This Sad Lexus SC 400 Needs to Be Saved

Junkyard Gem

The first-generation Lexus SC has attracted a huge following for a number of reasons, starting with the fact that it shares a lot with the Toyota Supra. This sporty coupe is a very nice-looking ride with plenty of luxurious amenities and solid performance, and prices haven't gotten out of control as they have for the Supra, either. Regardless, it makes us a bit sad to see this Lexus SC 400 sitting in a junkyard, as it was nice enough for AutoBlog to feature it recently in their "Junkyard Gems" series.

Photos: Murilee Martin for AutoBlog

Big Hit

This particular SC 400 - based on the Japanese Toyota Soarer - is reportedly one of the first ever sold in the U.S., but is now sitting in a junkyard in the Denver, Colorado area. It's been rear-ended pretty good, to the point where it wasn't deemed worth fixing. As reliable as these cars are, this is about the only way to take one off the road for good.

Photos: Murilee Martin for AutoBlog

Enthusiast's Choice

Early Lexus build quality is legendary, of course, and that applies to the SC 400 as well. It also came equipped with the brand's 1UZ-FE V8, which cranked out a solid 250 horsepower when new, and is the obvious enthusiast's choice over the SC 400 and its six-cylinder powerplant, though that car could also be had with a six-speed manual transmission.

Photos: Murilee Martin for AutoBlog

Slushbox

Unfortunately, the SC400 wasn't available with a manual and instead came with a four-speed automatic gearbox. Regardless, this didn't help performance, as the 3,600-pound sedan couldn't keep up with its far more expensive German competition, though it was reasonably quick and very comfortable for long stretches.

Photos: Murilee Martin for AutoBlog

Twice the Price

As Autoblog points out, the SC 400 cost around $37k back in its time, while a Porsche 928S4 sold for a whopping $80k. Sure, the Porsche had more power and an available manual transmission, but was it really worth more than twice what an SC 400 cost at the time? We think not.

Photos: Murilee Martin for AutoBlog

Collector Grade

These days, first-gen SCs are getting harder and harder to find, especially in nice condition. We aren't to the point where people are buying them from the scrapyard and spending lots of money restoring them, but who knows? Perhaps that day will come, and collectors will appreciate these cool pieces of Lexus history more than they do now.

Photos: Murilee Martin for AutoBlog

>>Join the conversation about this SC400 right here at ClubLexus.com.

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