A pretty first generation Lexus LS400 sedan, seen on the parking lot of the Lido Hotel in Beijing. The good Lexus was a little dusty but otherwise in a fine shape, painted in silver and gray with gray wheels and black license plates.
The interior was in a good condition as well, with the leather seats protected by after-market seat covers. The wood seemed still good and the radio cassette player was original. Game time! Try to guess the number of buttons and switches and dials on the center stack. … … … 39!!! Good old pre-touch screen days.
The first generation Lexus LS400 (XF10) was made from 1989 until 1994. Power came from a super smooth 4.0 V8 engine with an output of 250 hp and 353 Nm, good for a 250 km/h top speed and a 0-100 of 8.5 seconds. Gearbox was a 4-speed automatic, sending horses to the rear wheels.
Black license plates were issued to foreign-owned companies from the 1980’s to the mid 00’s. These companies could buy a car locally or import one. There were no limits on the number of cars or on price or on engine type. The numbering started at A·00001 and then it went up. So the lower the number the older the car. So this 京A·03016 is a pretty early one!
The first generation Lexus LS400 was not officially sold in China but quite a few cars arrived via gray imports, diplomatic channels, or, like this car, via the foreign-owned company way. Lexus only started selling the LS officially in China in 2004, with the updated Lexus LS430.
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