Garaged for four years, sold at a profit: the rare Lexus LC 500 that made money standing still

A 2022 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series convertible with just 803 km on the clock changed hands for $127,500 — $11,050 above its original sticker.

A 2022 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series with just 803 km on the odometer has sold for $127,500. That is $11,050 above its original price — even though the car is already four years old.

The story of this Lexus LC 500 reads almost like a manual on how not to lose money on a rare car. In 2022 the owner bought the convertible new for $116,470, barely drove it for four years, and then sold it for $127,500. Total mileage: just 499 miles, or 803 km.

According to the owner, the car was used mainly for coffee runs: drive there, show the car off, park it back in the garage. That routine explains the near-new condition — but it had a downside: the battery had to be replaced as early as April 2023, at 37 miles, or roughly 60 km. The car had most likely been sitting motionless for too long.

The high price is not just about low mileage. This is the Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series, and specifically example No. 34 out of 150 planned for production. These cars carry a serialized plaque in the cabin, special trim and collector status. This particular convertible is finished in Iridium, with dark chrome exterior accents, a Dark Rose soft top, an interior in the same palette and 21-inch forged wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.

Under the hood sits a naturally aspirated V8 producing 471 hp (478 metric hp) and 539 Nm of torque. A 10-speed automatic sends drive to the rear wheels. The sprint to 97 km/h takes 4.4 seconds, and top speed reaches 270 km/h.

Against the backdrop of electrification, it is exactly this kind of engine that makes the LC 500 so appealing: a big naturally aspirated V8 in a beautiful convertible is becoming a rarity. The new owner received the car with two keys, the owner’s manual and the original window sticker. On paper it is already a used 2022 car, but in practice — it is almost a museum piece.

The curious part is that for the same money one could also have looked at a new LC 500 Inspiration Series, priced at around $121,750. But the collector market works differently: sometimes buyers are not just paying for the car, but for a specific version, color, number in the series and a condition that is almost impossible to find on an ordinary used example.