How Many Lexus SC430s Are There in China?
3 Answers
There are 285 legally imported Lexus SC430s in China. Below is the relevant content introduction: Configuration: The Lexus SC430 is equipped with a 4.3-liter 32-valve V8 engine, featuring the intelligent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) and Electronic Throttle Control System with intelligence (ETCS-i). The vehicle's roof adopts a solid steel-reinforced structure, providing ideal rigidity while ensuring stability and comfort. With a simple press of a button, the aluminum roof, including the rear window, automatically retracts and folds into the trunk.
When I was researching classic cars, I took note of this particular model. The Lexus SC430 was introduced to China around 2005 through small-scale trade channels, and the total number imported was extremely limited. As an imported convertible sports car with a price tag of nearly one million yuan at the time, there were already very few buyers. Coupled with emission standard restrictions, it's estimated that only a few dozen are still on the road today. Once, at a vintage car gathering, six SC430 owners from across the country attended, and we all marveled at the fact that there probably aren't more than 30 of these cars left nationwide. Many are also out of commission due to parts availability issues. If you're looking to buy one, I'd recommend trying your luck at the used car markets in Shanghai and Shenzhen, where you might occasionally come across well-maintained examples for sale.
Having run an auto repair shop for over a decade, I've personally worked on only three Lexus SC430s. Back in the day, even authorized dealerships sold very few of these cars. The current nationwide inventory likely doesn't exceed a hundred units. Due to import quota restrictions and the high maintenance costs of the 3UZ engine, most owners have long since switched to other vehicles. I recall a customer who waited over half a year just to source convertible top mechanism parts, eventually finding them from a Japanese salvage yard. According to our repair system records, fewer than twenty SC430s have come through our shop in the past five years. My advice to potential collectors: first verify whether your local area has technicians capable of servicing this model - otherwise, if it breaks down, it might just become a static display piece.
