With the success of the fabulous LS luxury saloon behind it, Lexus entered the 21st century on the crest of a wave, Toyota’s luxury arm offering Mercedes-Benz style luxury with inherent Japanese reliability.
It had evolved from a one-model range to a more diverse selection of cars, with the GS rivalling the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the IS200 going for the jugular of the C-Class (Lexus made no secret of the fact that Mercedes was its benchmark…). The SC430 was its assault on the Mercedes-Benz SL, but with a 2+2 layout offering a pair of nominal rear seats. The electric folding hardtop (see also: Mercedes-Benz SLK) was its party piece and folded away in seconds at the touch of a button.
This one was registered to Lexus itself in 2004 as a marketing demo car and has been privately owned since six-months old, with a massive service history at both main dealers and independents.
It’s presented in sleek black, one of the best colours for the model, and has a black and wood-trimmed cabin making it a true luxury GT.
Only 2,200 SC430s were sold in the UK making it a rare car, while the added advantage of that power folding makes it stand out and gives convertible appeal in the warmer months with no winter compromise. It’s in good overall condition and drives very well indeed.
The History and Paperwork
UK V5C
Five previous owners
MOT January 2025
Main dealer and independent service history up to 130k in 2023 and one subsequent invoice from January 2024 documenting an additional service and cambelt replacement
Original handbook
Tracker system
All original booklets and papers
Sat nav disc
Old MOT certificates and service invoices
The Condition
Good paint finish with some very minor blemishes
Two sets of alloy wheels – Charcoal Fox alloys fitted and a spare set of Calibre polished-finish wheels with good rubber
Electric roof operates faultlessly
No notable damage or visible corrosion
Appears sound underneath – no corrosion advisories on past MOTs
Excellent heated black leather seats
Multi-adjustable electric seats with memory function
High specification
Factory sat nav
2+2 layout
Electrically retractable sat nav screen cover
Cruise control
Dark maple veneers
Mark Levinson surround sound stereo system
Wood-rimmed steering wheel
Dealer mats
Pop-up cupholders
Lexus branded kickplates
The Mechanics
4.3-litre V8
Near-silent idle – a Lexus signature
Five-speed automatic
Full service history including recent cambelt change
Drives well with no known faults
Performs strongly with smooth transmission and good brakes
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
✓ Whilst ****Car & Classic check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and so you are strongly advised to obtain a full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.
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Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
More about buying with us
2004 Lexus SC430
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