Toyota Sports 800
A tiny, wind-cheating sports car that made light weight and fuel economy part of the fun.
1965 Toyota Sports 800 UP15 coupé at the Toyota Automobile Museum in Japan. · Coolalabright · CC BY 4.0 International
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More than a set of wheels.
The Sports 800 grew from Toyota's Publica Sports concept shown in 1962. Toyota released the UP15 in April 1965, using many Publica parts and having Kanto Auto Works build it. The production car replaced the concept's sliding canopy with normal doors and a removable roof panel.
Look a little closer.
Japanese fans nicknamed it Yota-Hachi: Yota from Toyota and hachi, meaning eight, from 800.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Lightness was the secret
Toyota used an aerodynamic body and some aluminum-alloy construction to keep mass down. The company recorded a 155 km/h maximum speed from only 45 PS, showing how less weight and less air resistance can help a modest engine.
Source: Toyota 75-year vehicle lineage · Sports 800 ↗Built to keep going
Toyota says the Sports 800 did especially well in long-distance racing because of reliability and fuel economy. In the 1967 Fuji 24-hour race, one finished third behind two 2000GTs.
Source: Toyota 75-year vehicle lineage · Sports 800 ↗Where these facts come from
- Toyota 75-year vehicle lineage · Sports 800
- Toyota 75-year history · development of sports cars
- Toyota Automobile Museum · Sports 800 collection
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.