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A 1996 Geo Metro fitted with a rear-mounted GM LS4 V8 is listed for $16,500 or best offer on Facebook Marketplace in Los Angeles. The seller says the car’s rear bodywork was redone, while an earlier account describes the engine and transaxle conversion; the listing’s mechanical condition and sale status are not confirmed by the report.
A 1996 Geo Metro converted to rear-wheel drive with a GM LS4 V8 mounted behind the front seats was listed on Facebook Marketplace in Los Angeles for $16,500 or best offer, according to The Drive. The unusual conversion replaces the Metro’s original small front-mounted engine with a V8 and a transaxle, but the report does not confirm whether the car has sold or remains available.
The Facebook Marketplace listing, attributed to Phillip Kopers, describes a Geo Metro with its engine installed where the rear seats would normally be. The Drive reported that the seller said they bought the car four years earlier and had its rear bodywork redone to improve airflow to the engine. That work also accounts for differences between the car’s rear fenders and the version shown in an earlier magazine feature.
The vehicle appears to be the same Metro covered by LSX Magazine in 2021, The Drive reported. That earlier account said the builder started with a donor car bought for $200 and found $30 in a sun visor, putting the stated purchase cost at $170 before labor and other parts. The report does not establish the car’s total build cost or confirm that its present seller is the original builder.
The LSX Magazine account said the build uses a GM LS4 V8 and 4T80e transaxle. The LS4 was designed for transverse, front-wheel-drive applications, but the conversion directs power to the Metro’s rear wheels. The report also describes a Cadillac DeVille engine cradle and suspension components. Those details come from the previous coverage; the Marketplace listing’s current mechanical specifications and condition were not independently verified in The Drive report.
A Metro Built Around a V8
The listing stands out because it turns a car known for low-cost, fuel-efficient transportation into a custom performance project. The stock second-generation Metro came with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine rated in the source material at 55 horsepower and 58 pound-feet of torque. The LS4’s new-condition figures were reported as 290 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Those figures are not a measurement of this specific car’s current output, but they show the scale of the change described in the build coverage.
The conversion is also a reminder that an engine swap involves more than fitting a motor. The earlier report described altered suspension and a different rear track, while noting the car’s short wheelbase and lack of weight at the front. It characterized the Metro as capable of being a “handful”. That is a description from the article, not an independent road test of the car as currently offered. Anyone considering a purchase would need to assess its construction, handling, roadworthiness and legal status rather than infer those from the listing price or build story.
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From Economy Car to Engine Swap
The Geo Metro was sold in the United States across two generations: model years 1989–1994 and 1995–2000. It was a rebadged Suzuki Cultus positioned as basic, inexpensive transportation. Some versions returned about 50 mpg under period testing standards, according to the source report; that historical figure is not a fuel-economy estimate for this modified V8 car.
The second-generation Metro originally used a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine. The source says a more powerful 1.3-liter four-cylinder became available from 1998, by which time the model had gained Chevrolet badging. The LS4, by contrast, was used in larger GM vehicles, including the Chevrolet Impala SS and Monte Carlo SS, Pontiac Grand Prix GXP and Buick LaCrosse Super. The earlier build account said its creator considered a motorcycle engine before choosing the LS4 because the proposed bike engine was still too expensive.
The Drive compared the layout to the MG Metro 6R4, a rally car with an engine behind the cabin. That is a point of comparison, not a claim that the Geo has the rally car’s design, competition history or performance. The Metro’s rear bodywork and underpinnings are described as custom modifications made to accommodate the conversion.
“The car can be a “handful.””
— The Drive, describing the earlier LSX Magazine account
Listing and Condition Remain Unverified
The Drive’s report gives the asking price and Los Angeles location from the Facebook Marketplace listing, but it does not say whether the listing is still active, whether a buyer has made an offer, or whether the seller has accepted one. The $16,500 price is an asking price, not a confirmed sale value.
The report also does not provide an independent inspection, recent photographs of the drivetrain, mileage, maintenance records, emissions status or details about registration and road legality. The quoted engine output refers to the LS4 when new, not a test of this particular Metro. The seller’s account of the bodywork and the technical history in the earlier feature are reported claims; the car’s present condition and build documentation remain unclear.
Check Availability and Build Records
Anyone interested would need to contact the seller through the Marketplace listing to confirm availability, price and location. The next useful steps would be to request build receipts and maintenance records, verify the engine and transaxle installation, and arrange an in-person inspection by a qualified specialist familiar with custom vehicles. The report names no scheduled sale, auction or further update, so there is no confirmed next milestone beyond the listing itself.
Key Questions
What is being offered for sale?
A 1996 Geo Metro converted to rear-wheel drive with a GM LS4 V8 installed behind the front seats, according to The Drive’s account of the Facebook Marketplace listing.
How much is the seller asking?
The reported asking price is $16,500 or best offer. The report does not confirm a completed sale or a final transaction price.
What engine and transmission does it have?
The earlier LSX Magazine coverage, as summarized by The Drive, described an LS4 V8 paired with a 4T80e transaxle. The report does not independently verify the car’s current mechanical condition.
Is the Metro still available?
The Drive reported the Marketplace listing, but did not confirm whether it remains active. Prospective buyers would need to check directly with the seller.
Is it road legal or safe to drive?
The report does not establish the car’s registration, emissions compliance, roadworthiness or current handling. A buyer should verify local requirements and have the custom installation inspected before driving it.
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