NU Yank Shite (Camry in drag)

[R9UKE]

This popped up on Facebook marketplace yesterday.  Despite being signed up for an NI shiter meet, I figured I'd be forgiven for saving this from it's apparent impending doom.

 

 

WTF is that?  I hear you say.

 

It's a 1992 Lexus ES300.  A model we were deprived of when Lexus launched, along with the SC400.  America had it good.  It was basically the entry level Lexus, a dressed up Camry if you like.  And mine certainly is entry level, it ain't even got leather.

 

 

So how the hell did it end up in Northern Ireland?  Well.  The guy I bought it off was apparently called in to see if he had any interest in cars left behind in an estate.  Amongst other things, there was this and a 1991 Mercedes SL, which he wanted.  He was told if he wanted the SL he'd have to take the Lexus too.  Apparently the deceased's wife was American.  They had a place in Maryland.  He bought this new, grew very fond if it and brought it back here in 2004 when they sold up in The States.  It has tootled around private land since then up until about 2014 which is when we think it was last used.  Of course, being a Lexus, a fresh battery and air in the tyres and it was good to go.  

 

You can tell he loved it.  There's three copies of the original sales brochure amongst this.  

 

 

 

 

So.  Obviously it hasn't escaped the years without a few issues.  Thankfully it was dry stored, so remarkably, the bodywork is excellent with the exception of the two front wings starting to bubble.  The interior smells relatively fresh, the tyres still hold air and the majority of electrical items still work.  Unfortunately instrument panel does not light up and the gauges do not work.  Strangely, the warning lights and shift display are fine.  But the mileage is unreadable and I'm reluctant to just order a new cluster off eBay US without at least trying to find out the mileage first (any ideas?).

 

 

She's also got a misfire.  God knows how old the fuel is, there's £40 of fresh unleaded working it's way through and it's getting new spark plugs along with a change of all fluids next week.  Remarkably, both the engine oil and trans fluid still look great.  I'd say it was well maintained before it's loving owner departed.

 

Besides that, it's actually a fantastic car.  I've REALLY enjoyed blasting along in it today.  Lazy American V6 with F all bhp but that beautiful underlying hum with every tickle of the throttle.  It's remarkably refined, the box changes beautifully and he left a glovebox full of WIN

 

 

 

IT HAZ KOOL DOORZ 

 

 

And a trunk ready for body disposal

 

 

Window advertised security still present.

 

 

V6 goodness.  

 

 

It looks like a Honda Legend Coupe from certain angles, an LS400 from others, and completely shit from many others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But it's got me thinking.  Who has American shite stashed?  And I mean shite.  I wanna know of 90s Buick LeSabres and Park Avenues, a Saturn S Coupe or two, maybe a cheeky Mercury Mountaineer?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Bell]

OH YES.

 

NOW THAT IS HOW YOU ENTER A GOSH DARNED RODEO.

[jumpingjehovahs]

That is a damn fine automobile. Absolutely love it!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fumbler]

Hoovie has one of those with a 5 speed manual. Basically brother's Camry. I approve.

[quicksilver]

Now that's one for the cars you never knew existed thread. It looks like a cross between a Camry and an LS400, which I guess is kind of what it is. I love the ES300 badge being actually on the tail light - I've never seen that feature on any other car.

[R9UKE]

I was watching Hoovie en route to pick the thing up as I had no idea what to expect....

[Fumbler]

And he had a cassette of California Girls too... These cars must contain assettes in their gloveboxes. Should become a legal requirement.

[Lacquer Peel]

All the better for a velour interior, I don't understand why leather is considered luxurious, it's an awful material, freezing cold in the winter and baking hot in the summer.

 

Are you going to get it registered in NI? What's the Japanese domestic market equivalent of this?

[Felly Magic]

Hoovie sold his ages ago, war wrongly geared for a 'Merricuhn', and he paid naff all for it

[Datsuncog]

Well blow me down.

I have to say, stepping in to rescue this oddity was well worth foregoing the opportunity to stand outside a closed auction house in Carryduff!

Fantastic stuff. Also a car I never even knew existed, and simply packed full o' WIN.

That's a high bar you've raised there for the rest of the NI Shiter Contingent!


EDIT: just checked the pics showing the former owner's details - total coincidence, but that happens to be my grandfather's name...

[hairnet]

how much to aldergrove return m12?

[Brodders]

Excellent and well done on the purchase.

 

90s US market vehicles are one of my guilty pleasures, and I am glad an interesting one has been picked up and saved from possibly being scrapped or raced (which can happen all too often when the custodians of older, unknown cars pass away). I look forward to seeing more of it in the future.

[Ghosty]

Very nice. 'Camry in drag' is massively playing it down.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Excellent purchase my man, any more detail about the glovebox of WIN?

 

We got these in Australia, so RHD bits (such as headlamps) can be sourced easily as geting bits from Japan can be a real ball ache.

[Guest Conan]

 What's the Japanese domestic market equivalent of this?

 

These are Toyota Windom in Japan. They are indeed very nice.

[Snipes]

These are Toyota Windom in Japan. They are indeed very nice.

Yes. There was one on UK ebay not long ago.

[tooSavvy]

http://racem.org/toyota-windom.html

[Dan_ZTT]

Those doors are indeed full of win, love it.

[406V6]

Great buy. Love those cloth seats

[AMC Rebel]

Maximum minor player in the Sopranos points.

[hairnet]

These are Toyota Windom in Japan. They are indeed very nice.

Needs these badges from eBay Japan

[Guest Conan]

Balancing out those who put Lexus badge on a Toyota Yaris? 

 

This car already is already in the windom.

[Jim Bell]

Balancing out those who put Lexus badge on a Toyota Yaris?

 

This car already is already in the windom.

Everyone knows you put a Vitz badge on a Toyota Yaris.

[tooSavvy]

I put 'peach' on ToMM....

 

.... Fell off ....

[bigstraight6]

That’s a fine looking car, I like it!

[AnthonyG]

That’s a great car, good save.

 

Is the instrument cluster shared with the Camry of the same era? Spottedlaurel owned/owns several so may be able to help, even just with identifying the right part.

 

For the mileage I’d contact the most recent dealer who serviced it in the US. It’s a long shot but worth a try. I can’t imagine Lexus dealers going out of business....

[chompy_snake]

This car breaks my head!

It's fantastic, but I never knew they existed.

It looks like the secret love child of an Ls and an Sc

 

Great save!

[hairnet]

These are Toyota Windom in Japan. They are indeed very nice.

how long overland delivery

[hairnet]

That’s a great car, good save.

 

Is the instrument cluster shared with the Camry of the same era? Spottedlaurel owned/owns several so may be able to help, even just with identifying the right part.

 

For the mileage I’d contact the most recent dealer who serviced it in the US. It’s a long shot but worth a try. I can’t imagine Lexus dealers going out of business....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=lexus+es300+speedo&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=1992+lexus+es300+speedometer&_sacat=0

 

ouch

[AnthonyG]

Good god, that’s pricy