1999 Lexus LS400, the ultimate luxobarge?
Discussion
I was bitten by the LS400 bug back in around 2009, I had been doing track days with my Dolly Sprint and had persuaded my old man to dust off my Mums Reliant Scimitar and join in on classic track days.
He did, and was soon looking for a bit more get up and go. Tuning the Essex V6 would be quite expensive, but engine swaps were quite common in the Scimitar world, from Ford Cosworth BOA//B’s, Rover V8’s, Daimler V8’s, Vauxhall Omega V6’s and others. So we decided on a 1UZFE from a LS400.
A suitable donor was purchased with 9 months MOT and Tax, and that car was an eye opener, the 1994 LS400 was brilliant. That engine was put into the Scimitar and to my knowledge is the only 1UZFE Scimitar currently about, I’ll do a thread on that car another time.
We then bought a 1999 LS400 for a couple of grand, and the wife used it for commuting, only when her work moved just up the road did we move it on.
Fast forward to 2023 and I was looking for a luxobarge, PistonHeads did a ls400 shed article and one of the discussion posts linked to an eBay listing for a silver ls400 on the Isle of Wight, a quick day out and that was mine.
That car ran great, had a superb interior but needed work on suspension and body, which I was going to get done, but then a green three owner, two being husband and wife, full Lexus service history car came available, so rather than spend money of the silver car, I bought the green and quickly sold the silver one after swapping wheels.
The car was loaded onto a trailer and delivered to me.
The vendor pointed out some bodywork that would need attention at some time and included a cam belt, so I had that fitted along with water pump, tensioners and a full service including plugs.
I had a set of five Michelin Pilot sport 5’s fitted to the refurbished OZ alloys off the silver car and started using the car, gave it good clean and lanoguard.
There was a slight hesitation just off idle, which I’d had on our old car, there is a row of air bypass holes on the top of the throttle body, and just as our old car, these were blocked, a quick clean wit carb cleaner and the hesitation was no more.
In September 2025 it was bodywork time, the vendor pointed out some marks that needed doing, and I had noticed some more. Both rear arch lips had started rusting, mainly road rash in front of the rear wheels. The jacking points had seen the odd block of wood rather than proper jack pads and there was rot starting just above the windscreen on the drivers side.
The windscreen was removed, rot caught early so no welding required, but not so lucky on the rear arches, that road rash hid more rot than I thought, as usual. New metal welded in, jacking points and sill edges all cleaned up and repainted.
Another lanoguard treatment.
And finally a ceramic coat applied.
Now all I’ve got to do, is get out there and use the bloody thing.
He did, and was soon looking for a bit more get up and go. Tuning the Essex V6 would be quite expensive, but engine swaps were quite common in the Scimitar world, from Ford Cosworth BOA//B’s, Rover V8’s, Daimler V8’s, Vauxhall Omega V6’s and others. So we decided on a 1UZFE from a LS400.
A suitable donor was purchased with 9 months MOT and Tax, and that car was an eye opener, the 1994 LS400 was brilliant. That engine was put into the Scimitar and to my knowledge is the only 1UZFE Scimitar currently about, I’ll do a thread on that car another time.
We then bought a 1999 LS400 for a couple of grand, and the wife used it for commuting, only when her work moved just up the road did we move it on.
Fast forward to 2023 and I was looking for a luxobarge, PistonHeads did a ls400 shed article and one of the discussion posts linked to an eBay listing for a silver ls400 on the Isle of Wight, a quick day out and that was mine.
That car ran great, had a superb interior but needed work on suspension and body, which I was going to get done, but then a green three owner, two being husband and wife, full Lexus service history car came available, so rather than spend money of the silver car, I bought the green and quickly sold the silver one after swapping wheels.
The car was loaded onto a trailer and delivered to me.
The vendor pointed out some bodywork that would need attention at some time and included a cam belt, so I had that fitted along with water pump, tensioners and a full service including plugs.
I had a set of five Michelin Pilot sport 5’s fitted to the refurbished OZ alloys off the silver car and started using the car, gave it good clean and lanoguard.
There was a slight hesitation just off idle, which I’d had on our old car, there is a row of air bypass holes on the top of the throttle body, and just as our old car, these were blocked, a quick clean wit carb cleaner and the hesitation was no more.
In September 2025 it was bodywork time, the vendor pointed out some marks that needed doing, and I had noticed some more. Both rear arch lips had started rusting, mainly road rash in front of the rear wheels. The jacking points had seen the odd block of wood rather than proper jack pads and there was rot starting just above the windscreen on the drivers side.
The windscreen was removed, rot caught early so no welding required, but not so lucky on the rear arches, that road rash hid more rot than I thought, as usual. New metal welded in, jacking points and sill edges all cleaned up and repainted.
Another lanoguard treatment.
And finally a ceramic coat applied.
Now all I’ve got to do, is get out there and use the bloody thing.
Chimune said:
Wonderful car. I've been bitten by the lexus bug too but need an independent who knows them in Newcastle... Any suggestions Mr heave-ho?
Yep, although not known as a specialist specifically, there's an ex Lexus employee at a company called Autolink in Back Goldspink Lane in Sandyford, who knows these things inside out. Coincidentally also my best mate. Ask for Stu.Edited by Heaveho on Monday 16th February 21:50
Heaveho said:
Chimune said:
Wonderful car. I've been bitten by the lexus bug too but need an independent who knows them in Newcastle... Any suggestions Mr heave-ho?
Yep, although not known as a specialist specifically, there's an ex Lexus employee at a company called Autolink in Back Goldspink Lane in Sandyford, who knows these things inside out. Coincidentally also my best mate. Ask for Stu.Edited by Heaveho on Monday 16th February 21:50
I used to sell these new
Absolutely superb cars and to my eyes much better aesthetically than the 430 that replaced it.
I think these actually started my love affair with the luxobarge.
Your green OP and the dark metallic red were my favourite colours for them.
Good to see one getting some love to see it through lots more years, you may want to upgrade the lanoguard to a much more longer lasting option like Bilt Hamber UB
Chris
Absolutely superb cars and to my eyes much better aesthetically than the 430 that replaced it.
I think these actually started my love affair with the luxobarge.
Your green OP and the dark metallic red were my favourite colours for them.
Good to see one getting some love to see it through lots more years, you may want to upgrade the lanoguard to a much more longer lasting option like Bilt Hamber UB
Chris
I worked for a Toyota / Lexus garage back when R reg was current and although I sadly worked on the Toyota side, I got to drive these every so often and what a thing they were.
As another poster mentioned, I believe my exposure to these started my love of a big luxurious saloon. I just went older school and ended up with a 1981 Mercedes W126 500 SEL.
As another poster mentioned, I believe my exposure to these started my love of a big luxurious saloon. I just went older school and ended up with a 1981 Mercedes W126 500 SEL.
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