I’m usually all about big motors, flash and super-fast restomods. But sometimes, you just need to slow down and say: what the heck is that thing? Is it a restomod? Is it a street rod? Is it a rat rod?

All three?

Strange as it may seem, this thing is half pickup and half car. Only, it’s the wrong side of the pickup. I just got another idea: maybe it’s all pickup with the bed completely shaved off…

Hence the name “cabstar.” Maybe it means that the cab is the star of the show.

Photo Credit: Mecum

I can’t be sure just by looking at the photos. However, it is an oddball, and it is really cool looking. I have a love for most things that are out of the ordinary – so this is right up my alley.

I know you’ve heard me say “there’s no replacement for displacement.” Well, as true as that is, there are other options to help you make monstrous power. For those of us who like to have smaller, more economic engines that can almost keep up with the big boys: a turbo charger/six cylinder combo is the obvious choice.

Photo Credit: Mecum

The six cylinder engine is known for decent low end torque that is trustworthy enough to get you off the line as quick as possible (though arguably not as fast as a V8). Plus, when you mate it up to a turbo, and tune it properly, the possibilities are endless. Furthermore, the engine weighs a lot less, which is great for racing applications.

This is one of the reasons why cars such as the Nissan Skyline and the turbo Buicks had such huge success.

But, let’s forget about the engine for a moment and look at the design of this rod. This isn’t something that you see every day. I mean, who does this? I’m not sure if I’m totally stoked, or just offended. Either way, the person who designed this rod is an outside of the box type o’ thinker.

Photo Credit: Mecum

In fact, I had some extra questions that couldn’t be answered from the Mecum website. Ya know, like: where’d ya put the gas tank? It does need fuel, right? So, I had to put my investigator hat on to figure that one out.

I did some digging and found some older pictures of it (apparently, this isn’t the first time this baby’s rolling across the Mecum Auction block). Mounted just behind the seats, on the frame (or axle, yikes!) is a cylindrical, aluminum-looking fuel tank. It isn’t all that big, so it likely won’t hold too much fuel.

But I guess that’s where the inline six comes into play…

I’d like to get your take on this ride. Would you drive this car? What do you expect it to go for at auction? Last time, it looks like it went for about 30k. Not sure what it’ll do this time. But I guess we’ll find out.

Photo Credit: Mecum