Flashback Friday: There Are Still Unsold LFAs Lurking in the Wild
The New/Old Hyper Car Still for Sale
*This article was originally published back in 2017 but there are still many LFAs that have not been sold. By the last count earlier this year the number had dropped to seven.*
The Internet went wild recently after Autoblog accidentally discovered that there are still untitled, unsold Lexus LFA supercars out there in the world. How, exactly, did they figure this out? Apparently, while analyzing some sales figures for the month of July, they noticed that one was sold that very month. With a little further digging, they found out that it wasn't the only one, either. In fact, six flew off dealer lots last year alone! And it turns out they aren't the only "new" LFAs still up for grabs.
The Fact That Surprised Everyone (Except Toyota)
In fact, it appears that a dozen or more of the 500 LFAs originally built are still unsold and waiting for their first owners. This is obviously notable for a number of reasons. Not the least of which is the fact that the LFA ceased production after 2012. Autoblog reached out to Toyota, and the automaker confirmed that it indeed knows that 12 LFAs are still classified as dealer inventory in America. And there might be even more in other countries, though Toyota doesn't have any numbers on them.
How Did it Happen?
It's astounding to think that something like this could happen in today's flipping obsessed world. But the reason there are still Lexus LFAs on dealer lots can actually be attributed to the automaker's attempt to discourage that kind of behavior. To avoid price gouging and speculation, Lexus started out with the intention of only taking purchase orders on cars from actual customers. But when demand tapered off in 2010, Lexus began to allow current owners to order a second car, as well as dealers and executives to buy for themselves and/or sell them at dealerships. Which is why there is a handful still out there.
Tracking Them Down
The story, of course, didn't stop there. Auto site Jalopnik decided to use the power of the Internet to track down these unsold LFAs, and the Internet didn't let them down. Tips poured in from all over the country, and eventually, a leaked Lexus dealer inventory sheet. That's how they discovered the locations, trim, and colors of nine of the twelve new LFAs in the U.S. Follow up calls confirmed that the information was indeed correct. They also discovered that the warranty was started on at least one of the remaining cars, which is why it didn't show up on the inventory sheet.
So Can I Buy One?
Well, maybe. Most of the untitled LFAs were purchased by dealership owners back in 2012. None are driven much, and most simply serve as fancy display cars on showroom floors. Most of them aren't even technically for sale. One dealer told Jalopnik that they might sell it if they come across a "qualified buyer," and another claimed they turned down an $850,000 offer on their car. Yet another is asking a cool million for his. So in short, yes, you can buy a new Lexus LFA. If you have loads of cash. Or know the right guy.
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