The name Smart is better associated with cute little economy cars from the 2000s than it is with souped up, doorless, limited-edition vehicles. However, this 2003 Smart Crossblade proves that the automaker knew how to have fun.
Offered for sale by Vantage Auto, this car is number 1,722 of just 2,000 Crossblades ever made. Although it is for sale in the U.S. for $58,500, it was never actually available there. This one had to be brought in through Mexico.
The Smart Crossblade was first shown as a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in 2001. Although everyone expected it to be a one-show wonder, Smart’s design team was told to keep the concept car as close to production as possible in case the public liked it so that they could quickly put it into production.
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Well, the public loved the goofy little city car, and the following year, Smart was back in Geneva promising to produce the car. As the automaker had intended, little changed in translating the outrageous Crossblade into a car with number plates, while its tiny windshield, the crossbar doors, the roll bar, and everything else that make it look so unhinged.
Better yet, the road car’s engine was tuned by Brabus to make more power. Before you convince yourselves that this is a funkier Ariel Atom, though, you should know that the three-cylinder engine still only made 70 hp (52 kW/71 PS) when new, though that was 10 more (7.4 kW/10.1 PS) than the standard model.
Although it’s cool, this example isn’t without its issues. Despite being a Mexico-market example, this 2003 Crossblade does have some underbody rust. Moreover, although it has driven just 8,956 miles (14,413 km), much of the red paint on the brakes on the brakes has flaked off, and some of the upholstery on the dash appears to be peeling, which makes sense since it’s so exposed to the outside.
However, it appears to be in decent condition otherwise, and will undoubtedly draw attention wherever you go. Whether that’s worth almost $60k is a question only you can answer.
You can check out the listing for yourself over here.
