Six years ago, this car first hit the BangShift forums as a curiousity, a freak show that Joe Haber had seen roaming around Arizona, a car that nobody knew the backstory to, a car that nobody knew the details behind. It was a curiosity, nothing more, and things went quiet…up until a few days ago, when Jim Forbes learned of the car going up for sale. Forbes is a car guy, but at heart he’s an old-school tinkerer. If it spikes his curiosity in some way, shape or form, he’s in.
What’s known: the car was built in 1977, so if you’re getting some kind of Star Wars feeling, you probably not far off. It’s powered by what is suspected to be a Buick 215 V8 mounted mid-ship, the front suspension of a 1963 Pontiac, taillights from a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and was built by a man named John Harlow, who was a lifer at General Motors. It’s…well, it’s interesting, that’s for sure. After that, it’s a matter of opinion as to what you want it to be. There is the element of someone just saying “screw it” and building their own car that is admirable, for sure. And in Jim’s hands, we can’t wait to see the progress he will make in making the Wedge something livable and operable.
The 2022 Tesla Runabout.
I have to say that it is somewhat nicer than the Excaliber/Pope mobile abomination that I used to see running around LA. Hint: it was made from pee yellow formica counter tops.