in July 1991, the car won 21 of the 27 races it entered, including the 24 Hours of Daytona and a pair of Sebring 12-Hour victories. In two full seasons of competition, it carried Juan Manuel Fangio II to the 1992 and 1993 GTP Driver’s Championships, and Toyota to the 1992 and 1993 IMSA GTP manufacturer’s titles.
1975 Celica Pace Car and Dan Gurney Race Car
The Celica ST served as pace car for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach from 1975 until 2004 when it was replaced by the 2004 Solara.
Next to the Celica pace car is the A40 Celica driven by pro racer Dan Gurney in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.
This list is just a small portion of all the cool cars in the Toyota Museum! Make sure you get over to Torrance and check it out!