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November 25, 2021 11:11 am by

Museum-Quality 1992 Lexus LS 400 with Just 23k Miles

1992 Lexus LS400

For November 25, 2021, our used car find is this museum-quality 1992 Lexus LS 400 with just 23k miles on the odometer plus tons of recent maintenance. It’s offered on Craigslist by a private seller in the Orange County area for $19,800 or best offer.

Here’s what makes this one special.

Introduction

Toyota wasn’t the first Japanese automaker to pursue a luxury division. That honor goes to Honda, whose Acura nameplate debuted for the 1986 model year. However, three years later, Toyota made an even bigger splash with the Lexus brand and its all-new LS model.

The original LS 400 (internal code XF10) was a game changer. It offered Mercedes-Benz levels of quality and refinement for nearly half the cost of the equivalent Benz. And that’s not all. It also delivered Toyota levels of reliability and ease-of-maintenance — something the folks at Mercedes have yet to achieve. The excellence — and value — of the original LS quickly launched Lexus to the top of the luxury sales charts, where it remains to this day.

The Listing

This particular LS offered for sale is one of the purest we’ve ever seen. Not only does it have just 23k miles from new, it’s also from one of the first few model years, before a 1993 refresh changed numerous details. Redesigns aren’t necessarily bad things. But if you’re shopping for the most original LS out there, it’s nice to have one that looks exactly like the first one that rolled off the assembly line.

In the words of the seller…

1992 LS400. This may be the nicest one left in existence. The car was a one owner car until 2020. Stored covered in a climate controlled garage for 20 years. The car has been gone thru by Lexus and Toyota in 2020 and 2021. Car needs nothing and runs like new. This was loaded and has every option available in 92. Keyless entry, heated seats, air suspension, sunroof. Everything works as new. The car is pristine underneath. All original paint. no accidents. All original paperwork. Clean CA title. Passed smog in Jan 2021 and is registered thru next year. If you are a Lexus or Toyota collector here is your chance before the car goes to auction. I am in no hurry to sell. Do not waste my time with low offers. Car is showroom new and has all the documentation. Car has the rare Lexus gold package. I have a standard chrome grill and chrome wheels caps if the next owner prefers this to the gold. The gold is original to the car. This is the first generation of original Lexus. A very rare find.

We really like the fact that this first-gen LS has received extensive service over the last two years, after spending most of its life hiding away in a garage. Cars that sit can develop numerous age-related issues. In this case, though, someone else has already shouldered the burden of bringing it back to full roadworthiness. From the receipts in the listing, that appears to have cost many thousands of dollars.

The bad news is that the seller of this LS 400 has clearly factored those costs (and then some) into the asking price. At $19,800, this is about the most expensive first-gen LS we’ve ever seen. The closest comparable we can find is a Bring a Trailer auction for a 33k-mile example from two years ago, which brought $15,000.

But this car has fewer miles and appears to be in even better shape, so perhaps the nearly $20,000 ask isn’t unrealistic. Considering it buys you one of the nicest examples of one of the most significant cars ever made, we wouldn’t be surprised to see it fetch that much. Heck, if it went to auction, it might even fetch more.

Here’s a link to the Lexus LS 400 listing on Craigslist.

Details and Specs

  • 23,000 miles
  • 4.0-liter V8 engine (1UZ-FE)
  • 250 hp @ 5,600 rpm
  • 260 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
  • four-speed automatic transmission
  • rear-wheel drive (RWD)
  • Diamond White Pearl exterior
  • gray leather interior
  • for sale by owner
  • $19,800 (or best offer)
  • Costa Mesa, California
  • JT8UF11E6N0106491

Photos

1992 Lexus LS400 1992 Lexus LS400 1992 Lexus LS400 1992 Lexus LS400 interior 1992 Lexus LS400 interior 1992 Lexus LS400 rear seat 1992 Lexus LS400 steering wheel 1992 Lexus LS400 engine 1992 Lexus LS400 trunk

 

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