Toyota and Yamaha jointly developed the 2000GT, introduced in 1967. Its 2.0-litre straight-six used twin overhead camshafts, with double-wishbone suspension and disc brakes at all four wheels. Those details give the elegant shape substance.

It earns a place as an early demonstration of Japanese sports-car ambition. We put it below the 240Z because our ranking rewards a broader route into the genre, rather than exclusivity. If historical symbolism matters most to you, the 2000GT deserves a higher position.

Source: Yamaha · Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized/recompressed; image retains source license.