YouTuber bought $2 million concept car to save it for $150

This YouTuber bought an abandoned $2 million concept car for a bargain and set about repairing it with just $150.

LegitStreetCars picked up a one-of-a-kind delivery van built in 2009, that was made with the goal of driving 100 miles per gallon.

It was called the ‘Bright Idea’ and was part of a project that received $450 million in government funding.

However, it never went into production.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

What issues does this $2 million concept car have?

Snagging it for $1,500, it’s fair to say that this was a bargain.

But were there too many issues at play with this vehicle?

Talking about the ‘Bright Idea’, the host said: “If it truly gets anywhere near 100 miles per gallon, that means this one-of-one concept van from 2009 had the potential to completely revolutionize the automotive industry.

“This could have been a massive missed opportunity – or maybe there’s a reason they didn’t get the grant.”

The car industry is constantly in a state of flux, with new developments set to change the way things are done.

A new Cybertruck was toted as being revolutionary for the industry because of its new battery production method.

Suffice to say, there was a lot of issues with the van that became apparent as he went along.

One of the motor mount brackets was broken and needed to be welded, which was done at a local shop.

The engine control unit was also playing up.

Using a OBD2 (On-board Diagnostic II) scanner app called Carly, the host figured out what the problem was.

The van’s engine control unit came from a 2009 Dodge Caliber, meaning many components within the prototype weren’t connected – such as the cooling fan and the fuel level sensor.

Fortunately, the high-voltage battery has fared well despite the van not seeing any road in over a decade.

Out of a maximum of 350 volts, the battery has 289 left.

This is a positive sign that the battery can be salvaged.

There were also clay models sitting in the back of the van and a ton of cotton in the bonnet, most likely left by rodents.

Can the van be saved for $150?

There were a lot of bumps in the road along the way and the first drive ended in a breakdown.

Not ideal for a scorching hot day in a van with no AC and windows that won’t open.

In the end, the van will require weeks of charging to get back into top form, alongside other fixes that are needed.

However, it is far from a lost cause and showed great potential.

To see the van for yourself, head over to LegitStreetCars‘ YouTube channel.