Lot details
Registration No: WF54TVZ
Chassis No: WME4524342L017974
Mot Expiry: April 2011

Smart GmbH was born in 1994 of a collaboration between popular watchmaker Swatch and automotive giant Daimler-Benz, though the company actually became a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler-Benz just four years later. The first product of the union was the Smart City Coupe (later renamed Smart Fortwo) that was launched at the Paris Salon of 1998. Its radical design and technical specification caused quite a stir and spawned a new breed of city car that is still evolving. The 'less is more' philosophy of the City Coupe was quickly adapted to create a prototype Smart sports car - the Roadster - which first saw the light of day at the Frankfurt Motorshow of 1999. The concept was well received and the following year a prototype Roadster Coupe made its debut. Production versions of both models were exhibited at the Paris Salon of September 2002 and the first customer cars delivered a few months later. The Roadster was based on a stretched Fortwo platform and powered by a turbocharged 698cc rear-mounted Mercedes-Benz engine, coupled to a semi-automatic transmission driving through the rear wheels. Plastic body panels helped the car to weigh in at just 790kg, which certainly helped compensate for the lack of litres and an enthusiastic Top Gear awarded it their 'Fun Car Of The Year' award in 2005. The model was in production for just three years, during which time some 43,000 examples were produced. Delivery of the first RHD cars began in September 2003.

The 2004 RHD Roadster on offer sports dark metallic blue/black bodywork and a grey cloth interior. It has a powered roof, electric windows, multi-spoke alloy wheels shod with fresh tyres and reportedly comes complete with "a full Mercedes-Benz service history" and a recent MOT. The vendor claims the car to have been garaged throughout its life, to have covered under 33,000 miles from new and to be in "very good" condition with regard to its engine, transmission, electrical equipment, interior trim, bodywork and paintwork. These attractive little machines are seen by many as a modern day classic and, with such a short production run, are already relatively rare for a mass produced car. With anything up to 60mpg achievable, running costs should be pleasingly low.

PLEASE NOTE: This vehicle has an MOT until April 2011.