Rugged LX 450 Build Made to Explore the Outdoors
First-gen LX 450 equipped with roof tent and awning, rock sliders, lifted suspension, and ham and CB radios for any adventure.
Though a rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser, the first-gen Lexus LX, the LX 450, opened up a new trail for Nagoya to explore: luxury off-roading. All the brand needed to do was give the icon its own luxury touches. Then, it was up to its customers to take the rugged Lexus out into the great wide open, where Jeeps and Land Rovers played.
This LX 450 we found on Bring a Trailer is definitely ready to tackle the roughest trails. A few items may need fixing or replacing, but the overall package is more or less good to go for the next owner.
Wearing an appropriate Dark Emerald Pearl, the LX 450 comes with a whole assortment of overlanding goodies. A thick ARB front bumper protects the grille and headlights, with room for a winch for all rescue efforts. The roof rack includes an ARB roof tent and canopy, perfect for spending a weekend or two away under the moon and stars. The SUV also rides on a two-inch Old Man Emu lift, BF Goodrich all-terrains and 16-inch alloys connecting the body to the earth.
Moving heaven and earth is the LX 450’s 4.5-liter 1FZ-FE inline-six with a four-speed automatic and dual-range transfer case. Nearly 25 years ago, the straight-six delivered 212 horses and 275 lb-ft of torque to the rear or corners as needed. A few of those horses and their pulling power have likely escaped into the wild themselves since then, of course. Yet, the remaining herd covered roughly 200,000 miles over the quarter-century, which is hardly anything when it comes Toyota and Lexus.
Inside, the beige leather interior with wood trim complements the LX 450’s exterior. There’s also a ham and CB radio setup for contacting help when out of cell range. Beige rubber floor mats protect the carpet from whatever dirt or mud may be tracked in.
The next owner will need to go over a few things before the next adventure, of course. The tent is torn and stained, for one. A motor to move the front seat and a new rear defroster are also on the list. Not to mention the exhaust leak at the cats. All aside, though, this LX 450 will guarantee more memories down the dusty trail.
Photos: Bring a Trailer
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