Japan has built only one V-12-engine production car, and this is it.The Toyota Century is a discreet and traditional sedan.Check out the super-1990s wool upholstery, lace seat covers, and side window curtains.In HBO's Tokyo Vice, a young reporter finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of underworld crime, rival yakuza gangs, and murder. It's a great watch, and the vehicle spotting is a bonus for gearheads, from Ken Watanabe's Fairlady Z to a fleet of bōsōzoku motorcycle gang members. The production even uses the cars as subtle casting: The leader of the aggressive Tozawa clan is ferried in a Mercedes-Benz; the more tradition-minded oyabun of the Chiharia-kai uses a Toyota Century.Toyota CenturyFeel like a kingpin yourself behind the wheel of this 1997 Toyota Century, up for sale on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos). Under that mirror-polished black hood, you'll find Toyota's crown jewel: the 1GZ-FE V-12, a motor built for peerlessly smooth operation in Tokyo traffic. You might call it Toyota's version of a Rolls-Royce, but without the flash.Toyota CenturyIntroduced in 1997, this generation of Century was just the second redesign in 30 years. It differs from normal Toyota or Lexus models in that constant re-engineering was antithetical to the Century's intended audience, corporate executives who favored traditional excellence. This car was supposed to project soft power. Toyota's advertising even likened it to a discreet, well-cut dark business suit.Of course, a car that cuts a low profile while still projecting a commanding presence is of interest to businessmen of another sort entirely. In the same way that big Cadillacs are a staple of Goodfellas, the Century was a favorite ride of top-level Yakuza crime lords.Toyota CenturyThe engine is obviously the centerpiece of the car, a 5.0-liter V-12 that's rated at 276 horsepower, the max allowed by Japan's so-called "gentleman's agreement" among manufacturers. Unlike a Nissan Skyline GT-R, it doesn't actually make much more power than the given figure. Instead, it is tuned for silken torque, with advanced-for-the-time variable valve timing, with more than 80 percent of its peak torque of 355 pound-feet available from just 1200 rpm. The transmission is a four-speed automatic. Toyota CenturyAnother Century flourish is the choice of upholstery, wool rather than leather. While it was possible to order the car with leather seating surfaces, wool was seen as a much more conservative choice. In a sticky, humid Tokyo summer, wool was breathable and also free from any squeaks. This car also features lace seat covers and privacy curtains, which are very 1990s Japan.Toyota CenturyRide quality was obviously very important to Toyota's engineers, and this example has 16-inch wheels with a decent cushion of sidewall below and electrically controlled air suspension above. Other niceties include soft-close rear doors, a heated and massaging rear bench seat, and automatic climate control. The only real thing missing is a white-gloved chauffeur.What's particularly nice about this example is that the current owner has gone to the trouble of having it properly certified and titled in California, to the tune of $13K. No need to import your own and jump through the hoops; just roll down the road feeling like you're the CEO of Canon during the time before phone cameras, or a crime boss in the days before video surveillance.The current-gen Toyota Century is powered by a hybrid V-8, and when current Emperor Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019, he was ferried by a specially built convertible version. The V-12 is only found in the second-generation car, so here's your chance to have even more cylinders at your command than the actual emperor of Japan. You could be ahead by a Century.The auction ends on May 7.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.