We’ve learned that the owner of this burly LS 400 is—and this shouldn’t be terribly surprising—a ClubLexus member. We’re reaching out to find out what’s become of his glorious creation, as the ad has disappeared.
But until we know more, you can amuse yourself with videos of the beast in action. I have to say, it sounds as tough as it looks!
Let’s just call today “WTF? Wednesday.” If you don’t think we should, just take a look at this 1990 Lexus LS400.
It’s current owner enjoys going off-road and gets bored easily, so he decided to blend the stately looks of Lexus’ original luxury flagship and the ruggedness of a Toyota Land Cruiser together.
He had to trim his LS400’s quarter panels/fender wells to fit a set of 15-inch wheels wrapped in 30-inch Goodyear tires. Up front, there’s a custom metal tube bumper. For driving in the rough stuff, there’s more than $2,000 in lighting attached to this oddity (the switches for it are located in the glove box). The rear end now has a welded differential and LED tail lights.
Although the seller advises you to re-calibrate the gauge cluster and get the timing belt on this 176,XXX-mile creation changed, he includes a long list of parts and fluids that have been replaced within the last 4,000 miles, such as the alternator, radiator, spark plugs, fuel filter, power steering pump, coolant, and differential fluid.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
