The Lexus LX450 was offered for just model years - 1996 and 1997 - before it was replaced by the Lexus LX470. It was a late-cycle spin-off of the Toyota Land Cruiser J80 with a base MSRP of $48,000, and approximately 14,000 total units were sold in both the United States and Canada.

The LX has a pretty weird and wonderful origin, with it being cooked up by Lexus as a hedge against a massive pending 100% import tariff on 13 Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The tariff was ultimately killed in the 11th hour, but it excluded SUVs, so the LX was quickly developed on the J80 Land Cruiser platform with a few cosmetic swaps. Initial demand was so high that it resulted in a nearly two-month wait list.

Although most LX450s were resigned to a life of toting the kids to soccer practice, the LX yearned for more. It's powered by the big ol' 1FZ-FE, a 4.5L I6 with a penchant for reliability. When new, the 1FZ-FE offered a factory-rated 215 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. This example has a reported 122k miles on the odometer, which is surprisingly low for any 1997 model year vehicle today, and is barely adolescence for the 1FZ.

Power is distributed to all four corners via four-speed A343F automatic transmission and dual-speed transfer case. Additional off-road capability came by way of a center locking differential. The suspension was softer than the Land Cruiser, and would see several improvements in the LX470, including Adjustable Height Control (AHC) and Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS). Still, the Lx450 was comfortable, capable, and friendly toward a whole slew of aftermarket options.

Inside, the LX450 was a driver's dream with features like leather seating for seven passengers, power windows, mirrors, and locks, six-disc CD changer, power moon roof, and remote entry keys - a pretty good tech stack for '97.