Junkyarding this morning for GS parts

"interstate366, now In The Industry" (interstate366) 03/16/2020 at 14:40 • Filed to: Aristo, Lexus GS

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They had 4 pre-facelift 2nd gens. I need a driver’s side taillight, but the facelift one is different...has an extra socket, so I couldn’t use any of these. Still, I bought some other stuff. None from this one, though. Notice the common faded trunk lights.

This one was a Platinum Series, a limited trim that had a few minor changes over the base model, including this black chrome badging.

Just a base model

Another Platinum Series. Note the different wheels. This one was fresh. Was.

This 1st gen was also there, a 1995, with ES300 wheels for some reason. It’s a lovely white/grey two-tone that was common on 90s Toyota sedans.

The interior wasn’t terribly different, but seemed a bit more bland. I’ve noted that when looking at ads for imported Aristos, but seeing it in person solidified that opinion for me.

It was a Touring, which was apparently a trim level.

Lastly, I owned this Prelude several years ago. The kid I sold it to painted the trunk and roof black, and added all those stickers.

sony1492 > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 14:45

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RIP prelude

Si denote, I want a first gen gs aristo

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 14:48

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Did you pop off those badges? Those black ones have got to be worth a pretty penny 

PartyPooper2012 > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 14:48

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Your junkyard is full of J apanese cars.... is the flushing ( queens) NY ?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 14:49

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That must have been weird to come across your own car in the junkyard. So many bittersweet memories. How did you know it was yours?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 14:51

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Interesting note, those first gens came factory with a 12" subwoofer in the back tray. You could swap it for anything you wanted. 

interstate366, now In The Industry > PartyPooper2012 03/16/2020 at 14:53

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Virginia, outside Richmond.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/16/2020 at 14:54

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Definitely thought about it, but I don’t trust myself enough to not fuck them up when doing it.

PartyPooper2012 > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 14:54

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yeah. I saw the green trees in the background. Remembered that the only green thing at the junkyard of flushing NY are green japanese cars. 

interstate366, now In The Industry > sony1492 03/16/2020 at 14:54

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The 1st gen with the 2nd gen interior would be perfect.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 03/16/2020 at 14:55

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The kid I sold it to lived a few blocks away from me. I remember the mods he did.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/16/2020 at 14:55

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It was gone. Actually the only thing gone from it.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/16/2020 at 14:58

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If they're on there with an adhesive instead of pins through holes the easiest and safest way to remove them is with dental floss.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 14:58

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Must be kinda sad seeing a car you once owned in a salvage yard :(

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 14:59

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Dental floss. No prying necessary.

Ash78, voting early and often > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/16/2020 at 15:01

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Same as the SC300/400 , if I recall. I think Lexus was the first factory sub I had ever seen.

MonkeePuzzle > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 15:08

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do you know what caused its end, that caused it ot end up junked?

interstate366, now In The Industry > MonkeePuzzle 03/16/2020 at 15:27

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Blown engine

PartyPooper2012 > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 15:30

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interstate366, now In The Industry > PartyPooper2012 03/16/2020 at 17:27

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I like how there’s a random newish GTI mixed in with all the older cars.

arl > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 18:58

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For some unknown reason I keep thinking my next car is going to be a used Lexus.

Good junkyard pics. 

Remember the Merit from GTA SA? > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 19:13

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I wish two-tone was still a thing...

interstate366, now In The Industry > Remember the Merit from GTA SA? 03/16/2020 at 19:15

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Part of me wanted to rescue that poor 1st gen, but the hood wouldn’t open, the headlights were cracked, and it was missing a quarter window. Too far gone, methinks.

DerW220 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/16/2020 at 19:43

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Platinum badges can still be ordered at the dealer. Not many were made so it's probably original inventory.

DerW220 > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 19:49

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The Platinum series was the best S160 Aristo to me. The Platinum added more than trim. It gave you upgraded leather (much better than the standard leather) and very nice bird’s eye maple wood trim in addition to the black chrome. The wheels have the better ride quality of the base trim and have aged better. I have a 2000 GS400 Platinum in millennium silver over black interior. The leather still looks amost new thanks to not being as fragile as the standard leather.

interstate366, now In The Industry > DerW220 03/16/2020 at 19:56

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Yeah, the Platinum interior did look nicer, and agreed on the wheels. but these two cars still had the same wear spots as my car does, so it would have been at best a lateral move to get the seats. Also, the color was just different enough that I would have had to get a whole lot of trim, not just the seats. (My interior is  the same color as that 1st gen, while the Platinum cars had slightly...greyer tint, I think?) Still , I thought about it.

DerW220 > interstate366, now In The Industry 03/16/2020 at 20:24

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Yeah, it was a different supplier I’m sure. The perforated Platinum leather was a bit s ofter and more pliable than the other leather (like the LS and therefore is less susceptible to the common tearing), but I’m sure if the car was driven enough and the leather not maintained it’s probably able to get terrible . If the Platinum bird’s eye wood trim is still in good condition (or can be saved) then I would take that. Very hard to find and adds a lot over the cheaper original stuff.

I only wish they kept making the Platinum into the GS430 era. I got so lucky with this car. You know, they made less than half the number of GS400s than LS400s in 2000 and something like 5% of those were Platinum. Even less with the spoiler.

interstate366, now In The Industry > DerW220 03/16/2020 at 21:03

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Yeah, the leather felt very nice, similar to my 4th gen TL in both feel and looks. Some things had already been removed; the head unit and trim around it, for example. It certainly wasn’t in bad shape inside, but it had just been set out in the yard Friday.

Is there a way to get the wood trim off by itself without damaging it? I have a facelift non-Sport Design model, which just has the standard walnut trim. I’m off again tomorrow, and the junkyard still looks to be open for the time being.

speedy964 > PartyPooper2012 03/17/2020 at 02:31

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Where’s this place located ?

PartyPooper2012 > speedy964 03/17/2020 at 05:33

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Right in the middle of New York City borough of Queens.

If you know Mets baseball team - across the road from their stadium. used to be Shea stadium. Now it’s Citifields

It’s the most amazing place on earth. Cops don’t patrol it. Sanitation doesn’t pick up trash there. DOT does not repair roads there. Bloomberg tried to demolish it and clean it up. It is still there. Bloomberg sucking on a bag of lemons.

You drive through the streets and guys will wave you down and see what you need. Let’s say you need some obscure part for your 1997 camry. They will call their HQ and ask if they have that part. If not, they will tell you which place will have it. You go there and negotiate. Once negotiated, some poor schlep will yank the car off the shelf, pull the part for you... and if you would like, they will install it for you.

I was helping my sister with replacing shocks on a 1999 camry last year. a bolt broke off on a small bracket. Half the size of a wallet. I took that part there. Didn’t tell them what it was. I said I wanted to get bolt out. Some guy looked at it - said ... this is from 2000ish camry suspension in the back? I said... 1999 but yeah.

Knowledge there is off the charts