How Toyota’s Technical Museum Shows A Different Side Of The Japanese Automaker

Toyota is one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world and one that is immensely proud of its heritage. So much so that it has the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, located at the birthplace of the Toyota Group in Nagoya, Japan. Famed content creator and photographer Larry Chen has been out on a visit to Japan. In a recent YouTube video, he decided to stop by and check out the museum for himself.

The museum shows a different side to Toyota, as well as the history of their vehicles. But as Chen says, there is a lot of focus on the technology of Toyota at the museum. Most notably on its materials, and how it has produced so many incredible cars over the years. The museum’s website says that its mission is to showcase Toyota’s technological innovations while serving as a place for learning about the history of making things. The museum also hopes to play a part in developing a sustainable society for the future, which is a role that it has played ever since it opened in June 1994.

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Chen Says He Is Nerding Out At The Toyota Museum

1989 Lexus LS400 Engine Specs

(Sourced from Automobile Catalog & Fastest Laps)

For Chen, the biggest part of his visit was to see the various cars on display and get an up-close look at some iconic Toyota vehicles. He describes himself as “nerding” out over the various cars on display, such as the Toyota ESV.

Chen says this particular Toyota’s role was to test various aspects of vehicle safety. It was one of the first cars made that had a crumple zone built into the chassis. This is a section of the car that takes the brunt of the impact in an accident, leaving the driver and passenger well protected.

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The ESV also had an early form of ABS and automatic light, plus a whole host of little features that were ahead of their time. This car was first delivered to Toyota in 1974, with only 10 examples ever produced. Chen then takes a look at the 1UZ-FE V8 engine, the first powerplant for the very first Lexus LS400 XF10. The LS400 is significant as it is the very first model developed by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. It is a car that still serves as its flagship model.

A collection of old Toyota and Lexus brochures from the 1980s on display caught Chen’s eye. These are all very different from modern brochures and advertisements. Large, full-color photos of the cars make up the adverts, which were all shot on film to a very high standard.

Back to the cars, Chen then gets a look at a 65-hp 1936 Toyota AA, the very first Toyota produced. It has some American influence in its design with its streamlining and art-deco styling. With the doors open on display, Chen is very impressed by how much room there is in the car.

Classic Toyota’s Are A Huge Part Of The Museum

Toyota Commemorative Museum Of Industry And Technology Highlights

• The museum features iconic Toyotas such as the 2000GT and AA
• Toyota showcases its manufacturing process through various interactive exhibits
• Examples of 1980s Toyota and Lexus brochures are on display
• The museum showcases various technological aspects of Toyota’s history

As Chen and fellow content creator Louis Yio walk around the museum, they see how many classic Toyotas the museum houses. These range from very early Toyota Corollas, right up to the modern supercar from Lexus, the LFA.

The early Corolla is a small car with chrome bumpers and grille, and the mirrors are also mounted above the front fenders. Chen is particularly taken by the 1970 Toyota Celica GT, which made its debut in the 1971 model year.

The Celica of that era had a small 113 hp inline-four engine under the hood, which had from 1.4 liters to 2.2 liters. This example is in stunning condition with gleaming chrome and paintwork, indicating it recently went through a restoration.

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While it might be divisive, Chen and Yio take a look at a Toyota 2000GT with a significant difference. This, in a gorgeous white, has been converted into an EV. Chen is keen to point out that some of the window glass is sadly cracked and pitting in the paintwork.

This 1967 2000GT is still one of the most valuable cars in the entire museum. In fact, the record at auction for a 2000GT currently stands at $2,535,000, according to Hagerty. This was an exceptional example of the 2000GT though, as it is one of three that were worked on by legendary racer and tuner Carroll Shelby.

The 2000GT was Toyota’s answer to the Jaguar E-Type, and in many ways, it was the superior car. A special convertible version also appeared in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and only two open-top 2000s were ever produced.

Toyota Technology Is On Display At The Museum

While cars make up a big part of the museum, Chen says that technology from Toyota is also on show. One exhibit includes a snapshot of the construction process for Toyotas. This features a bare frame showing how the engine, drivetrain, and more fit into the car.

Much of Toyota’s actual manufacturing process is fully automated, and Chen includes some brief clips he took while visiting a Toyota production line to show this. Chen commends the museum for this section, as it shows you exactly what you would see if you went to the factory to see the assembly process.

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The Museum Even Includes A Body Assembly Display

Toyota has gone to great lengths with the museum to show how they build their cars. After further exploring, Chen thinks the coolest machine in the museum is the body assembly exhibit. This shows how they do the tack-welding onto the body, and it has a couple of Toyota frames moving into position before the welding machines go to work.

They don’t physically weld, but they go through the motions and movements. A lot of the exhibits are interactive, such as the one that allows you to assemble a Toyota body. It is an impressive collection of Toyota cars and manufacturing tools, and this museum is 100 percent worth a visit if you are in Japan.

Sources: Larry Chen YouTube Channel, IMSA/Hagerty, Automobile Catalog, Fastest Laps, Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology