There aren’t many Lexus LFAs in the world. Only 500 examples were built over the car’s entire production life. You’re probably thinking there’s one less LFA now, based on the image above and the video below. Fortunately, this is not the case, as this one is currently being repaired.
The owner of this particular LFA had a little fun with the throttle in January after a car event in Georgia. A video posted on social media shows the car being loaded onto a flatbed after the incident. In the video below from ThatDudeInBlue, the owner explains how he simply hydroplaned on wet roads and sideswiped a fire hydrant. A careful inspection shows that the damage is significant.
The most obvious damage is the gaping hole in the carbon fiber passenger door. The taillights and parts of the rear bumper are missing, while the driver’s side rear quarter panel, also made from carbon fiber, has a nasty tear. The wheels are bent, the glass is broken, and the LFA’s iconic triple outlet exhaust has seen better days.
Oddly enough, what we don’t see are deployed airbags. The interior appears to be in very good condition, as does the engine bay, where the high-revving V-10 seems no worse for wear. Based on the video, the bones of this LFA are in good shape, leaving the bulk of the repair work to the chewed up exterior bits.
Usually, replacing a few body panels and trim pieces would be quite simple. But you can’t just order parts for a limited-edition Lexus supercar from the junkyard on the cheap like you could for a Camry. According to the owner, the current estimate for repairs is between $400,000 and $500,000. The door alone costs $40,000. And the driver’s side mirror is basically unobtanium at this point.
If this LFA were valued at its original price of $375,000, it would be auctioned off for parts. But with current auction prices ranging from $800,000 to more than $1 million, the problem will be fixed instead. Of course, you could buy a new Ferrari 812 for the price of this repair. But this car isn’t worth a million dollars. At least not yet.
The repair process could take a year or more, but it’s nice to see a wrecked supercar being saved. Especially one as legendary as the LFA.
