Man Buys Stripped Tesla Model 3 for $2,000—Range Turns Out Surprisingly Strong

An American buyer picked up a heavily stripped Tesla Model 3 for just $2,000—and decided to see what it could really do. Despite missing most of its body and interior, the electric car delivered a surprisingly decent driving range.

YouTuber Remy Evans said he first heard about the unusual car from a friend. The previous owner had bought it for around $6,000–$7,000, planning to transplant the chassis into a 1970s-style concept car. That project never materialized, leaving behind what was essentially a rolling electric platform.

Evans ended up purchasing the vehicle and drove away with little more than the essentials: seats, steering wheel, electric motors, battery pack, and central display. Missing were major components like the windshield, body panels, and even seat belts.

After installing a new set of wheels and fully charging the battery, the display showed an estimated range of about 211 miles. At the same time, the system flagged 78 different errors—unsurprising, given that cameras, sensors, and safety systems were no longer present.

To make the car roadworthy, Evans improvised a seat belt using a ratchet strap. He then drove the stripped-down EV on public roads for about 25 minutes, later testing it further with drifting, off-road driving, and even jumping over a muddy obstacle on a friend’s property.

The car handled the abuse surprisingly well, but one major issue emerged: charging. At first, a fast-charging station didn’t work because the adapter didn’t fit. Evans then modified the adapter by cutting part of it—an unconventional fix that actually worked.

Another complication followed. Fast charging via CCS protocol can be disabled through the vehicle’s software, and in this case, it wasn’t available. Fortunately, slower charging still worked, though a full recharge took anywhere from 7 to 14 hours depending on the power source.

Evans tried to avoid software updates, but the car eventually installed Tesla apps on its own, leading to a steady stream of new error notifications on the display.

Despite all the challenges, the car remained drivable. According to Evans, it still performs reasonably well and offers a respectable range—even in its stripped-down state.

A Different Tesla Challenge on a Larger Scale

In a separate story, YouTuber Everyday Sandro took on a long-distance journey across North and South America in a Tesla Model X, documenting the realities of EV travel.

By the time he reached Chile, he had already covered thousands of miles and passed through 14 countries. But new challenges emerged—this time due to winter conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.

During a stop at a national park, overnight cold drained the battery, pushing the vehicle into low-power mode. While manageable, a more serious warning soon appeared: the system indicated low coolant levels, adding another layer of concern during the trip.

Both stories highlight a common theme—electric vehicles are capable, but under unusual conditions, they can present unexpected hurdles.