Rare Toyota Century V12 JDM Luxury Sedan

A rare dark blue 1997 Toyota Century (G50) arriving at and leaving County Line Cars and Coffee at the Promenade at Westlake. The Century was originally introduced in 1967 as Toyota's flagship luxury car in Japan and was named for the 100th birthday of Sakichi Toyoda. This imported JDM example is a second-generation car (chassis code GZG50), produced from 1997 to 2017 with styling similar to the original design. Around 9,000 examples were built, including a limited number of exports to Europe and other Asian countries and a few LHD examples shipped to the United States as promotional vehicles and corporate cars for executives of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). It is powered by a 5.0-liter 1GZ-FE V12 engine rated at 276 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque. The engine, Toyota's first V12 engine, was developed specially for the Century and was replaced by a hybrid V8 powertrain for the third-generation model.

Imagine a big ultra-luxury sedan with a V12 engine under the hood. Chances are you're thinking of a Rolls-Royce, or maybe a Mercedes or BMW, right? Well, the car we have here is none of those; in fact, it's not even European! Few people are aware that Toyota actually built a V12 engine, especially here in the States. But those who know are sure to be delighted when someone pulls up in a Century.

This car wasn't officially sold here, and people saw the "Century" badging and joked that it was a Buick. In a time when cars were increasingly being seen as flashy status symbols, Toyota's luxury car shamelessly embraced the modesty of its culture. Aside from its generous proportions and chrome accents, it didn't demand attention or excessively project the wealth of its occupants. In fact, it was marketed as a car "acquired through persistent work, the kind that is done in a plain but formal suit". As such, it exuded the incredible confidence of not only being wealthy and successful but also rising above the urge to flaunt it.

As expected from a high-end luxury car, the real party is on the inside. This car was designed for chauffeuring business executives and government officials, so it focused on rear passenger comfort with reclining and massaging seats and even a hole in the front passenger seat for additional rear legroom. Toyota valued its flagship sedan so much that it developed a V12 engine specially for it. Such a bespoke approach is atypical of a brand that has always been known for affordable and economical family cars. But that makes the Century a true gem, an ultra-luxury car unlike any other.

Would you choose this Century over a contemporary Mercedes-Benz or Rolls-Royce? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!