Friday 20th September 2019

Toyota Century Convertible!

There's a new Japanese emperor; here are his coronation wheels

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Everyone loves a Toyota Century; they're just the rules. The combination of V12 engine, peerless craftsmanship, quite ordinary styling and the incongruity of a Toyota badge has made it a cult classic. Now its stock will surely only rise further, with the announcement of a unique Century convertible.

This one-off has been built for the new Japanese emperor Naruhito, whose coronation ceremony is due to take place on October 22nd. It's built from a 2017 Century V8 hybrid, replacing a 1990 Rolls-Royce Corniche III as presidential wheels no less, and will be tasked with driving the 2.85-mile route from the imperial palace west to Akasaka Palace. Yep, that's a bespoke luxury car, for driving less than three miles...

As well as the decapitation, the Century cab has had its rear seats modified to give onlookers a better view of Naruhito and his wife. They're placed 1.57 inches higher than standard, with the seat backs fixed at 25 degrees. In typical Toyota fashion, it looks impeccably done - maybe they could make a few more.

Once its coronation duties are fulfilled, the drop-top Century will be displayed in museums and used during next year's Olympics, so it's not disappearing entirely after October. Given the last presidential wagon was in service for 30 years, actually, it's probably not disappearing for a very long time. Good job everyone loves the Century, then...

[richinlondon]

So awful it’s fabulous

[BMW A6]

John F Kennedy

[quigonjay]

V8 hybrid in this model not V12

[Ilovejapcrap]

Want

[DaveTheRave87]

You'd wonder why they wouldn't go for a full EV if it's only for a 3 mile commute.

[Rumblestripe]

Managed to look better and more tasteful than the latest Roller (a low bar admittedly)

[fernando the frog]

DaveTheRave87 said:

You'd wonder why they wouldn't go for a full EV if it's only for a 3 mile commute.

because they'd have to change the whole architecture of the Century just for a 1 off vehicle i'd assume, also as it's only 3 miles it's hardly using much fuel lol

[Bencolem]

Pretty sure it doesn’t have a V12 and pretty sure it doesn’t have any Toyota badges...

[LotusOmega375D]

Scuttle shake. Any more than 3 miles and the rear doors won’t open!

[21st Century Man]

I have a Century, and I got a chainsaw last Saturday

[alorotom]

21st Century Man said:

I have a Century, and I got a chainsaw last Saturday

Username checks out!

This is epically lovely!

[Cambs_Stuart]

I've just checked out ebay and you can get a lot of wafty Japanese barge for not a lot of cash.
They're really tempting. Surely better built than any European barge?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

[TWPC]

Cambs_Stuart said:

I've just checked out ebay and you can get a lot of wafty Japanese barge for not a lot of cash.
They're really tempting. Surely better built than any European barge?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

No velour?

[21st Century Man]

Indeed, has to be wool and wing mirrors to be 'proper'.

[Ocellia]

...and the Pope used a Fiat...... (I think?)

[Cambs_Stuart]

TWPC said:

No velour?

You want velour? I give you velour.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

As immortalised in my children's favourite pixar short film.

https://pixar.fandom.com/wiki/Ito-San

[Gandahar]

That bloke who looks like Quentin Tarrantino did a review of the hard top version of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl_Euj_qNoM

and it is really whacky.

The drop top is incredibly cool. Imagine turning up in that to any event !

[Gandahar]

quigonjay said:

V8 hybrid in this model not V12

It's saving the planet ! The V12 would have melted a lot more of the 51st state of the USA icecap if it had done those 3 miles.

[sisu]

The old Royce ain't bad

[virgilio]

21st Century Man said:

My car is called Shimmy Chan, which is an affectionate variation on the more respectful Shimizu San, I started off with the latter, but after bonding we're now more comfortable with the former. (Shimizu after Akira Shimizu, Chief Designer).

Do you have a V12 century? please start a blog about her on gassing station: I would love to hear more about that car...this side of a merc W100, it would be my all-time favorite “daily-driver”!