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A 1996 Geo Metro fitted with a rear-mounted GM LS4 V8 has been listed for $16,500 or best offer on Facebook Marketplace in Los Angeles. The seller says the rear bodywork was modified, and the car appears to be the same build featured by LSX Magazine in 2021. Its current mechanical condition, road legality and sale status have not been confirmed in the source report.
A 1996 Geo Metro converted to rear-wheel drive with a General Motors LS4 V8 mounted behind the front seats is listed for $16,500 or best offer on Facebook Marketplace in Los Angeles, according to The Drive. The unusual build replaces the Metro’s original small three-cylinder engine with a V8 and a transaxle, but its present condition and availability have not been independently confirmed in the report.
The seller, identified in the listing materials as Phillip Kopers, says they bought the car four years before the listing and had its rear bodywork redone to improve airflow to the engine. The Drive reported that the altered rear fenders differ from those shown in a 2021 LSX Magazine feature, and said the Marketplace car appears to be the same Metro covered in that article.
The car uses an LS4 engine and 4T80E transaxle, with the powertrain installed behind the front seats where the rear seating area would ordinarily be. The LS4 was developed for transverse, front-wheel-drive applications. In this conversion it was turned around to drive the Metro’s rear wheels. The earlier magazine account also described a Cadillac DeVille engine cradle and suspension components as part of the build.
LSX Magazine reported that the engine produced 290 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque when new. For comparison, the 1.0-liter three-cylinder fitted to the period Metro made 55 horsepower and 58 pound-feet, according to The Drive. Those figures describe the original engine and the LS4’s output when new; they do not establish the modified car’s current performance or mechanical condition.
A Tiny Car With a V8 Layout
The listing stands out because it combines a lightweight economy hatchback with a powertrain and rear-drive layout far removed from the Metro’s original purpose. The scale of the change is clear in the reported figures: the LS4’s new output was several times that of the standard 1.0-liter engine. Those specifications help explain the build’s appeal to custom-car enthusiasts, but do not by themselves show how the vehicle drives today.
The conversion also has practical consequences for anyone considering the asking price. The Drive cited the 2021 magazine article’s description of the car as a “handful,” attributing that assessment to the Metro’s 93-inch wheelbase, unchanged front track and limited weight over the front wheels. The article also noted that 16-inch rear tires protrude from the body, a feature tied to the modified rear fenders. Buyers would need to assess the car as a heavily altered project, not assume it retains the economy, handling or everyday usability of a stock Metro.
rear engine conversion kit for Geo Metro
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From Budget Hatchback to V8 Build
The Geo Metro was sold in the United States across two generations, covering model years 1989–1994 and 1995–2000, according to The Drive. Based on the Suzuki Cultus, it was designed as inexpensive transportation; some versions returned 50 mpg under period testing standards. The 1996 car in the listing belongs to the second generation.
The build’s earlier history comes from the LSX Magazine feature, as recounted by The Drive. The builder reportedly bought the donor Metro for $200 and found $30 in its sun visor, putting the purchase cost at $170 before the work. A planned motorcycle engine proved too expensive, the magazine account said, so the builder used the LS4 and 4T80E instead. That reported purchase price concerns the original donor car, not the current listing or the total cost of the conversion.
The seller’s account of buying the Metro four years earlier and changing the rear bodywork is consistent with the car’s appearance differing from the magazine photos, The Drive reported. The listing’s asking price is $16,500, but the source provides no completed sale price or independent valuation.
““This swap, though, goes the extra mile in both creativity and difficulty.””
— The Drive, describing the LS4 conversion and its fitment
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Condition and Sale Details Unconfirmed
The source report does not establish whether the Metro remains available, whether the seller has received offers, or whether it has since sold. It also does not provide an independent inspection, current mileage, maintenance records, or a recent test of the engine and transaxle. The stated horsepower and torque figures refer to the LS4 when new, not a measured output for this particular car.
Other details a prospective buyer would need to verify include the quality of the engine installation, the condition of the custom bodywork and suspension, and the car’s registration and road-legal status. The report does not say whether the modification has passed any required inspections or how the vehicle performs in ordinary driving. The asking price is the seller’s listing figure, not evidence of market value or a completed transaction.
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Verify the Listing Before Buying
The next step for interested readers is to check the Marketplace listing directly or contact the seller to confirm whether the car is still for sale and whether the price has changed. The Drive’s report does not announce a sale or provide a later update, so the listing’s status remains open.
Anyone considering the Metro would need to review its documentation and arrange an inspection by a qualified mechanic familiar with modified vehicles. A hands-on assessment could establish the condition of the LS4, transaxle, rear suspension, brakes and custom bodywork—details not settled by the listing or the earlier magazine feature.
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Key Questions
What is being offered for sale?
A 1996 Geo Metro converted to use a rear-mounted GM LS4 V8 and a 4T80E transaxle. The Drive reported a Facebook Marketplace asking price of $16,500 or best offer in Los Angeles.
How powerful is the LS4 in the Metro?
The Drive cited an output of 290 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque when the engine was new. That is not a current dyno result for this particular car.
Is the car still available?
The source report does not confirm its current status. The listing may have changed or the car may have sold since the report was published.
Is the Metro street legal?
The report does not confirm the car’s registration, inspection history or road-legal status. Buyers would need to check the vehicle documents and applicable requirements directly.
Was this Metro featured before?
The Drive said the Marketplace car appears to be the same Metro featured in LSX Magazine in 2021. The seller reportedly bought it four years before the listing and had the rear bodywork redone.
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