Photos by J.C. from the Cohort.
I’ve witnessed few things in life like the rise of Lexus as a luxury brand. The whole matter went from much skepticism; “I’m just not sure about the Japanese building a real luxury car,” to many of those doubters falling head over heels for Lexus’ products. In a matter of weeks. And to be in California during those events allowed me to see it happening in fast-forward motion.
Looking at it from a distance, Toyota had quite the recipe for success at the time. It shows what a committed group of people can achieve when gathering the right data and putting forth the right product. Merkur, Eagle, and Sterling were many of the mid-80s launches that went from “What’s that?” to remaining just that. Meanwhile, Lexus went from “What’s that” to just about every one of my classmates wishing one. It was a topic floating in the air at the time, and there was no way to escape it.
In the case of Lexus’ SC series coupe, buff publications raved about it, while among my acquaintances, those lucky enough to ride in one just gushed praise. “Such a well laid out interior, it’s so gooood…” said one Canadian pal, an otherwise Mustang 5.0 devotee. And to see this SC coupe in this condition, just sent me back to those college years.
The Lexus coupe came as the SC400 or the SC300, carrying Lexus’ silky new V8 or a 6-cyl., respectively. Without a close-up of the badges, I’ve no idea which kind of SC this one is. Considering that a good number of these have fallen to the Fast and the Furious crowd, could this be just a lowly 6-cyl.?
We all know Lexus went from an unknown quantity to leaving all scattered in its wake. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche had to scramble to catch up, and nothing was ever the same. We also know the SC was short-lived, as the whole market was moving away from luxury coupes. But Lexus was ready for those shifting sands with the upcoming RX CUV of 1998.
My classmates didn’t have the prosperity to join in the SC coupe fun while in college, but a few did become proud RX owners later. Since nothing remains still in the luxury market, I wonder if they’re Tesla owners now.
Further reading:
Curbside Classic: 1997 Lexus SC400 – V-8 Powered Coupes From Japan Are Indeed A Rare Breed
CC Capsule: 1993 Lexus SC300 – The Poor Man’s Personal Luxury Lexus
This was a rightfully well-regarded car. A big plus of the six cylinder vs the eight in this car was the availability of a manual transmission.
Thats an SC300, you can tell its missing the spoiler, side skirts and black front air damn found on the SC400. Probably an early model as well, 92 or 93. As the years went on the sc300 got a lot of the baubles and bits that were only on the 400. Wheels are from an LS400 and look rather goofy on this car.
I used to own a 1992 SC300, pearl white with the manual. Bought it in mint condition with 60k miles on it in 2012. Friends called it “the fresh Lex” That car never had a spec of dirt on it in the 7 years/40k miles I owner it, the off white leather and carpets were immaculate. The paint job was just unreal, newer cars dont have paint that nice because of the epa(or whatever they call that in japan)
The gen. 1 SC was an amazing car, and it was especially cool that Toyota’s CALTY facility led the design, also shared with its overseas Soarer twin.
Realistically, had I been well-heeled (and not an infant) in the early 90s, I probably would have bought a Legend Coupe, instead. I’m a sucker for oddball longitude-FWD layouts.
Considering that a good number of these have fallen to the Fast and the Furious crowd, could this be just a lowly 6-cyl.?
The 6 cylinder is the 2Jz, the darling of high performance Toyota tuners, I’d actually say one might be more desirable to that crowd than the SC400 with the V8.
I’m more of a Thunderbird SC kind of guy personally, there’s just something a little offputting to the Lexus SC. Maybe the roundness, maybe the color palate (I despise this beige) but they just don’t convey luxury presence the way the LS does, nor the GS or even the ES and RX, and I think it comes down to the styling; it looks like a cross between a 4th gen Prelude and a 6th gen Celica – bright cheerful compact sports cars – but those styling themes scaled up and bestowed with a brooding luxury car image just doesn’t fit it.
If these were lower priced Toyota brand models going up against the Ford Thunderbirds and Pontiac Grand Prix the styling works, but tarting them up with elegant colors, (often)gold badging and plushy leather interiors has the same sort of incongruity as a Mustang Grande or any number of 70s PLCs based on coupes that used to be sporty earlier in the decade.
This car is the antithesis of the kind of automotive practicality that (I’d like to think) I prefer. Which is why we own a van, a pickup and a small hatchback. But they are stunning looking to my eyes, and the fact that they were available with the six and manual made them even more appealing. Despite their current popularity with the drift crowd, they weren’t particularly respected by enthusiasts in the US and even less so in the UK; I remember reading scathing criticism in one of the British magazines and I think they even picked a used one for a beater challenge.
If a company wants to be known as a great car company, the first step is to build great cars. Which is what Lexus did initially, it established the base of their reputation and acceptance. Lexus built highly desirable and aspirational vehicles during this period. I found the SC especially attractive, but went with my deeply established love for Cadillac and bought a ’94 Seville instead.
The styling was controversial and the lack of a grille was as polarizing as it was on the other models from the ’90’s that shared that trait. I hated that little slot like grille that was added to later versions.
I spend many hours looking at CraigsList, searching for these cars, as well as second Gen Acura legends. Well cared for cars in original condition are not easily found and they command high prices. I think that the styling has held up well, and being RWD, has kept the car desirable.
I was never in the demographic that would buy one of these as a new car, but even back then I could have afforded a lightly used example. I haven’t been attracted enough to later Lexus products to give one a try.
Probably my favorite Lexus design ever. I used to always get excited to see one of the facelifted ones, since they were so rare, especially in New England.
On a side note, there was something off about that full-line photo, and I realized it’s the 1997 LX450 and 1999 RX300 being in the same shot together – wouldn’t the 1998 LX470 have been out by then? (The GS and LS are clearly ‘98s, so I assume the RX isn’t a concept.)
I believe the RX300 was introduced as a 1998 model early in the year. The 1998 LX470 wasn’t introduced until April 1998, several months after the Land Cruiser so that picture was likely taken/publlshed late in 1997.
Agree with the others on the 6 vs. 8 discussion. It’s not at all the same as choosing between a 6 and an 8 in a 1st gen Camaro. I’d more liken it to choosing between a 327 and a 396. Sure the big block is faster in a straight line, but it upsets the chassis balance.
Even setting aside the availability of a manual transmission, I’d probably have chosen the SC300.
Evan the 2jzge straight six is a massive engine with a cast iron block/aluminum cylinder head. The 1uzfe V8 is aluminum block and head, the weight difference is negligable to where you would never notice a difference in handling. Also fuel mileage is similar between the two(not good) What you will notice is the V8 is significantly faster at 50+mph and tops out at 150 vs 130 for the 2jzge
Thanks, I learned something.
I think its a fair comparison outside of the weights though, the Toyota 2Jz is definitely Toyota’s small block Chevy – a great platform with unlimited aftermarket support.
Maybe the better chevy big block comparison relative to it rather than the mark IV 396 would be the original W head 348s and 409s. Powerful in the production models, but compared to the SBCs and later 396/427/454 big blocks you don’t often see them in anything but the cars they came in, and often in preserved status. 2Jzs have found their ways into non Toyotas just as the sbc before it
Toyota quoted a dry weight of 430 lb for the 1UZ-FE, so I think it’s actually a bit lighter than the 2JZ-GE, which is more in the realm of 450 lb in similar condition.
If the LS was the car that put Japan on the radar of the traditional “luxury” car makers and buyers, then the SC was the car that delivered the follow-up punch and easily competed for the wallets of those intending to look at a European luxury coupe.
It’s hard to overstate the effect these had when introduced, at least on the west coast, anyone who was remotely in tune with the car market at the time knew of them, looked at them longingly, and generally agreed that there wasn’t much if anything not to like from the sublime styling, quality assembly, and exceptional performance and reliability for the money. Not cheap, but considered worth every penny.
The 300 I believe has earned a level of respect that wasn’t necessarily accorded it when new, the 400 definitely got the lion’s share of the attention back then, and yes, the mid-cycle refresh didn’t do it any favors, adding a few touches that were more on the gaudy side as compared to the purity and non-ornamentation of the original iteration.
One of our best friends, who inherited quite a lot of money at the tie, bought an SC 400 early in its life here. I got to drive it several times, to wring it out on the windy back roads in the Santa Cruz mountains. It was a blast; what a beast, but a very civilized one.
She kept it for quite a few years, and always remembers it as the best car she ever had.
Lexus pulled off the luxury trick in the US but never in Europe. It’s been an also ran from the day it turned up, a last in the lineup car. There’s nothing wrong with any of the range, but also no reason to buy one apart from reliability. To put sales in perspective, they sell c40k pa and took 30 years to hit 1m. Mercedes sold 800+k in 2019 and BMW over 700K. It’s best known owner is a chap called Alan Partridge. Let’s say a Lexus is not aspirational.