WHAT IS IT?
The Lexus SC400 was the RWD coupe stablemate to the debut car for Lexus, the LS400. The latter is widely regarded as one of the most reliable and all-around best cars of the late 20th century. Known to JDM fans as the third-generation Toyota Soarer, the SC400 was the design product of Calty, Toyota’s California design studio. It was a low-key stunner. While the enthusiast preferred spec might have been the far rarer SC300 with a manual (the powertrain essentially shared with the contemporary Toyota Supra), the silky-smooth 32 valve Lexus V8 is what you want for a lazy, reliable, high-speed GT. It’s hard to comprehend today what a shock to the system it was when Lexus debuted with these V8 powered cars around 1990. They seemed purposefully overengineered and overbuilt to guarantee a faultless launch for the brand in North America.
WHY THIS CAR HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
This example has all the hallmarks of a careful, older Orange County, CA owner. With just 18,000 miles, it doesn’t have any viewable sun damage to the clearcoat or interior. Other than the now out-of-fashion chrome wheels, there’s nothing to fault in its appearance. Even the driver’s bolster of the magnolia leather is wear-free, and the myriad cabin buttons appear as-new. This is a car that even at 30+ years old, you could probably put 100,000 miles on, doing little more than gas and oil.
It’s hard to comprehend today what a shock to the system it was when Lexus debuted with these V8 powered cars around 1990.
