Hidden Gem: Jimmy’s VIP Inspired Lexus GS400

I first met Jimmy after the Formula Drift at Irwindale last year. But I had no idea he was guarding a big, beautiful secret. After the event I joined a couple of friends and the guys from Borla Exhaust to go-karting on a slick track because we had to get drifting out of our system. Jimmy met us there, rolling up in his daily NA Miata. While waiting on line for go-karts, my friend, Daniel Covarrubias, kept telling me that I had to see the project car Jimmy had at home. The more Daniel talked about the car the more embarrassed the humble Jimmy became. It was really quite funny. After a while Jimmy agreed to let me see the car next time I was in the area, insisting it was “nothing special.” My interest was piqued and I had to see what my friend Daniel was buzzing about. So a few weeks later I made it to Jimmy’s place. He seemed very nervous and told me he couldn’t show me the car because he had debeaded one of his tires and didn’t want me to see the car until everything was perfect. I was disappointed but still interested. Three weeks later I was back and this time Jimmy was ready to show me what he had been so embarrassed about. I couldn’t believe how wide the car was and the way it sat was just mind blowing. I loved it. I told him I had to get this car in front of my lens and shoot it as soon as possible. Jimmy said no one had ever featured his car and couldn’t tell if I was joking or not. After some reassurance and a couple weeks time we finally agreed on a time.

While Jimmy loved building his car, that doesn’t mean the process was without problems or complications. After being static for a long time, Jimmy decided to change it up and go for the air route to really take his build to the next level. Jimmy was overwhelmed with all the choices he had, but he wanted to stick to his plan. The whole reason he went air in the first place was because he wanted a luxury ride with performance handling. After doing his research, he settled on Airlift Slam Series paired with Accuair management. After settling on an Air Ride kit he dove into selecting a set of wheels to complement his car and match the style for which he was aiming. There were thousands of choices. He ended up selecting the ever-so-classy Leon Hardiritt Ordens with Diamond cut faces. When asked why he went with those he answered “why not?! They’re elegant and timeless.”

While Jimmy’s is a beautiful build, he says it’s no where near finished. But coming from a car enthusiast, your build is never truly done. Jimmy plans to change up the wide-body and get a new body kit for his Lexus. Although Jimmy loves his Leon Hardiritt Ordens, he has considered parting ways with them when he begins to change up other aspects of the car. On the horizon: revamping the trunk setup and maybe boosting the GS400.

A VIP build can follow many routes and have many outcomes. While he is happy with the route he has chosen, Jimmy wondered what would have happened had he gone a different way. Jimmy looked back and thought about different wheels he considered, a different air setup, and even different paint schemes for the car. Even though he is extremely happy with the way his car turned out, he says it’s fun to look back and think “what if.” It keeps his mind going and thinking of new ways to continue the build, change it up, and keep it fresh for years to come.

Jimmy would like to thank all the guys from the Royal Flush Crew for their endless support and encouragement to push the boundaries of his build. Everyone who has helped with his car, whether big or small, he hasn’t forgotten you and your contribution. He would also like to thank Ken and everyone at 88 Rotors for taking care of him, and Bagged Life for making sure his suspension was always in top condition.