A Concept Car That Actually Happened - When Isuzu Got Wild

Listen, the '99 VehiCROSS isn't just rare - it's what happens when Japanese engineers drink too much sake and actually greenlight the wild stuff. Built in numbers that make Ferrari look mass-market (only about 4,100 made between '97-'01, with roughly 1,800 landing stateside in '99), the VehiCROSS is basically a concept car that somehow snuck onto dealer lots.

Under that sci-fi bodywork sits Isuzu's 3.5L V6 pushing 215hp through a TOD (Torque-On-Demand) all-wheel-drive system that was way ahead of its time. Those massive monotube shocks? They're made by Lotus - yes, that Lotus. The entire suspension setup would make most modern SUVs blush, with aluminum lower control arms and enough wheel travel to shame some dedicated off-roaders.

The thermoplastic bodywork looks like something from "Blade Runner," but it's actually brilliant engineering. Those polypropylene panels don't rust and handle trail damage better than painted metal. Those crazy rear blind spots? That's the price of looking like nothing else on the road.

What goes wrong? The timing belt service is non-negotiable at 100k miles, and the TOD system can get finicky if the fluid isn't changed regularly. The leather seats love to crack, especially those red ones, and good luck finding replacement body panels if someone gets friendly in a parking lot.

Pro tip: Ironman editions with the special paint and interior trim command serious money now. Regular versions are still relatively affordable, but prices are climbing as car folks realize how special these really are. Heads up: If you find one with working A/C and original paint, that's basically winning the lottery.