Look at any street; a parade of Taurus after Lumina after Corolla after Accord, and back again.  Boring, boring, boring.  It’s easy to be nostalgic for the classic era of automobiles.  Pictures of movie stars like Clark Gable and Gary Cooper with their big, custom Duesenbergs practically define the word glamor.  Back in the day, those handcrafted ultra-luxury cars spoke volumes just sitting still.  “Why doesn’t anyone build cars like that any more?” you ask yourself.

Oh, don’t ask yourself silly questions like that.  Duesenberg and Pierce Arrow may be long gone, but that doesn’t mean that no one’s building truly glamorous cars any more.  To prove that, we present the 2002 Lexus SC430.  Rising from the ashes of the much-acclaimed SC400, which just ended an impressive ten-year production run without a major design change, the SC430 takes the SC400’s competence, slices off the roof, and injects a big dash of Mediterranean-vacation flair.  The resulting package is a brand-new flagship for Lexus and good news indeed for automobile enthusiasts.

The SC430 is very much like a small, roadgoing yacht.  Lexus’ designers even looked at sleek luxury yachts along the French Riviera for inspiration of the SC430’s open-air design.  The car’s broad, chrome bumper-level grille leads the way, just like they did on the glamor cars of the 1930s.  Swept-back headlights and a tapered nose also echo classic cars in a very subtle, modernized way.  From there the body takes a gradual upward rise, wrapping a relatively high cowl around its two passengers.  At a glance, the SC430 looks like an Audi TT, but it’s got much longer overhangs and more relief than the bathtub-shaped Audi.  The SC430 is also a somewhat larger car, although it’s still a de facto two-seater.  The rear seats will only just hold a decent-sized picnic basket; only imaginary friends will be able to spend time back there.  The blocky 18″ wheels are attractive, massive, and a welcome departure from the open-air five-spoke wheels that grace most of the SC430’s competition.  It’s a quietly impressive car.  The look isn’t radical but elicits easy smiles from onlookers.  We were eagerly questioned by the pilots of a Saab 9-3 convertible, a cement mixer, and an Infiniti I30 during our short test drive.

And of course, no true glamor car would be any fun with a fixed roof.  A joke made in the recent movie “Three Kings” about Lexus’ lack of a convertible in the lineup is no longer current, as a quick touch of a switch on the SC430’s dash confirms.  The second retractable hardtop currently available for sale in the United States, the SC430 does a traffic-stopping, roof flipping dance just like that of the Mercedes SLK.  The windows drop, the trunklid flips open backward, and the roof lifts itself off , folds in half, and stows itself.  The operation is quick enough to perform at a traffic light.

The SC430 doesn’t fail to impress from the driver’s seat, either.  The wood/leather Lexus wheel is perfectly sized for spirited driving.  A perfect crescent of matching wood crosses the dashboard.  Three deep pods house the gauges, which feature Lexus’ signature electroluminescent lettering.  Even the doorsill scuff plates have “LEXUS” lettering that lights up at night.  The sound system and optional navigation system controls are hidden behind retractable wood covers, of walnut or maple depending on customer choice.  And speaking of that sound system, it was designed by Mark Levinson, a company whose home sound systems routinely cost over $100,000.  Other Lexus models are available with Mark Levinson systems, but the SC430’s has been tailored specifically for the car, with separate top-up and top-down sound atmospheres.  In a word, it’s fantastic; we can’t recall hearing a better factory sound system.  Ever.

You wouldn’t know there was a 300 horsepower V8 under the hood to listen to the SC430.  True to the Lexus badge on its nose, it’s absolutely silent and motionless at ide.  The car remains quiet and civil even as it’s responding very quickly to a stomp on the gas pedal.  It retains its composure, but perfomance is still impressive thanks to a five-speed automatic transmission and electronic throttle control.  The 32-valve V8, equipped with Toyota’s variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) is smooth and strong.  Lexus clocks the 0-60 run at 5.9 seconds, placing the SC430 in Jaguar and Mercedes performance territory.

Those big 18″ wheels are only part of the suspension story.  A fully independent double wishbone suspension keeps the SC430 nimble enough to go and play with those Jags and Benzes, should the need arise.  The SC430 has also been reinforced so that its topless ride doesn’t compromise the smooth handling Lexus is known for.  Vehicle Skid Control (VSC) traction control, antilock brakes with Toyota’s Brake Assist panic-stop detection system, a tire pressure monitor, and side airbags are also along for the ride.

The SC430 is well-equipped for it glamor-car role. The retractable hardtop is standard equipment, of course, as is everything except a spoiler and the navigation system, and run-flat tires.  Run-flat tires are desirable, because of the trunk space that’s freed up when the giant full-sized spare is removed.  Besides, who wants to risk letting a flat tire spoil the fun?  Run-flats allow the SC430 to be driven up to 100 miles for a professional tire change.  The SC430 stickers for $58,455; our navigation system-equipped test car tipped the checkbook at $61,295.  Is that price steep?  Yes.  Is it worth it?  We think so.  And we’re not the only ones.  Lexus plans to build only about 12,000 SC430s for the 2002 model year, and about two-thirds of them have already been presold.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2002 Lexus SC430, which we tested.
Length:     177.8 in.
Width:        72.0 in.
Height:     53.1 in.
Wheelbase:    103.1 in.
Curb weight:    3840 lb.
Cargo space:    8.8 cu.ft.
Base price:    $58,455
Price as tested: $61,295
Engine:     4.3 liter DOHC 32-valve V8
Drivetrain:     five-speed automatic, rear wheel drive
Horsepower:     300 @ 5600
Torque:     325 @ 3400
Fuel capacity:    19.8 gal.
Est. mileage:    18/23