I took a good look at a bunch of new cars today and I am relishing in the fact that the SC series still looks modern. In fact I think it looks better than most new cars.

 

Hermosa,
I couldn't agree with you more. The shape of the SC isn't boxy like other cars, yet it still has the smooth lines of today's newer cars. Not too bubbly, but also not to old school. I LOVE IT!!!

 

We are currently having a discussion on the LSOC Forum as to which shape is better, the 3Series Soarer (SC300\400) or the SC430.

I know this is a loaded question here but if I had 55K (GB Pounds) to spend on a new car I would want all that sophistication and technology in the older shape car.

 

u have my vote!

i too am a firm believer of the beauty of the sc400's design.

another thing is to imagine (or remember) what it was like when
the sc400 design came out waaaay back in 1991 and compare the sc400's design to all the other cars on the road at the time, alotta cars were really ugly!

bmw's i think looked ugly until the 1999's came out.

but now i think lexus has kinda been laid back, i don't feel the gs or sc430's design is really that great. (of course i wouldn't mind one if someone gave it to me) and the IS to me is completely *not* lexus, it makes me feel kinda stinky actually that the IS is actually sold under the lexus nameplate (sorry for my snobbyness)

 

I think it's a matter of style versus fashion. The Mercedes 300SL was introduced in, what, 1951? The Ferrari Dino in 1972 or so. The SC in '91 in Japan and '92 here. These cars (and many more) will always be beautiful because they have style. Style leads, fashion follows. And I think Lexus is following now, not leading, in design. So who is leading now? Guigiaro? That Alfa Brere is edgy, but somehow satisfying - the SC was edgy when it came out too, I wasn't sure I liked it at first, but now I see it's timeless.

 

I was just watching a documentary on the History channel about Million Dollar Classics. They were glazing over rare Alfa Romeos, Ferraris, Mercedes, Shelbys, Bugatis, Jaguars, Maseratis, Aston Martins, Duesenbergs, etc and the whole time I was thinking, hmmm, someday... Lexus and the SC400 will join the company of such collector classics. They probably won't be selling for $15 million though, because there are a bit more than six in existance . I still can't believe that this design was debuted back in 1991! Way ahead of it's time...

 

Classic looks, OK you can see some "borrowed" design aspects from several predecessors, Jag E Type being notable on the front end but few cars ever looked this good, the list of exoticar above is a good example. I stiil see people spinning round to see what it is when I drive by on the street.

I never saw the Soarer/SC until about three years ago while I was searching Japanese websites for a Skyline GTR, I ordered my Soarer same day and will never look back, I could only add another car to my collection - never replace.

The new SC does nothing for me, this is the typical Japanese way of design, copying some of the others and making a better car out of it but the SC430 is pig ugly in comparison.

 

I don't see much ressemblance from the Soarer to the E-type at all. A more valid arguement would be to compare the E-type to the old Datsun Fairlady 240s.

 

Well, I guess there must be a reason that NUMEROUS people thought my SC is a Jag or Aston Martin :eek:

 

Ah the E-type - -

nice image, lex400sc, thanks for that.

My fastest automotive moment was in an XKE coupe, 155mph on I-5 in Oregon at 5am on a Sunday morning, many many moons ago...left the Corvette in the dust and *then* shifted to 4th...