zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
For $4,200, Meet The Rodeo Clown
For $4,200, Meet The Rodeo Clown-February 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:10:08

The advertising character Joe Isuzu gained fame for constantly lying about Isuzu’s cars’ capabilities. One thing’s for sure, no matter what Joe might have said about today’s custom Rodeo, it couldn’t possibly exceed the audacity of the truth.

Sometimes of course, as Jack Nicholson so concisely encapsulated in A Few Good Men, you can’t handle the truth. And it seemed that yesterday an overwhelming 93% of you couldn’t handle either the humongous price, or sketchy nature of our candidate . I guess we don’t need to ask about the one going for sixty grand then.

Today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe M3 is claimed to be one of only 5 convertibles in the US. It also…

Dubbed ray gun truck #4, today’s is an audacious reminder that American ingenuity is not dead. You may tout the creation of Twitter, Doritos® Locos Tacos, or even Tesla’s battery technology as examples, but I say an SUV with wings is all the evidence one needs.

Who puts wings on cars? Well, thought it’d be a good idea, you know, for Jeremy at least. Then there’s Batman. Are you going to argue aesthetics with Batman? Finally, (cue angels on high)there’s this be-winged beauty.

You know, it’s always reassuring when considering the purchase of a customized car or truck - something that you will entrust with your safety - to have the builder come right out and say in the ad “I ain’t the best engineer in the world.” That means that you already know that the hatch hits the magnificent fins when raised and you won’t scalp yourself the first time you open it.

While possibly not topping the pack in engineering, the builder of this truck is nothing but thorough. Torn CV boot? Replaces the works and repacks the half-shaft. Previous owner scrapes the truck against a pole? Replace the crumpled bits with freakin’ fins.

Those bat-ear like extensions not only serve as unique indicators of individuality but they’re also functional as well. The trailing edge of each has been fitted with LED lights which have been hooked up to the turn signals. They’re also half coated in stainless steel, which as you may or may not know, has a reputation for avoiding stains, which is also good.

The paint is Rustoleum Red and was applied with roller and brush and rattle can - just like the Masters. The angle of the dangle in the rear below the fins, along with the gold alloy wheels, gives the truck the appearance of a pristine Dakar rally participant. Of course, do Dakar entry ever sported wings like these.

Powering the 151K truck is Isuzu’s 3.2-litre quad-cam V6, which was good from the factory for a little over 200 horses.

That mill supposedly has an EGR issue which causes the CHK ENG light to illuminate on the dash. Some people may consider that a red flag, while others may find basking in its warm amber glow to be comforting. It depends on how you swing.

The rest of the mechanicals and structure - auto gearbox, stout ladder frame and well regarded locking AWD is said to work just fine, meaning you can take wing with confidence both on the road and off. The interior - or what’s left of it - seems to be in good shape as well, and the plywood in the back will probably make the insides smell like a mountain cabin - or possibly of formaldehyde - for years.

This Isuzu is obviously a double fist pump of awesome, not just because of its amazing fins, but for the whole package. It kind of makes you wonder, if the company had introduced such an edition of the Rodeo, would they still be doing business in the U.S. today?

Still, we’re here to bury Caeser, not to praise him. And since he doesn’t seem to be around, we’ll just have to weigh in on this custom Rodeo’s $4,200 Buy It Now price tag. What do you think, is this truck awesome enough to command that cash? Or, for that much, will the seller need both a wing and a prayer?

You decide!

, or go if the ad disappears.

H/T to Michael Walters for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOCP. Click to send a me a fixed-price tip, and remember to include your commenter handle.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
I'm Worried Now That Volvo Is Going For Volume
I'm Worried Now That Volvo Is Going For Volume
It was only in 2015 when Volvo, the Swedish carmaker, sold . That turned out to be a bit of a sweet spot: Volvo sold 615,121 cars last year globally, and Volvo spent the years in between on a winning streak, with product that customers liked and a way...
Feb 12, 2026
I Just Graduated And I Want To Treat Myself! What Car Should I Buy?
I Just Graduated And I Want To Treat Myself! What Car Should I Buy?
Misha just graduated college and has a solid job lined up, so it’s time to upgrade the ride. The target is something manual, relatively new, and classy — all for under $25,000. What car should they buy? (Welcome back to ? Where we give real people real advice about...
Feb 12, 2026
At $5,500, Is This Chevy-Powered 1973 Mercedes 450 SLC A Crazy Good Deal?
At $5,500, Is This Chevy-Powered 1973 Mercedes 450 SLC A Crazy Good Deal?
It’s long been said that there’s no substitute for cubic inches and today’s 450 SLC has upped the ante on those. Let’s see if its price also makes this a car with no substitute. Hollywood’s Indiana Jones made his name by appropriating antiquities under the justification that they “belong...
Feb 12, 2026
Don’t Expect To Pay Less Than $1,000 Per Month For A Ford Ranger Raptor
Don’t Expect To Pay Less Than $1,000 Per Month For A Ford Ranger Raptor
Ford’s is sure to be just as hot as its F-150 Raptor and stablemates. I could only imagine what’s going to happen with these things at the dealer level. But if you do manage to find a dealer willing to sell you one at MSRP, you’re still going to...
Feb 12, 2026
At $10,500, Is This Near-Perfect 1974 Mercury Comet Worth Its Museum Money Asking?
At $10,500, Is This Near-Perfect 1974 Mercury Comet Worth Its Museum Money Asking?
There are quite a few cars from the 1970s worth saving and collecting, but few might consider today’s Comet among them. Regardless, it’s here, it’s fabulous, and we’re going to judge it. Few of us would like to chew someone else’s half-enjoyed bubble gum. In the same fashion, there’s...
Feb 12, 2026
At $18,995, Is This 1987 Porsche 928 S4 A Diamond In The Rough?
At $18,995, Is This 1987 Porsche 928 S4 A Diamond In The Rough?
The ad for today’s 928 plays up the model’s Hollywood connection, even noting this car’s appearance in an upcoming TV show. Let’s see if its price means it’s ready for its close-up. A few of you were offended by last Friday’s . Most of that derision was focused on...
Feb 12, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved