Toyota Corona + Lexus SC 400 = Frankenstein Hot Rod

By adpock - May 23, 2016

2004-lexus-v8-hot-rod-1t

It may not look like a Lexus, but this hot rod’s got the beating heart of one.

Technically, she’s a custom 1968 Toyota Corona built by Mitch Allread out of So-Cal. But Mitch had the good sense to drop in a Lexus SC 400‘s stock 4.0-liter 32-valve V8 and four-speed auto transmission. So though it may be a bit of a blue Frankenstein, it’s at least Lexus enough to be featured here at Club Lexus.

As you may have noticed, this isn’t Club Hot Rod, for a couple of reasons. First of all, we just don’t see that many Lexus hot rods around these parts. And secondly, most Lexus owners probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about hot-rodding their cars.

Still, you have to admit, the looks alone on this one make it compelling, what with that vague Corona-ness attached to that tubular steel space frame chassis. And, of course, that Gulf Racing Blue.

The car was constructed to compete in Nevada’s Silver State Classic road race, but never ran. And now it’s apparently a bit of a hot rod celebrity, even appearing in Hot Rod magazine, according to BoldRide. Apparently they like partial-Lexus cars in the hot rod world; who knew?

Well, if you’re intrigued, but not quite ready to commit your LS to such a makeover, you can have this hot rod instead. She’s up for sale at the Auction America’s June event and is expected to sell for around $30K.