Graphite & Graffiti: 1995 Lexus LS400

The XF20 generation Lexus LS was sold from 1994 through 1997 and gives you all the speed and comfort you’d expect in a German executive cruiser (S-Class…or BMW 7-series), but with Japanese sensibility and reliability. There was no option for a 5-speed manual gearbox, but it wouldn’t raid your savings in expensive parts repairs or goad you into thinking your car was sporty. Find this 1995 Lexus LS400 bidding for $2500 in Gadsden, AL via Hemmings auctions with 5 days to go. Tip from BarbPaddles.

From the seller:

VIN
JT8UF22E0S0007293
ODOMETER READING
98,896
ENGINE
4.0-liter DOHC V-8
TRANSMISSION
A340E Four-speed automatic
EXTERIOR COLOR
Alpine Silver Metalllic
INTERIOR
Gray leather
SELLER
Private
AUCTION TYPE
Reserve

When Toyota launched its luxury division for 1990, the target was clear: a three-pointed star that called Stuttgart home. The Lexus LS 400 took dead aim at the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, establishing a beachhead in the marketplace with a full-size, rear-wheel-drive, V-8-powered luxury sedan. A comparatively low base price and quickly earned reputation for unmatched quality and reliability made the upstart from Japan into an immediate success.

This 1995 LS 400 sedan comes from the initial year of production for the car’s second generation. Though visually very similar—why mess with a winning formula?—the second-gen LS featured a lengthened wheelbase and strengthened chassis, a revised 4.0-liter V-8 with a bit more power, and a variety of safety, convenience and comfort upgrades. This LS, now offered for sale from Gadsden, Alabama, was in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area for virtually its entire life. With just under 99,000 miles on the odometer, this Lexus LS 400, a model known for its durability and reliability, would appear to have plenty of life left for the next owner—and beyond.

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