Engadget Maps Nearly $40,000 Retro Build for Modular Slate Truck

The Slate Truck leaves the factory as a bare-bones two-seat pickup in a single slate-gray color, according to the report, and customers can choose from more than 200 add-ons through a configurator. Engadget selected the squareback SUV conversion, which raises the starting price to $29,950 before accessories and adds a roll cage, extra airbags, a three-seat bench and a squared-off shell. The report said the squareback was more practical for cargo, saved $2,000 and better matched the 1970s theme than the fastback version.

For the exterior, Engadget began with a Michigan Copper full wrap priced at $670, then added a $320 Throwback body decal and $190 Creamsicle shoulder decals to create an Atari-like side stripe. It skipped Slate's mirror and rocker accents because the colors did not fully match and risked overcrowding the side. "Dots" plates for the front lamps, taillights and grille, under $160 total, were added to make the truck's face look more era-appropriate.

The build also included an upgraded front bumper at $500, a rear bumper at $600, fog lights at $300, fender flares at $150, a spare tire carrier at $550 and running boards at $350. Engadget paired those parts with an as-yet-unpriced lift kit that reportedly adds about two inches of height and all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels for $1,100. The report said Slate also sells 20-inch wheels, but the 17-inch setup offers larger sidewalls, a softer ride and a more theme-appropriate look. It cautioned that the rear-wheel-drive truck is better suited to dirt roads and snowy driveways than steep trails or deep mud.

A squareback roof rack priced at $650, mounted on Slate's $125 T-rail, completes the period look. Slate also sells carriers for bikes, kayaks, skis and paddleboards, as well as a roof basket for campers. The report noted that Slate estimates 205 miles of range for the base pickup, and the heavier SUV build will likely do worse, limiting long wilderness trips.

Inside, Engadget added a $50 Throwback interior decal and Magma accents on the lower dash and climate knobs, whose prices are still unannounced, to echo the exterior stripe without making the cabin too loud. The rest of the cabin stays with the stock dark interior, including Slate Black door armrests at $50; the console armrest's price has not been announced. Practical additions include a $250 center console, $50 door cubby organizers and all-weather floor liners for the front and rear at $135 total. The report said power windows could not be added because Slate pulled the feature after previously listing it, though a spokesperson said they could eventually return.

The Slate Truck ships without a screen or stereo by default, according to the report, with the idea that owners use their phones for both functions and add-ons can fill some gaps. Engadget's configuration shows how quickly the truck's low base price can rise once a buyer pursues a coherent retro theme, with the tally approaching $40,000 before some accessories are priced.