Highwayman

The Chryslus Highwayman is a full-size car manufactured by the Chryslus Motors corporation of the United States. It is most notable for being utilized by the Chosen One circa 2241.

Background
Combining a stylish design with a tough and resilient frame, the Chryslus Highwayman is an excellent vehicle for any survivor of a nuclear war. The car shares technology with the Chryslus Corvega: it has a full analogue system with no electronics, over 800 horsepower, and reaches 60 mph (97 km/h) in under a second. It has a spacious trunk and an interior capable of accommodating as much as seven people, including a super mutant, robobrain, and a deathclaw.

Like other cars in the resource-starved United States, the Highwayman uses replaceable fuel cells (batteries, for short), to provide its electric engine with power. The flow of power is regulated by the fuel cell controller, which is also the one part that tends to break down the most, usually burning out due to rapid acceleration. A fuel cell regulator was an optional upgrade that more resource-conscious drivers installed, to improve the mileage. Others did not care, as energy was considered cheap if you could afford such a car.

Characteristics
The Highwayman is the only working vehicle usable by the Chosen One in Fallout 2. Found in the Den, it is necessary to find a fuel cell controller for the local mechanic to be able to buy it for $2000. It is an excellent method of transportation, greatly improving travel speed and providing permanent storage for the player's gear.

The battery can be charged with either microfusion cells or small energy cells. A full pack of SEC (40) charges it by 20%, a full pack of MFC (50) charges it by 50%. To refuel the car, select the Highwayman, use the "bag" icon from your drop-down menu and choose the respective energy cells.

Upgrades
It can be upgraded throughout the game with several items:
 * Fuel cell regulator (Klamath): Doubles mileage. Installed by Smitty for $750.
 * Increased speed and bigger trunk (New Reno): After the car is taken to the Chop shop, T-Ray can upgrade the car for $500.
 * Blower (NCR): Increased speed. Installed by Ratch for $1000.
 * Grav plates (New Reno): Increases spead dramatically and reduces fuel consumption severely. Installed by T-Ray for free after the game is completed.

Behind the scenes
"The car was originally going to be powered by fusion or fission or something nifty and nuclear (something that would allow us not to have to worry about running out of gas) and those big tanks in the back were representative of this big bulky power-source that was bolted on to the back of a '57 Chevy.

We had thought, at one starry-eyed point, that the car would be something that you could upgrade with more speed, armor, weapons, etc. and that it could be a more important part of the game—well, the engine and programmer tasking weren't up to the idea of having a moving vehicle (madness, I know ;) in the game so all of that went out the window. The power source was replaced by a much more mundane 22 cubic feet of cargo-space (more than any non-wagon vehicle in its class!).

So basically, the Highwayman's powerplant was downsized in order to meet with People's State of California emissions standards. It's often the case that a prototype car isn't exactly the same when it goes into production. ;)"

- Matt Norton, Fallout Bible 8


 * A wrecked Highwayman can be found in Fallout: New Vegas, with references to the same one the Chosen One drove. Only the trunk of the car is visible above the sinkhole it is in, a reference to a glitch in Fallout 2 wherein the car's trunk would show up at the destination, but not the main body of the vehicle (the interaction point for driving the car), preventing the player from continuing to use it.
 * The Highwayman was originally going to have two large fuel tanks in the back, possibly as a reference to Max's modified Pursuit Special from The Road Warrior.
 * There is a weapon in Fallout 3 known as Highwayman's Friend. This weapon is a reference to this vehicle as the weapon is a unique tire iron.
 * It is possible that the Highwayman is a reference to the 1957, 1958 or '59 Plymouth Belvedere or Fury Coupe (a Chrysler product), as it bears an uncanny resemblance.