The Toyota 2000GT (Model MF10) is the most thought after Japanese car with unarguable charisma. In production between 1967 to 1970 (only 337 units produced including prototypes), the scarcity of the car has helped its market price to stay extremely high, in both Japan and overseas markets.

The 2000cc Inline-6 type-M engine comes from a Toyota Crown which was mated with a newly developed DOHC head from Yamaha. The assembled engine was named type-3M with an output of 150ps@6600rpm. The car came with either a 5-speed MT or a 3-speed AT.

The 2000GT also has a 2300cc model which comes with an SOHC head. This model was developed to be a more accessible model for the North American market, adopting an easy-maintenance SOHC head instead of DOHC. Yamaha Motor Company, which at the time wanted to expand its sales in North America, headed the design and development of the power unit.

The engine was based on the type-2M unit which was originally developed for the North American export model of the Toyota Crown. The new power unit was added with three Solex carburetors and was called the type-2M-B, outputting 140ps @5800rpms. The steering was placed on the left side for the North American market and came with either a 5-speed MT or a 3-speed AT just like the MF10 model.

The model was named MF12L and 9 prototypes were produced with the chassis no. MF12L-100001 to MF12L-100009. However, the production and sales of the 2000GT was already becoming a financial disaster due to high production costs, hence the MF12L project was cancelled after making the 9 prototype models. Because the MF12L was never put into commercial production, the model has been known among 2000GT enthusiasts as the Phantom 2000GT. It is also unofficially called the 2300GT.

The vehicle up for auction is the MF12L model with the chassis no. MF12L-100001, the first prototype ever produced.

The car had been maintained in running condition by a Japanese collector. The car originally came in Solar Red body color but has been repainted to Pegasus White. All mechanicals are in excellent condition.

Making the car even more rare is the fact that it is one of the only two 3-speed AT models ever produced, on top of the car being chassis number 1.

The second prototype produced with chassis no. MF12L-100002 is owned by Toyota Motor Co., and chassis no. MF12L-100006 is kept at the Toyota USA Automotive Museum. The historical importance of the model is obvious from where some of the other prototypes are located. The opportunity to bid for an MF12L with chassis no. 1 may never come in the future.