this thing has 400.000 km and still looks amazing

I love it. The attention to detail in the interior (shoe horns, patterned lambswool carpets, lambswool seats, the wood door tray), the trick dash and that it's hand-built. Has it really done over 406,000km? If do, its condition is a credit to its quality.

the japanese are brilliant at making incredible cars, that the rest of the world never hears about

An undeniably cool car in decades previous, current and future.

Having driven a few of these in New Zealand (We get em as used imports) I *Adore* the century. It's a mobile sensory deprivation chamber with lovely upholstery. I would love one of my own.

I wish more luxury cars used wool seats instead of leather. Leather was originally preferred for the chauffeur seats because it didn't wear as fast, but wool was used in the back because it was more comfortable. I am sure they can make a synthetic wool blend that lasts a long time these days. Leather has some downsides: It feels very cold in winter and it makes you sweat during summer. Leather also makes more noises when you move in your seat. And it requires regular maintenance. Edit: Haha, I wrote this before I saw the video!

10 of these for sale in New Zealand at present. Several of them under 100km, and averaging around NZD $20,000-$25,000. Seriously good value.

Wow so impressive to have 400k miles and still look that good especially the interior! Speaks to the insane craftsmanship I suppose

My dad's 96 camry back in Hong Kong had that exact sort of material in the car and honestly I liked it more than leather, since its warm and cozy and wouldn't look ridiculously worn by the time my dad had that car.

Thats not a flag mount. It's a parking pole so you can figure out where the nearside front corner of the car is when parking in tight spaces. Common on japanese cars in the 70's-00's before parking sensors and cameras were a thing.

This is one of the few cars I truly covet.

I bought an 05 model with 90,000 miles on it for £12k about 5 years ago. I was using it as my daily drive until Mayor Khan's wretched ULEZ charge but still use it for all longer journeys. Just clocked up 155,000 miles with virtually no issues other than replacing the tie rods and control arms, but this was elective as I felt it needed tightening up a bit. The shocks will need doing and are expensive but have not come up as an MOT item as yet. I would hazard a guess that the wallowing may well just be due to wear and tear on the review car as mine still rides pretty well. I've replaced the bonnet struts and a small piece of rear trim, struts took about 3 weeks to arrive but were no more expensive than the Lexus equivalent even though bigger. The small piece of bright trim was only about £40 through Amara online in Japan. The 05 Model does have an internal bonnet release as well as a power butten which lowers the gear ratios and is useful for overtaking. A big thank you to James for clearing up the mystery of the rails in the boot and the feather duster puch which I have been using for an umbrella. I have the net curtains, the rear window ones are electrically controlled which are marvellous for shutting out tailgaters. One fact of James' that I would take issue with is the mislabelling of the parking guide as a flag pennant. It looks like a flag pennant but is actually for knowing where the leading edge of your front nearside wing is. If anyone knows where I can find a spare parking guide please let me know as mine was vandalised.

Now we demand an interview with Brad :D

Watching this and Harry's review of the super loud GT4RS on the same day is the perfect comparison

What a great guy. You should have your own car show my friend. You explain things properly and actually show us viewers what we want to see. I hope you carry on for much longer. Classic car owner myself 🙂

I dont have words for how happy that Walkman made me.

curiously enough, they actually do make LHD models for Japanese ambassies abroad, very cool of them to do so!

Excellent video. I love the variety of cars you feature on your channel.

My friend has a Toyota Century, and a quite special one too. It's the one reviewed by Mr Regular, perhaps the most viewed Century video on KZfaq. The presence that the car has on the road is incredible. My friend was kind enough to offer himself and the car up to chauffeur me and some friends around on a boozy night out. What a car, what a lad!

I remember my grandad had an old Jag which I loved then a couple of cars later he bought a Toyota Crown 2.8 Super Saloon, it was amazing, the ride quality, the engine, comfort was all top notch. It really was a very special car. Probably better than the Jag truth be told.

The wing mounted mirrors already garner the title of "greatest car".

Another great video 👍 Keep'em coming Jay.

Regular car reviews did a great review of the Toyota century. The nuances of the wool interior

Absolutely love this! What a gem and a credit to the owner.

Thanks J, you need an 'Oddjob'' to drive that for you. Interesting car! 🙏🙏

One of the few interesting Toyotas. These are seriously undervalued at present too. You can pick them up from $20k in Australia.

Love the century. Detail and build quality of the highest standard. I was a bit sceptical of the style at first, but I'd love to own one .

Wow, that intro was a fantastic piece of thought!

Hey Jay, great video. The pole on the front bumper is a parking pole. It's a parking aid for finding the front left corner of the car. The antenna on the trunk is an NTT analog car phone antenna.

I saw one in New Zealand quite a number of months ago, had to do a google search as we followed it along the motorway to find out what it was, it just looks special, it had been modernized I think, updated wheels and tinted windows, it was still subtle but if you knew about cars you knew you were seeing something quite special.

Superb episode Jay. More quirks & features please.

I genuinely never knew Toyota ever did a v12 🤯 this looks insane, love it! Would love to check rear practicality in one of these 👏

Genuinely not my sort of car, but I can appreciate the engineering, focus and attention to detail. Very good video.

Great review as usual James. Great car too.

The paintwork is spectacular. I hear the C pillar is supposed to be able to double as a mirror so you have one more opportunity to confirm that you look proper before heading out.

The Century of any vintage is a car I would love to own. I've seen many KZfaq videos of the Century and this video is truly excellent. Now I just need to buy a garage to store it in as this is not a vehicle one keeps on the side of the road.

Enjoyed that. Interesting car for sure… Thanks as ever. Cheers.

Great review brother! 🙌🏼🔥❤️ ❤️ From Bangladesh 🇧🇩

A good video enjoying the content on the channel ✔️

One thing worth mentioning that people would like The V12 is supposedly sharing bits and pieces with 2JZ Making it "basically 2 2Js stitched together" Don't take it completely literally, but it;s amusing to think about Great video as always

Another great video James

First saw one of these in 2007 ( i know the year because just taken delivery of a new Hilux) in a village in rural Hertforshire, we were sitting outside a lovely country pub eating dinner watching a cricket mtach one summer evening when this beautiful machine wafted up, a large chap got out of the driver's seat, and opened the nearside rear door for the passenger, who one couldn't previously see behind the lace curtains, got out and went into the pub. The car then glided silently down the road, as you say not in any way flash just very impressive, Rolls/Bentley's on lots of drives round there,but this was exclusive. Didn't know what it was at the time but went home and read all about it. That must have been one of the only ones in Britain at the time, have seen about 4 since, but the first sight was inspiring. Now the 2018 model is out, the older models are looking a little dated but no denying the quality nor the durability, hope the owner has gone to town on the rustrpoofing underneath, i've run much more humble Toyotas for years (don't bother with anything else except Subaru now) and these won't have been expected to see the ridiculous amount of road salt we use here. I think the 2018 on model Century has come of age and is one of the classiest looking cars ever to have been made, if only i had your money Jay :-)

Excellent review! I love you.

Impeccable..and with a 95l tank if you travel long distances I can't imagine anything better to do it in

Just love these. I can tell I watch too many KZfaq videos because I miss seeing doilies and the net curtains in these cars, I would also like to see you drive a top spec old LS 400 next to this a MK2 ford Granada. 2.8 I Ghia X my dad had that was our Rolls Royce. I reckon that Walkman was so they could do dictation for meetings.

James I just bought one of these in Canada! Are you trying to drive values up for me ahahahahahahah!!!! Love the Japanese videos keep them coming!!!!

Really like your way of presenting. Well done.

I absolutely love the fact someone has willingly imported this car 🧐

Looks lke a 1980's Cadillac from the outside. I'm sure its much better than one of those though 😆

That's great. Thank you!

Great video James!....your too funny. A Tesla came past...and was deafening haha

Here in New Zealand the Century is only a JDM, of course. I have driven a couple of these Here in NZ. Oh my Zeus what an amazing car to be in!. Whisper quiet. The V12 can not be heard. It is incredibly smooth, even at speed. Even rushing up and down the transmission. The only thing I don't like is the rather boring dashboard. If I could afford one, i would get immediately. Even though I am the only driver and never a passenger.

James, I looked and didn't see a video from you, but I think it's time for a Mulsanne to come in for review.

ive seen these cars in videos before with exhausts that put supercars to shame, but the way this car can move in silence is absolutely incredible.

I have seen a few of these on the road in New Zealand, not that expensive to buy either TBH, currently a low k's (105,000) example for sale for $25k (12,500 quid). They look quite sinister when in black, with tints and lowered.

For having 400,000km on it that thing looks fantastic and was very well taken care of

Saw Katzi's comment below and as a dutiful NZer I indeed found 10 for sale on Trademe in NZ. From 5K (dodgy af) to $35K for a minter. Most around mid-15s to mid 20Ks with quite (some very) low mileage. And of course with the powerful kiwi dollar a NZ20K here could be had for....just checking....carry the 1....around 50 quid.

Antenna - appears to be SR780: 144/430MHz(2m/70cm). Most likely for the amateur radio.

The front "stick" will be a bumper guard to indicate the corner of the vehicle, the rear antenna may well be TV but I haven't seen one like that so perhaps mobile phone.

8:57 The wing mirrors were actually a requirement to meet Japanese design rules. They eliminate the blind spot that you get with standard door mounted mirrors. IIRC the Japanese got rid of this requirement in the early 2000s. I remember this well as I used to work in a wrecking yard in the early 2000s and we used to get In Japanese half cuts and the front quarter panels were useless due to the mirrors fitted in them!

14:50 well, you're not wrong. This car is... pretty popular with the "Families" or "Japanese Gumi" in Japan, if you will. Surely those huge boot serve the purpose really well, perhaps with an extra room for an 80-pound sack of concrete & an oversized plastic trash bag for extra convenience.

You’ve outdone yourself 🎉

Love it. For a car of its era, its bloody impressive. I would have one :)

Great video and bonkers car!

You pretty much summed up why we loved our LS400. Very much a lesser Century. As a car to travel in comfort, unbeatable. Oh, and it kept doing it for 15 years and 180,000miles in our hands. Probably still going strong. If we hadn't emigrated to tropical clines we would have kept it.

Wow! Just wow!

I saw a couple of these in the recent series of the TV show The Umbrella Academy, I assumed it was a US barge but after doing research found it was the Toyota Century, never heard of it before.

The wool sounds great, I've never been too impressed with leather seats.

These with a sports exhaust sound like an F1 car of old, absolutely incredible.

Thank you men!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ultimate JDM VIP spec, class.

Love it !

The walkman is to record hand dictated notes 😂, youll notice a small button ont he rear centre arm rest with a microphone 🎤 icon. When the walkman is plugged in and you depress the microphone button, you can dictate notes that will record to a tape on the walkman 😉

The fact its exterior design is such a throwback (even when it was new), shows that it was never designed as a car for normal use.

I need lamb's wool upholstery in my life... Anyone who's ridden in a Century knows it's superior to leather in pretty much every way. And that's coming from someone who's father was one of the best leather process engineers in the business. Leather paid for my upbringing, literally and Dad didn't love leather as an upholstery either. Ironic.

100% Yakuza! 😎🤣

Went to Japan in '16. Was at a hotel across from the Royal Palace grounds. Saw a bunch of cars I had never seen before. Ran over to see what they were. 6 or 7 Centurys. In Japan, if it's a top-of-the-line occasion you can show up in a Bentley or Rolls. But the Real People show up in a Century. Always.

I want this car so much❤

Rare sight even on Japanese roads. I would say though that this cat has one major problem - it looks like a slightly enlarged Toyota Crown - the car of choice for cabbies Nippon side.

I don't know why I am watching this, but I couldn't turn it off

Traditional, beautiful, powerful and just better. Lamb's Wool upholstery is so simply thoughtful. Above all V12.

It's funny I've actually been seeing one of these pop up for sale near me in the US.

What a magnificent machine

Listening to your voice is like going back in time to the 80s, earliest computer synthesised speech 🙉😂

Father in law had one, he was always a bit miffed that he always had to drive it and never got a chance to be a rear seat passenger 😂

That is one beautiful car .

An odd thing, the caps for the engine oil filler and dipstick are the same as on my 1992 Dodge D250 Cummins.

These are 13k gbp in Hong Kong and quite a few for sale 😊

Loved seeing these when I lived in Japan. When they stopped by the road I checked to see if it was anyone famous getting out of the back. Don’t know why because I don’t really know any famous Japanese celebrities. It always looked like a politician or a Yakuza boss.

If James ran his own Top Gear Cool Wall, this would be absolutely in Sub-Zero, perhaps even off the end and past the fridge! And you know it is definitely a Toyota: 400,000km and it looks like it's brand new! You don't get much more Japanese than that!

I'm mildly obsessed with those wool seats, I'm tired of leather and frankly Vauxhall Astra nylon doesn't cut it!

You lucky, lucky boy! Not jealous at all. Honest!

What a machine. As you said, this is how you build the finest automobile. I want one, nay, I need one. Auto Trader giving me nothing although there is a 2006 Crown for sale which if you squint hard enough kinda looks Century-ish.... the word kinda is doing some heavy lifting there I'll admit.

An interesting fact about fender mirrors: between 1951-1983 they were practically banned in Japan (not illegal, but the ministry of land and transport wouldn’t let a car with door mirrors obtain a type approval). It’s in 1977 this ban was dropped for imported car after it was branded a non-tariff trade barrier, and finally dropped altogether in 1983. Fender mirrors were very common for all types of Japanese cars, and still is for taxis (even the new JPN Taxi - LEVC TX equivalent - still only uses fender mirrors), though I think the 3rd gen Century has dropped it for door mirrors.

I knew a guy back in the 80s who won £250k on the pools while in his 20s. He tried out a 911 and a 308, but ended up buying a Silver Shadow, and his reasoning was uncannily like yours, James. The sports cars were great as long as you were driving like your nadgers were afire, but in normal driving were no better, and in some ways worse than far more mundane cars. But you got the full “Rollsness” from the instant you opened the door to get in, until you closed it when you got out.

As much as I like other Japanese vehicles, sportcars and such...of all things, this car, the Century, is my favorite. The Lexus LS400/Toyota Celsior comes in a very close 2nd place, and then...I dunno, there are so many nice cars, hehe

Not exactly a looker but I'd love to have a drive in it.

The best car in the world from the best car manufacturer in the the world built to last will never break down and still working after 400000 kms typical Toyota also whilst l was watching your maverlouse review l looked up how many Toyota Centurys were for sale in Sydney Australia there is three ranging from aud $20000 to $30000 not bad for all that luxury and still going but you do need deep pockets to own one

A brilliant exhaust would certainly make it interesting, cough effspot

That's the engine JUN used in that special gold mk4 supra with a couple of snails strapped to it. I don't know the specifics of the factory engine but with those power and torque figures, one can imagine just how overengineered and understressed it is, not unlike the UZ v8's (particularly the 1st gen ones) and the mighty 2jz which, accessories aside, are some of the best quality motors ever built. I'd love to see the maintenance records for this car, oil changes aside, to know if things like alternator/starter and any sensors were replaced... It's quite the ugly thing, very much like the early 90's Nissan President/Cima with the VH V8's yet there's no doubt about how special an experience it is to take one on a cruise.