VIP Style // Vincent Shumai’s Lexus LS400.

Respect. I believe it should be taught at an early age and never taken lightly. Respect is built, earned, honored. It’s rare to find something that everyone can respect, simply because we all define the word differently. Ill give you an idea of a few things that I respect: family, friends, my elders, hard workers, medical professionals, war veterans, this LS400, and the man that built it, Vincent Shumai who stays down in Southern California.

Photos By: Jordan Mo exclusively for StanceNation.com

For a project to really be a success, you have to start with a solid platform right from the beginning. Why not a Lex? Lexus began producing cars in 1989 with the Ls400 being its flagship model. Up until recently, the LS400 has kept true to the original design; big body sedan, clean straight lines, big strong V8, comfortable interior. Its also the best selling luxury sedan in the United States. Are you still wondering why this car is such a great canvas?

Its obvious this car took time to build and wasn’t just thrown together, but rather thoughtfully assembled. I was once told “the difference between an amateur and an artist is the attention to detail”. This sedan is proof of that. Anyone can take a nice car and customize it, add rims, lower it, exhaust, and maybe customize some paint and body work… but not everyone can make a true piece of art.  Every detail has been taken into consideration. The headlights alone are a hybrid created from headlamps off of three other vehicles then painted to match the car. This car also lights the night. Extremely bright fog lights, smoked LED side markers, side mirror LED with monarch puddle lights, Autoflavor reverse lights, and LED reverse lights keep Vincent aware of all sneaky potholes and road debris that jump during a night cruise.

There isn’t much room for improvement on a car that was designed so beautifully to start with. Although there are many exterior upgrades, they are subtle and combine well together making this car  look complete. A black chrome grill helps to delete the front emblem and behind that grill lies custom painted engine covers. Under the engine a custom skid plate is bolted to the frame to protect the important parts like the oil pan or engine from damage.

This car has the body of a goddess, yet, looks as if it could be driven by Death itself. The menacing appeal created by its black paint makes it appear strong but the curves are still elegant and clean. The wheels used to create this look are no exception to the meticulous steps taken during the build. Against the dark color, the crisp, clean chrome SSR Agle Strusse just command attention. Before you start searching for a set of your own I think you should consider the fact that Vincent didn’t just pick these off a website. These wheels started as 18′s. Vincent had the guys at Wheelflip rebarrel them with a custom step lip ending in a pair of 19×10.5 +0 upfront and 19×12 -2 in back. He also had the inner barrels bronzed and the valve stems hidden before he stretched a set of 235/35/19 and 275/30/19 onto those monster step lips. A set of crystal lug nuts are holding those sexy circles on there. These wheels look flawless. They sit under this LS so well that you have to assume that they were made specifically for this car, and well, they really were.

Vincent knew those wheels wouldn’t fit without some convincing so he had the front fenders lightly pulled and the rear fenders pulled and radiused. An M3 rear spoiler adds the little bump on the trunk. The exhaust flows through a custom fabricated X-pipe leading to quad tip exhaust that was created with 4×14″ resonators. The rear bumper was modified so the chrome tips could mount closer to the body to avoid scraping the chrome. I’m glad he took that extra step because it really adds to the look and helps create a sound that lets you know that this car is more than just style.

One surprise you’ll find with Vincent’s big slammed sedan is that it’s not on air. He chose a set of D2 Racing RS coilovers with 18k front/10k back spring rates. Rolling on coilovers, with a stance this aggressive doesn’t come without it’s setbacks. The closer a car gets to the ground, the more  adjustments you have to make to support performance. With that in mind, Vincent installed a Adus poly bushing into the front strut rods, trailing arms, and rear axle carrier. Add a Youzeland SS kit, front and rear, a Supra TT strut tower bar and new OEM ball-joints; and this car stays tight during turns. To avoid possibly damaging the frame or upper control arms during those turns, and to go eve lower up front, Vincent  had Jason Noren Fabrication, tig-weld UCA clearence boxes, just another one of those steps that helps separate this Lex from the rest.

Big sedans dont quite stop on a dime so Lextreme front and Stoptech rear Stainless steel brake lines were installed to assist the custom orange calipers in bringing the car to a stand still. To avoid any electrical nightmares caused by wheel rub, the wireing harnesses were mounted higher into the fenders allowing the fender wells to be filled with the perfect amount of rim.

Junction produce neckpads and leather pillows help keep the ride comfortable with a JP kintsuna and fusa to help add that VIP style to the inside. Keeping a full view around him, Vincent installed a empire luxury mirror and a Luxis burlwood shift knob help him engage gears.  One of the most appealing aspects of this car is its simple look. Its not over-built or undone. The shades are bold and they contrast well with everything in perfect proportion. It’s rare to find a car that could turn heads with any crowd, but I’m willing to say that this Lex gets respect in every part of town.

Unfortuantely Vincent has now sold this sexy Lex to a new owner and moved on to his next project. I can’t wait to see if he turns it into another neck breaker. IN the meantime, check out the full spec list below!

• Wheels/Tires/Suspension

  SSR Agle Strusse custom rebarrelled by Wheelflip.
  Started as a 18″ then stepped to 19′s. Full polish face and lips, bronze inner barrels with hidden valve stem.
  19×10.5 +0 19×12 -2 with 235/35/19 and 275/30/19.
  D2 Racing RS coilover 18k 10k spring rates
  Youzealand SS kit front and rear
  Jason Noren Fabrication UCA clearance boxes, tig welded. Upper control arms do not hit frame anymore
  Supra twin turbo strut tower bar
  Lexus OEM lower ball joint
  Adus front strut rod poly bushing
  Adus trailing arm poly bushing
  Adus rear axle carrier poly bushing
  Wire harness tucked up higher on both sides
  Crystal lug nuts
  Stoptech rear stainless steel brake lines
  Lextreme front stainless steel brake lines
  Calipers painted orange

• Exterior

  15% tint front and 7% tint rear door / windshield
  Quad Projector Headlight Retrofit. LS460 sti lens / FX35 with e-46 shroud + color mod
  8000k 55w ballast HID
  6000k 35w foglight HID
  Side mirror led with puddle light
  Black Chrome grill
  JDM window visors
  Led license plate light
  Autoflavor Cree 10 watt led reverse lights
  Monarch Led puddle light
  Smoked led side marker
  M3 style rear spoiler

• Interior

  Full led interior
  Junction produce neckpads (2)
  Junction produce leather pillows (2)
  Junction produce kintsuna
  Junction produce fusa
  Garson DAD empire luxury mirror
  Luxis burlwood shift knob

• Engine

  2.25″ custom exhaust with Xpipe and Magnaflow 14″ resonators
  Quad 4″ exhaust tip with resonator built inside each tip
  Custom skid plate protecting the engine and oil pan
  Coolant temp sensor
  NGK BKR7E spark plugs
  Motul rbf600 brake fluid
  Jbrady intake box mod
  New oem intake filter
  Gold Duralast Battery
  All engine covers painted silver