I'm sure it's already been done but an interesting thread would be comparing the features of the JDM Celsior vs. all other export models. Factory curtains (including the motorized rear screen) comes to mind.

 

https://stockton.craigslist.org/cto/5488934949.html
I'm sure this qualifies as rare

 

That color does not even look good on an LS.

 

thats what happens when u put 24 inch rims on cars! what a joke

 

Sorry to resurrect an old thread here, but I came across this LS on eBay with a cloth interior. I think this has to be the first LS I've seen with cloth. I know the Celsior had cloth, but really had no idea the LS could be had with a cloth set up..

The car is actually pretty clean, too.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1990-Lexus-L...dYQcqI&vxp=mtr

 

What are the last set of #'s on the VIN?

 

According to the eBay ad;

JT8UF11E7L0040420

 

#40,420. Not necessarily a really early car. I saw #3667 or so on eBay not long ago. I think the first 400 examples were owned by Lexus I think.

 

I don't have a 1990 brochure, but I would assume the cloth interior was something that could be ordered? Or were a number of cars spec'd a certain way, and that one came with the Gray cloth seats?

It's nice enough that it's almost worth throwing an offer at.

 

There were no factory equipment cloth seat LS400s. What you may be seeing is an aftermarket replacement because early LS seats are terrible and no one would want another one if the factory seat failed for some reason. I have a 1990 AND a Platinum Edition 2000 LS. The 2000 drives as well as most any new car today. The 1990 runs and drives but feels dated in every way and has only one airbag. I'd save my money and buy a 1995 and up that had a verified timing belt and water pump done recently. That job at at shop can cost you more than the car in some jurisdictions. Another special edition LS was the Coach Edition but unless you are a hand bag aficionado, and like gaudy trim work, I'd steer clear and most are in collections anyway, like in Saudi and rich fashionista places like Beverly Hills and Long Island. I chose my 2000 partly because its sister year 1999 was one of the 50 cars on 'The List', in Gone in 60 Seconds with Nick and Angelina. No nav and standard coil spring suspension and under 90k miles. All of them came with the CD changers, 90 will have the stack in the trunk and 99-2000 it's in the dual glove box. Good Luck!

 

It is more rare to find an LS with a cloth interior than a leather interior, especially in the US; however, it was more common to find Celsiors (as you mentioned) with cloth throughout 1990-2000. Cloth in the US was only offered for the first few years on first-gen models.

Yes, you are correct. Cloth seats could be equipped or ordered with the car, based off the car's color. Multiple fabrics were available, and the full chart can be found in the second 1990 brochure on ToyotaReference.com. I also attached a screenshot.

This is incorrect. In most cases, factory cloth interiors were replaced with dealer inventoried leather, due to customer preference. One of our members had this done on his car, when it was bought new.

My car is an original grey cloth interior with no sunroof.. Definitely an oddity in the US, but original nonetheless.

 

An LS400 with a factory sunroof, that is rare indeed. I've never heard of one without a moonroof. Cloth seats too? Next you will telling me it has AC delete from the factory. Sounds like a Soarer some G.I. had shipped back after doing a NATO tour and rebadged.

 

(I posted some of this on page 2 as well)

My '91, originally bought new by my in-laws, has no sunroof. They did not want a sunroof, and the only way they could get that was to get the package that also came with cloth seats. Since they wanted leather seats, aftermarket leather was installed at the dealer when they bought the car in Southern California. This was not common, but not ridiculously rare.

I just looked at the window sticker, and there is no mention of a sunroof delete or anything like that. Nothing about cloth or leather seats. Only reference to leather is for the steering wheel.

I've got to say, those cloth seats sure hold up well - better than leather seems to do in sunny climates.

 

Cool stuff. In the 300ZX world the non T-Top cars were known as "Slick Tops". Not as rare as the LS non sunroof cars, but not many around never the less... If I were in the market for one, I'd be on the look out for one like that '90, with the cloth interior. Who knows...

 

Cloth LS's may have been rare from the factory, but in the current used market, they're actually pretty common. Roughly 4 months ago, when I started looking for an LS to hug and squeeze and call my own, I had just assumed that they were all Leather, sunroof, dual climate. Then, I started seeing, what equates to a sh1tton of cloth, no roof, single climate models (96 and below so I don't have to worry about emissions). It was actually rare to see a nice leather car. I mean, there were plenty that looked like they had DIAF, but if we're talking car that looked nice enough to spend money on, most were cloth. It was discouraging.