Toyota has a long history of reliable powerplants. The Japanese automaker went all out with the free-breathing V10 of the Lexus LFA, albeit Toyota kept it nice and civilized with the V12 of the Century.
Similar to the LR-series V10 of the Lexus LFA, the GZ-series V12 of the Century is a one-and-done affair. Internally referred to as 1GZ-FE, the 5.0-liter mill was used by the ultra-luxury sedan exclusively between 1997 through 2017. Care to guess how much power and torque it makes at full chatter?
On paper, not much. JDM vehicles were advertised with precisely 280 metric ponies, meaning 276 horsepower, due to a gentleman’s agreement. Said agreement was signed by all Japanese automakers in 1989, yet everyone and their dog was cheating.
The agreement further limited the top speed of vehicles intended for the Japanese domestic market to 180 kilometers per hour (112 miles per hour). Although the power cap was lifted in 2004, JDM cars are still limited to 180 kilometers per hour.
Even the 592-horsepower Nissan GT-R NISMO can’t go over 180 on public roads, but once the satellite navigation system determines that you’re on a racing circuit, it elevates said limit to 320 kilometers per hour (almost 200 miles per hour). In the Century’s case, top speed isn’t of the essence.
Advertised in export markets with 220 kW (299 ps or 295 hp) to its name, the naturally-aspirated V12 is believed to crank out in excess of 300 horsepower at 5,200 revolutions per minute. Torque peaks at 4,000 to the tune of 481 Nm (355 pound-feet), which is marginally better than the good ol' LS1 small block in the 1997 model year Chevrolet Corvette.
Photo: capitaljdm on Cars & Bids
Something like 100 units of the left-hand-drive Century were produced for export. Chassis number GZG50-003437 isn’t one of those cars, but a true Japanese domestic market vehicle. Imported from Japan in May 2023, the 1998 model before your eyes comes with a clean US title and 161,000 kilometers (circa 100,100 miles) on the odometer.
Way more luxurious than the V8-engined Lexus LS from that era, the stately land yacht is as close to original as possible. Some chips, paint imperfections, and roof dings are noted, which is only natural for a car this old and with this mileage.
The driver’s seat also exhibits a bit of wear, but looking at the bigger picture, all of these flaws can be addressed without breaking the bank. Listed on Doug DeMuro’s auction platform with 15 bids at press time, this car needs a set of new front tires.
Driven approximately 200 miles since the selling dealer acquired the vehicle in May 2023, the Century had its engine oil and oil filter changed in preparation for sale. Modifications are few and far between, starting with a front monitor. Other mods include aftermarket chrome guards for the door edges, window deflectors, and a toll card reader.
Offered at no reserve, GZG50-003437 is going at $7,600 with 20 hours of bidding left on it. Considering that it retailed at 9,250,000 yen when new, $7,600 can only be described as chump change. It remains to be seen how wild the bidding will get in the last hour, but still, it clearly won’t get close to the original sticker price. By the way, 9,250,000 yen is $61,750 at current exchange rates. Adjusted for inflation, that would be roughly $66,030.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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