Toyota’s Sports 800 was its very first sports car, and modern technology and prowess could make a new GR version a lot of fun to drive.
Toyota has a long history of developing epic sports cars. Cars like the Supra and MR2 instantly spring to mind. The sports car story all started with the Toyota Sports 800, a car that made its debut back in 1962 and entered production in 1965. This was Toyota’s first production sports car, marking a big change from what Toyota had produced previously. While it was last seen in 1969, the strength of the Gazoo Racing sportscar segment within Toyota makes us think a new GR Sports 800 would be perfect. We even explored what a new one might look like in a digital render by Timothy Adry Emmanuel.
The lightweight nature of the original means Toyota could make a small sports car to rival the Mazda MX-5. And the advances in construction techniques but most importantly engine technology means a new Sports 800 could prove to be a real winner.
The Sports 800 Was A Lightweight Revolution
The Sports 800 is certainly diminutive in stature, but it is one of the biggest parts of Toyota’s history. The car was first shown off as the Toyota Publica Sports concept at the 1962 Tokyo Motor Show, with the Sports 800 taking the engine of the Publica 700. Toyota kept most of the original concept with the production car. Although they did remove the space age sliding canopy for traditional doors plus a novel removable roof panel. Thanks to a thin-gauge steel construction of the Publica-based monocoque chassis and the strategic use of aluminum, the Sports 800 weighed very little.
The little sports car weighed in at just 1,279 lbs or 580 kg. It would make the Sports 800 feel like a feather compared to modern sports cars. The Sports 800 even had a top speed of 100 mph, which for a first sports car attempt is hugely impressive. Thanks to its lightweight construction, the Sports 800 had great handling which also paid dividends when the car took part in motorsport events. The 1967 Fuji 24 Hours showed how strong the Sports 800 was, as one finished third behind two of the truly special Toyota 2000GTs to make it a Toyota podium sweep.
The Supra Has Shown Toyota Can Pull Off Revivals
While not every automotive manufacturer can pull off revivals, Toyota has proven it can with the modern Supra. The last of the original series of Supras was back in 1998, but Toyota brought the car back in 2019 for its fifth generation. This soon became known as the GR Supra, with the car created in collaboration with BMW on a newly developed sports car platform. Despite initial skepticism thanks to the Supra’s BMW links, the new Supra is now seen as a resounding success for Toyota.
Various versions of the GR Supra have come, and the design was apparently inspired partially by the Toyota 2000GT. Toyota pleased gearheads the world over in 2022 with the launch of the manual version of the Supra. A new six-speed manual transmission is now an option alongside the already available eight-speed automatic transmission. The engines range from the BMW turbo inline-four engine to a variety of BMW turbo inline-six engines, with the max power output for the Supra 382 hp. The Supra has become perhaps the core part of the GR lineup for Toyota.
Toyota Could Make Use Of Modern Engine And Construction Techniques
While these might sound somewhat obvious, they will drastically improve the performance of a revived Sports 800. Various engine options would be available for the new Sports 800 be it a Boxer engine, a version of the BMW engines from the Supra to perhaps something from within Toyota’s own arsenal. Think of the new unit inside the 2023 Crown. Hybrid power would certainly prove to be an interesting choice for a new Sports 800. Given the new Toyota MR2 might also go hybrid, it’s not impossible to imagine that this is the direction Toyota will go down.
When it comes to construction techniques, carbon fiber is now extensively used in performance cars. Electronic differentials and forged control arms are also now available. A new Sports 800 would probably be heavier than the original. But if anyone can keep the lightweight nature at its core then Toyota can.
How Likely Is A New Toyota Sports 800?
There are currently no plans for such a car from Toyota. As such, for now it’s highly unlikely we will see one anytime soon. A new MR2 is most likely the next sports car revival to come from the Japanese brand. But the Sports 800 is an interesting proposition. It could give Toyota a platform to go after the Mazda MX-5, with its own small sports car. Whether Toyota is even interested in that though is not clear. But perhaps it’s something Toyota could think about for the future.
Sources: Toyota, Hemmings
