There are some ideas that should stay in the far recesses of a car designer’s mind, never to see the light of day. Case in point is today’s eBay Find, a 1993 Chevy S-10 concept vehicle dubbed the “Highlander.”  

Day-Glo colors and tools go together well, don’t they?

A distant cousin but one just as insane in terms of form and functional goals was the 1989 Pontiac Stinger, a one-off pickup that the current owner says the General Motors Race Shop built as a show concept, but none-the-less, many of us in the business for years did see “marketed” by GM as a casual beach cruiser. The thing was far from casual, however.

Packing more tools, doodads, and garden hoses than a traveling salesman, the Stinger was a step in the awkward direction that ultimately went nowhere despite its colorful, youth-oriented image. We’re just guessing here, but maybe the American public just wasn’t ready for the Stinger, with its cringe-inducing green and purple palate, nook-and-cranny storage space paraphernalia, and niche market appeal. And just four years later, when the Highlander made its debut, there still wasn’t enough support to make a big investment in the hip, young four-wheeler.

But maybe now, in 2014, the world is ready. Post-Lady Gaga, post-Fruitopia, post-Tomogachi, perhaps the human race can handle something as “visionary” as the 1993 Highlander. Some of the features in the description mention an adjustable roll bar, fog lights, and sun roof. The mileage is zero, and the pickup features a 4.3L V6 and four-wheel-drive.

Taking into account all of its oddity and utility, maybe the $17,000 asking price isn’t too much to ask for. What do you think? Does this truck carry enough fun and nostalgia to fork over the money? Or would you rather pay that much to see it set ablaze? Leave your two cents below.