We have just one question: Why?
Remember the Toyota Camry Solara Convertible? Designed to replace the Camry Coupe and Celica Convertible, the cabriolet offered buyers “wind in the hair” thrills with a healthy dollop of affordability and reliability. But for the owner of this particular example, that wasn't enough. Clearly looking for something more practical, this unfortunate Solara has been transformed into a drop-top pickup truck of sorts.
While the front end and interior appear to be standard Solara, the bizarre changes can be found at the rear. It appears the current owner has grafted the rear of a Ford Explorer Sport Trac onto the body of the swoopy Solara, creating one of the most unusual vehicles we've ever seen.
A great deal of the Sport Trac's rear has been used. The tailgate, prominent bumpers, taillights, and flared wheel arches have been borrowed from Ford's short-lived truck.
It can't be described as beautiful, but we have to admit that the two vehicles have been joined seamlessly. The bodywork flows together with no apparent signs of extensive body mods. Even though the job appears to be of a high standard, we're not sure why it was done in the first place – perhaps the owner was inspired by the Chevrolet SSR?
As you can see, the Solara retains its power-operated soft-top, so the Explorer's bed has been drastically shortened. As such, the load bay can't be used as originally intended. However, it should happily swallow several bags or a week's worth of groceries, which makes us wonder what the reasoning behind this unique build was. The Solara Convertible's trunk was never the biggest (11.7 cu ft), but it had the benefit of a secure trunk lid.
The listing on Facebook Marketplace says the vehicle is in good condition and notes that everything works as it should. With 153,000 miles on the clock, the Solara's 3.3-liter engine still has plenty of life left. When new, the V6 engine produced an adequate 225 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. The six-cylinder model was paired exclusively with a five-speed automatic transmission, which channels power to the front wheels.
If you're looking for a four-seater convertible with some truck utility, be prepared to fork over $4,700 for the privilege. We're not quite sure what you'd use it for, but one thing is for sure: you'll have the only Solara-cum-Explorer Sport Trac on the road.
It's not the most bizarre custom creation to come across our desks, though. In recent months, we've seen a Toyota Supra converted into a Lamborghini Reventon, and a homemade Maserati convertible based on a Honda Accord.
Keyword: Toyota Solara Convertible With Pickup Truck Rear Is The Strangest Thing You'll See Today