Building the perfect show car requires big dreams, real-world conceptual skills, lots of time, and plenty of greenbacks, too! The purpose of the car and the demands that will be placed upon it determines what parts are needed and the rest usually will follow.

Robert Mason had big dreams when he acquired his 2001 Lexus IS300. He wanted the ultimate show car that could hang with the best of them. Two years and $35,000 later, Robert's show car dreams became a reality!

Robert was meticulous in his intentions for this Lexus. "Making the right decision on modifying a car is sometimes challenging. Nothing is stock. Everything has to be modified so the car is well balanced." Using this philosophy, Robert was deliberate in pushing the car into the show direction. The car would be street ready, but only to get to and from the show grounds.

Building a show vehicle that can hold its own requires a lot of modifications and Robert's IS300 has plenty of them! A Vizage body kit was applied as well as Tom's head lamp eyelids, a Slimline spoiler, Altezza head and tail lamps, clear side markers, dark window tint, and a custom JDM Altezza grille. The body was given the once over by shaving the emblems, antenna, and window washer squirters. The side channels were also filled to give the body a clean look. Once the body mods were completed, the car was painted with a two-tone silver on blue hot rod styled paint job complete with a set of candy flames and custom pinstriping.

The suspension was lowered with H&R lowering springs and KYB shocks help to soak up any rough spots in the road. Filling up the wheel wells are a set of KMC 20-inch hoops wrapped in Nitto 225/30/20 performance rubber. Bringing the IS300 quickly to a standstill are Brembro brakes fitted with Axxis pads and plumbed with Goodridge stainless steel brake lines. At night, one might notice a sudden glow that appears from the undercarriage which is due to Streetglow and Varad under car neon lighting.

A number of changes were also performed on the interior. The dash, door panels, rear deck, and trunk, were fiberglassed and painted in the same two-tone hot rod scheme as the exterior. The seats were stitched up in silver and blue suede and the stock headliner was swapped out for a suede headliner with embossed flames. A Momo Combat EVO Airmetal shifter knob, sport foot pedals, and custom painted metal floor mats complete the interior aesthetics.

Pro Audio & Electric of Cincinnati, Ohio, installed the killer A/V system that is rather wild and detailed. This little IS300 is packed full with JL Audio component speakers and two 12-inch subs in a custom fiberglass box mounted in the trunk all powered by five JL Audio amps. A Clarion flip out LCD DVD stereo is the master A/V controller. Rounding out the A/V department are nine Clarion LCD monitors mounted in various areas of the cockpit and trunk.

The Lexus power plant consists of a 3.0 inline V-6. The hinges, intake tube, heat shield, strut brace, and radiator panel are all chromed. A Stinger drycell battery was installed along with digital battery terminals. To break up the plain engine bay, various areas of the engine received a little paint and pinstriping to match the exterior. A Greedy EVO catback custom exhaust was installed along with a K&N cold air induction kit to help the engine breathe a little easier.

A stellar show car is well thought out from the first part to the final touches. While some piecemeal their cars with random parts, others take a more refined approach and stick to a theme... one that ESM refers to as the "Hot Rod Lexus."

Shout Out: "Thanks to all the members and friends of SideFX car club, everyone who helped out from www.is300.net, Line-X of Southern Ohio, Quality Automotive Interiors, Stinger Electronics, Eastgate Harley Davidson, United Parcel Service, www.cincinnatistreetracing.com, Performance Lexus at Kings Automall, and Mike Hack and Frank Marino who without their help, ideas and dedication, this car would have never been built." -Robert Mason