Reserve Removed: 1969 Toyota Sports 800 Roadster Running Project

This 1969 Toyota Sports 800 roadster project is presented as a restoration candidate that comes from 40 years of garage-kept ownership and is powered by a period-correct air-cooled 790cc boxer 2-cylinder paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. This Japanese-built Sports 800 is a left-hand-drive example, one of 300 produced within the total 3,101-unit production run over the model’s lifespan. Having been imported to the United States under prior ownership, the car features a removable aluminum targa top, a push-button radio, and original finishes inside and out. Finished in blue over a plaid vinyl interior, this final-year Sports 800 is now offered with spare parts, a targa top, a tonneau cover, uninstalled factory wheel covers, service manual copies, and a clear Indiana title in the seller’s name.

The Sports 800 two-door roadster debuted in Japan in model year 1965 as Toyota’s first production sports car, with aerodynamic styling penned by designer Shozo Sato that included an aluminum lift-off targa roof panel. Cosmetic changes were subsequently applied year-over-year that included changes to the grill and bumperettes in 1968 and the addition of side marker lamps beginning in 1969. This Sports 800 from the final year of production is reportedly one of only 300 units from the production run that were assembled in left-hand-drive configuration. The body retains what is believed to be its original blue paint, with finishes described as being original and restoration-ready. The design features a front-hinged hood, chrome headlight rings, and twin front and rear bumperettes. Areas with cosmetic issues are the broken driver-side headlight cover, rust on both front fenders ahead of the doors, corrosion on the front and rear bumpers, a crack in the windshield, and overall paint patina.

Steel 12-inch wheels are wrapped in older tires. The sale includes a set of four uninstalled polished wheel covers.

The two-seater interior is fitted with the original black and white plaid vinyl bucket seats which show wear consistent with age. The dash face and other metal interior finishes are painted blue; the door panels and carpeting are upholstered in contrasting black. Amenities include a push-button radio, windshield washers, and a passenger-side grab handle.

Instrumentation includes a 180-km/h speedometer, a 6k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for the fuel level, coolant temperature, oil pressure, and voltage. The five-digit mechanical odometer reads 70k kilometers.

The correct air-cooled 790cc replacement 2-cylinder boxer engine has dual carburetors and reportedly runs when connected to a temporary fuel tank, although the vehicle has largely been parked since 1987. The powertrain was rated at 44 horsepower when new. Thrust is directed to the rear wheels via a floor-shifted 4-speed manual transmission.

The sale includes a spare tire, extra parts including uninstalled wheel covers, and copies of service manuals.