Not too long ago, $23k was enough to net you a Tacoma 4×4 in really good shape, just a few years old. It’s still plenty to nab a gently used Nissan Frontier 4×4 (much better than the Tacoma, in this writer’s opinion) today, even taking into account the insanity of used car prices.
Just this week, $23k nabbed a one-of-a-kind off-roader in this heavily modded 2012 Smart Fortwo, nicknamed the Grape Digger. It earned that moniker as a nod to the monster truck legend Gravedigger, and because it was owned and commissioned by a winemaker. But that winemaker grew tired with this beast, for whatever reason, and it ended up at CarsandBids, an auction house.
Anemic power from the Mitsubishi 3-pot aside, this thing looks ready to rip. The custom build included an 8-inch lift, 30-inch AT tires, coiler shocks, fender flares, and a freaking exoskeleton cage (you know, for safety).
Smart is no longer a going concern in the USA, but had they made these babies in the factory, you can bet it would still be. (Photos: CarsandBids).
