1:18 Toyota Sports 800 – Red

Description

Toyota Sports 800 – Red – (KSR18043R):

Toyota’s first ever sports car, the Sports 800 debuted at the 1962 Tokyo Auto Show. Its design was funky and outlandish, with its space age sliding canopy and large headlights.

The car was powered by the Publica 700 engine, capable of producing 28 horsepower. Significant work was done over the years to try and increase the power, and eventually the little two-door coupe could put out 44 horsepower. It weighed just 580 kilograms, and was perhaps one of the first examples of a sports hatchback.

With its fairly modest engine, the Sports 800 could easily reach 45 miles per hour, but on a race track, it could exceed 100 mph at a push. Shozo Sato, a designer on loan from Datsun, and Tatsuo Hasegawa, a Toyota engineer, wanted to make the car as aerodynamically efficient as possible. Hasegawa had knowledge in aviation aerodynamics, as he was an aircraft designer in World War II. The result meant that the Sports 800 was extremely light and agile. It was also one of the first ever production cars featuring a removable roof, that could be stored in the boot.

Throughout its production lifespan between 1965 and 1969, around 3,131 Sports 800s were built. To this day, only about 10% are still around, with the majority present in Japan.

This subtle red model expertly catches the eye, with its stunning bodywork and intricate detailing, together with the overall simplicity and ingenuity.