Named “the worst car in the world” by Richard Hammond while on Top Gear UK, the SC430 is a continuation of the SC series initiated in the 1990’s. It was originally conceived as a convertible, much unlike its predecessor, with design cues inspired by the French Côte D’Azur and the masterful strokes of design genius by Sotiris Kovos, who had also been involved in the late 1990’s Toyota Yaris.

Its firm market positioning against the Mercedes SL gained it a solid foothold in the US market, making it a popular hit with fans of teenage comedy ‘Mean Girls’ (2004), dentistry professionals, and those fearing the twisted complexity of German-engineered competition.

However, this is no common SC430. Originally sold in 2007 to its first owner in Mission Viejo, California, it was quickly snapped by Bruce Canepa and given the melodic 5-litre V10 of a Lexus LFA, while still preserving its stock appearance. In the early 2010’s, Canepa sold it to James Glickenhaus, who in stripped the body to its bare structual frame, and cladded it in an identical carbon-fibre shell, still maintaining the original appearance. Glickenhaus still describes it as “immensely rewarding on the road and the track, with grip and agility only matched by the terror in the eyes of competing racers”.

During a track event, famed collector Jay Leno heard of this unorthodox masterpiece, and featured it in a reunion special with Jerry Seinfeld, Valentino Balboni, and legendary racer Jacky Ickx. The latter was so impressed with the machine, he instantly purchased it for an undisclosed sum in the six figures, and entered it into the 2020 Dakar Rally without any additional modifications other than sponsor decals by Jimmy’s Orthodontics LTD. While it did not achieve any victories, it confused the international press, humiliated Fernando Alonso —who later confessed to almost quit racing after being beaten by a candy red Lexus—, and reached 4th place with zero breakdowns.

After the race, Ickx received multiple public and offers on the car by Lexus Japan, Simon Kidston, Ed Bolian, Edd China, and two or three other Eds. Being in the Middle East, Ickx accepted to sell the car to us, remembering the days of the Chopard Rally in our ‘Holbert’ 1973 Porsche 911S.

Tomini Classics is proud to feature the most special SC430 on the planet, one of unparalleled build quality and pedigree, a car that has touched the hearts of many of the greatest personalities in the automotive and racing firmament, and brought unrivaled horror, rage, and disgust to so many others.

If you have read this far, congratulations to making it to the end of our April Fool’s joke! Big salute to our friends in the car industry, may we meet again in any of the events planned for the post-COVID future!