The Legendary Toyota 7

Toyota took a big leap forward in the prototype category by commissioning the Toyota 7, its first competition thoroughbred machine.

An open two-seater built to international sportscar Group 7 regulations, the original car was designed by Jiro Kawano, the man behind the 2000GT. Development and construction, however, were entrusted to sporting partner Yamaha. The design was typical of its day, with the main cockpit structure made up of aluminium side sills and scuttles and the body formed in fibreglass.

First track tests took place at Suzuka in February 1968, using the DOHC fuel-injected six-cylinder, two-litre engine from the 2000GT. This was subsequently replaced by a full-blooded 300bhp DOHC three-litre V8 all-alloy unit in time for the car’s race debut in March of the same year.  It was up against more powerful competition, however, with both the Nissan R381 and Taki Racing Lola T70 benefiting from the 450bhp five-litre Chevrolet V8. This disadvantage destined the Toyota 7 to never win a Japanese Grand Prix.

It did enjoy success in endurance racing, however. In 1968 the first Japanese Can-Am race – an event of similar status to the Grand Prix – was held, featuring many overseas entries. Sachio Fukuzawa drove the Toyota to fourth place, leading home three more 7s in fifth to seventh.

The following year Toyota presented a new five-litre Toyota 7, which made its racing debut in the Fuji 1,000km. This raised hopes for success in the Japanese Grand Prix, but the strength of the new Nissan six-litre engine relegated Toyota to third, fourth and fifth places. There was better success when a revised 7 took piloted by Minoru Kawai took on the visiting American stars to win the Japanese Can-Am race. Later in the same season the 7 notched up victories at the Fuji 1,000km, the Suzuka 12 Hours and Suzuka 1,000km.

These results were to provide a springboard for Toyota to enter Can-Am competition in North America in 1970, but the 7 project was destined for a premature conclusion. At the time, Toyota was developing a twin-turbocharged V8 delivering 800bhp, tipping the scales at just 620kg, but the ruling body of Japanese motor sport changed the grand prix regulations, effectively ensuring this awesome machine would never race.