Photo: AutobahnTuning.ca
Brabus tried it, but giving more power and putting more aggressive panels on a car that looks like this only makes it seem even more ridiculous. So short of mounting a 50-cal on the roof, this is probably the best way of making the tiny smart fortwo finally feel like a mean machine.
Needless to say, if you're living in the Northern part of the world, this smart is also quite useful. It's not a lot larger than a snowmobile, but it comes with a roof, a comfy seat, a heater and the knowledge that you won't find one like it anywhere in the world. Not yet, at least.
This hybrid toy car is the work of Tod Anderson of Autobahn Tuning Inc., a mechanic in a town a little way south of the Canadian capital city of Ottawa. Being the kind of man who doesn't shy away from getting his hands dirty as long as it's mechanical grease we're talking about, he started the smart half-track project at the beginning of this winter.
It didn't take him long and it only cost about $5,300, and a large part of what that money paid for is still lying unused (more on that later), but he's now got a one-of-a-kind smart that's more capable than a regular off-roader in a snowy field. Unfortunately for Tod, the weather wasn't too cold this year so he didn't get to enjoy his creation at full potential, but he's hoping next year will bring more snow. Until then, the tracked smart will be stored on its original wheels.
To complete the transformation, Tod manufactured the front skis with the help of a friend, and fixed them to the stub axle after removing the wheels (obviously), the brake discs, and hubs. For the rear wheels - where the traction is - he ordered a set of ATV tracks that extend the smart's overall length by quite a few inches. Tod tells TheTruthAboutCars that he didn't have the car's speed measured, but "it felt like 70 km/h" (about 43 mph).
Tod had the 2006 smart fortwo lying around when he got the idea, and the thing is that if you have one yourself in the same situation, you might want to give him a call. You see, since the tracks are usually destined for ATVs or trucks, they come in sets of four, so Tod still has a pair to spare. For a little over $5,300 (plus man-hours), we feel it's totally worth it.
This hybrid toy car is the work of Tod Anderson of Autobahn Tuning Inc., a mechanic in a town a little way south of the Canadian capital city of Ottawa. Being the kind of man who doesn't shy away from getting his hands dirty as long as it's mechanical grease we're talking about, he started the smart half-track project at the beginning of this winter.
It didn't take him long and it only cost about $5,300, and a large part of what that money paid for is still lying unused (more on that later), but he's now got a one-of-a-kind smart that's more capable than a regular off-roader in a snowy field. Unfortunately for Tod, the weather wasn't too cold this year so he didn't get to enjoy his creation at full potential, but he's hoping next year will bring more snow. Until then, the tracked smart will be stored on its original wheels.
To complete the transformation, Tod manufactured the front skis with the help of a friend, and fixed them to the stub axle after removing the wheels (obviously), the brake discs, and hubs. For the rear wheels - where the traction is - he ordered a set of ATV tracks that extend the smart's overall length by quite a few inches. Tod tells TheTruthAboutCars that he didn't have the car's speed measured, but "it felt like 70 km/h" (about 43 mph).
Tod had the 2006 smart fortwo lying around when he got the idea, and the thing is that if you have one yourself in the same situation, you might want to give him a call. You see, since the tracks are usually destined for ATVs or trucks, they come in sets of four, so Tod still has a pair to spare. For a little over $5,300 (plus man-hours), we feel it's totally worth it.
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