2001 Lexus IS300

I bought the car from a military base for just $1,500 and honestly, the fact that the A/C blew cold was enough to convince me it was worth building! I’ve wanted a yellow IS300 since I was a teenager, so finding this car finally gave me the opportunity to build one exactly the way I would have dreamed of building it back then. The car is named Grilled Chez, inspired by my favorite food (grilled cheese). I even carried that theme into the details of the build, with “grilled cheese” written in Japanese on the side skirts and wing. I’ve always loved the JDM aesthetic, so when it came time to decide on the overall direction of the car, that style just felt right. This has turned into a complete build from top to bottom. Everything has been touched including the interior, exterior, suspension, and even the engine, which has been completely built with a big turbo setup. We’re actually getting ready to start it for the first time in the next couple of weeks, and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s also been featured multiple times in PASMAG and was even their cover car in early 2025. The IS300 has been my favorite car for as long as I can remember. I’m still amazed that I found this one for such a great deal, and now I’ve been able to turn it into exactly what I always wanted my IS300 to be.