It's been just over a month since Elon Musk presented the Tesla Cybertruck to the world, and it's already become a cultural phenomenon. Many have mocked its polarizing, wedge-shaped design, but the publicity clearly hasn't affected sales.
Tesla has already received over 250,000 pre-orders, even though the final production model hasn't been unveiled yet. Production of the Tri Motor AWD version isn't expected to start until late 2021, while the Single Motor RWD version isn't expected to start production until late 2022. Dual Motor production, on the other hand, is also slated to begin in 2021.
Some people just can't wait that long, however. Over the past few weeks, a ton of homemade Tesla Cybertruck replicas have been spotted on the streets. Some are more convincing than others, but they will have certainly cost significantly less than the real model, which starts at $39,900.
One of the standouts came from Russia. It's based on a VAZ 2109 hatchback and can be yours for $10,797. Showcased on YouTube channel GoryashchiyeKlyuchi, this latest Cybertruck DIY job also comes from Russia and is arguably more impressive because it was built completely from scratch. The project was built on a metal frame welded with support racks made from metal pipes to replicate the Cybertruck's distinctive angular shape. The frame was then covered in anticorrosive paint before the body panels were fitted.
While the real Tesla Cybertruck has a stainless steel body, the body panels on this homemade version are made of conventional hot-rolled metal since it's cheaper and more practical. To complete the look, the YouTuber added wheels with the same size and a similar pattern to the real Cybertruck wrapped in Bridgestone tires.
The project is still a work in progress, but it already looks impressively accurate. Hopefully, it won't be long until we get to see the finished working model on the road. At this rate, half of Russia will be driving Tesla Cybertruck replicas before Elon Musk sells one.