A YouTuber purchased a totally stripped-down Tesla Model 3 for simply $2,000 — no physique panels, no windshield, no seatbelts — and took it off-roading, drifting, and even leaping it. The wildest half? It still confirmed 212 miles of range on a full cost.
The video, posted by Remmy Evans, is a testomony to each the sturdiness of Tesla’s drivetrain and the questionable decision-making that makes YouTube entertaining.
From deserted venture to $2,000 ‘go-kart’
The story begins with a telephone name. Evans will get a tip from his good friend Jake a few particular automobile at Jake’s brother-in-law’s home in Idaho: a Tesla Model 3 that has been stripped all the way down to virtually nothing. The earlier proprietor, Grayson, had bought the Model 3 for $6,000–$7,000 with plans to transplant the drivetrain right into a Seventies idea automobile. They even had a 3D artist render the completed design and began becoming components, however deserted the venture after estimating it would take 800 hours to finish the physique work.
Evans negotiated the value down from $3,000 to $2,000, and walked away with what is basically a Tesla rolling chassis — seats, steering wheel, motors, battery pack, and display, however no windshield, no physique panels, and no seatbelts. The automobile had been sitting unregistered for no less than two years.
Tesla drivetrains have grow to be popular swap candidates for classic car and custom builds lately, with firms like EV West even promoting Tesla crate motors particularly for conversions. But most builders transplant the drivetrain into one thing else — Evans determined to simply drive what was left.
212 miles of range and 78 error codes
After swapping out the inventory tires — which had been “delaminating” all the way down to the wire — for a set of brilliant crimson wheels and new tires, Evans charged the stripped Model 3 to full and located it still displayed 212 miles of range.
The display, nonetheless, advised a special story on the software program facet. The automobile was throwing 78 totally different error codes, which is what occurs when Tesla’s software program expects cameras, sensors, and security programs that now not exist. All the security sensors had been disabled by the earlier proprietor, which had the facet impact of unlocking the flexibility to float — one thing Tesla’s Track Mode normally manages with software controls somewhat than totally disabling.
Evans rigged a DOT-rated ratchet strap as a makeshift harness and proceeded to do what any affordable particular person wouldn’t: he drove the stripped Tesla 25 minutes on public roads to Best Buy — no cops stopped him — then took it drifting, off-roading, and leaping it over a dust tabletop on a good friend’s property. His good friend Drew in contrast its dealing with to “a Polaris Slingshot but way faster.”
The charging nightmare
Charging the stripped Model 3 proved to be its personal journey. On the primary night time, Evans drove to a DC quick charger solely to find his adapter didn’t match. His answer: a visit to Harbor Freight for chopping instruments, the place he actually sawed the highest off a charging adapter to make it match the station, then needed to shove an object into the charger deal with to maintain it engaged. It labored — barely.
The greater drawback emerged later. Evans and a good friend with a daily Model 3 found that CCS quick charging — the protocol utilized by most public DC quick chargers — will not be enabled on the stripped automobile’s software program. Enabling it would require a software program replace, however Evans was terrified that updating would trigger the automobile to acknowledge all its lacking elements and refuse to drive solely. Without quick charging, the automobile takes 7–8 hours on a Level 2 charger and over 14 hours on an ordinary 110V outlet.
Tesla’s software program fights again
Evans averted updating the automobile’s software program for the charging causes above, however after downloading the Tesla app and connecting it to the automobile, the automobile started displaying “Service Required” messages and have become more and more troublesome to function.
This is a identified dynamic with salvaged and heavily modified Tesla vehicles. Tesla’s over-the-air replace system and deep software program integration means the automobile is continually monitoring its personal {hardware}. When essential security elements are lacking, the software program can progressively prohibit performance — a design selection that prioritizes security however creates complications for DIY builders and salvage rebuilders.
Evans ends the video teasing a “Part 2” the place he plans to take the stripped-down Tesla to an official Tesla service heart about 40 minutes from his home in Washington state, which ought to make for attention-grabbing content material no matter how Tesla’s service crew reacts.
In our expertise, Tesla will cost him a hefty charge to “evaluate” if the automobile is eligible for fast-charging, however they could simply keep away from this solely and provides him a easy ‘no’ simply primarily based on the state of the automobile.
Electrek’s Take
This video is pure leisure, however it additionally unintentionally demonstrates one thing necessary about electrical autos: the drivetrain is essentially the most sturdy a part of the automobile. While all the things else on this Tesla was ripped off, damaged, or lacking, the motors and battery pack simply stored working. That’s the basic benefit of EVs — fewer transferring components, fewer issues to interrupt.
We’ve seen Tesla drivetrains survive crashes, floods, and now apparently being stripped to a skeleton and jumped off grime ramps. It’s a compelling commercial for the longevity of EV powertrains, even when Tesla would most likely desire a extra… standard endorsement.
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. More.
