2008model Smart Fortwo Coupe Passion – エステートセールスプレマシー

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2008model

Smart Fortwo Coupe Passion

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In an age of diversification, a premium compact car emerged to redefine the concept of urban driving. Even with an automatic-only license, it delivers lively, enjoyable performance every day; the ultra-low-mileage 2008 Smart Fortwo—still completely unfaded today—was, after all, a small masterpiece that brightens everyday life.

Chapter One…
A flawlessly clean black exterior, accented by a slightly orange-tinged Design Red that stands out with a strikingly modern impression…!
This is what the low-mileage 2008 Passion-spec example is all about…!

When you occasionally catch sight of a Smart Fortwo slipping neatly through the hustle and bustle of the city, it can stop you in your tracks for a moment…
That sense of scale… the almost art-like presence… and the curious aura that emanates from such a compact body…
It makes you realize once again that this is not merely a small car, but the result of a fundamental rethinking of what an automobile can be: a high-quality compact car, with every element optimized specifically for urban use…

“Create a high-quality compact car with everything optimized for the city…”
As one possible answer to the question of what a car should be, in other words as a true concentration of ideas, Swatch founder Nicolas G. Hayek approached Daimler-Benz with a proposal:
“Is it not possible to build a car that is as small as a wristwatch, simple, high in quality, and yet appealing to human sensibility?”
From the initials of Swatch · Mercedes · Art · Re-Think, the brand name SMART was born…

Free and modern…
Smart, launched as a Mercedes-Benz product with boldly artistic design at its forefront, went on to color cities around the world until 2019…
Since then, the brand has shifted under Chinese ownership and become fully electric, but in the process its scale, artistic concept, and sense of purpose have changed dramatically.
Looking back, the Mercedes-Benz–era Smart—born from the intersection of Daimler-Benz engineering and Swatch’s design philosophy—was truly an extraordinary small luxury car, a highly unusual industrial product in the best sense of the word…

Presented here today is a 2008 model with remarkably low mileage—just 33,884 km—an early pre-facelift 451 series that allows the original fundamental design to be appreciated in full.
Equipped with the Mitsubishi Motors–built 3B21 engine, this is a Passion specification example, and despite its lightweight resin body panels, there are not even any major scratches to be found…

Clad in a flawlessly clean black exterior, this 2008 Smart Fortwo Coupé Passion is beautifully contrasted by its slightly orange-toned interior color known as Design Red, creating a vivid and striking overall impression even at a standstill…
The body panels, catching the soft light of the late afternoon, retain an even and healthy gloss, clearly indicating excellent exterior condition—worthy of being called a truly clean example.
It quietly conveys how it has brightened its owner’s daily life and been carefully treated within the garage over the years…

Even upon closer inspection of the front end, stone chips are extremely few, and the headlight lenses retain their clarity—another admirable point.
Despite being a car designed for daily urban use, the absence of noticeable small damage speaks volumes about the inherent quality of this particular example…
While the mileage is undeniably low, it is not merely the distance traveled, but rather the gentle manner in which the car has been treated that can be read from its overall appearance and, as will be seen, from the interior condition as well…

Seen through the large front windshield and side glass, the Design Red interior prevents the strong black body color from feeling heavy, instead giving the car a modern—even playful—impression. This is pure Smart magic…
Open the large, lightly swinging door and you are greeted by a cabin accented in this slightly orange-tinged Design Red—a tone that is not garish, but rather refined and even chic.
Although the large glass roof is fixed, opening its manually operated shade allows gentle sunlight to flood the interior, further brightening the space—another beautifully considered detail…

This artful color coordination is truly at the heart of what makes Smart enjoyable…
The unique tone created by the exterior and interior color pairing is not mere decoration; it visually expresses the brightness and positive character inherent to the Fortwo itself.
In keeping with the low mileage, the patterned seat upholstery shows no major wear or sagging, and the cushioning remains firm.
There is absolutely no sense that the car has been treated carelessly; it remains in a refreshingly honest condition…

Turning your attention to the lower half, the front 145/65R15 and rear 175/55R15 staggered tire setup—chosen as much for design as for function—gives this tiny body a reassuring sense of stability.
The original 451-series Smart Fortwo Passion alloy wheels show no noticeable curb rash and remain impressively clean, even deep between the spokes.
There is no hint of neglect in the suspension area at all…
Designed not only for agility but also for solid road contact, the Fortwo’s underpinnings remain in a straightforward, unspoiled state, continuing to deliver its uniquely light and nimble driving feel…

A look underneath further reinforces this impression.
The Mitsubishi-built 3B21 engine is known for its durability, and in this case the oil pan area and outer surfaces of the engine block remain completely dry, with no signs of leaks or seepage whatsoever.
Rubber components such as bushings and boots show no significant deterioration or damage, clearly indicating that the mechanical components have been kept in sound health.
The rear De Dion tube—key to the Smart’s distinctive ride quality—is also in excellent condition, quietly assuring that this is a car you can drive with confidence…

Never excessively abused within the city, quietly supporting daily transportation while carefully accumulating time…
This 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion is, in every sense, exactly that kind of car.

Chapter Two…
You’ll never see another car like this again…!
The untold story behind the birth of the Smart Fortwo—a car that, once you understand it, makes everyday city driving infinitely more enjoyable…!

When talking about the existence of Smart, what is most interesting and uniquely important is the fact that it was not “a product born from a car company’s planning meeting,” but rather an unconventional project that brought an entire set of industrial design values directly into the automotive world…!

At the origin of this idea was Nicolas G. Hayek, the man who founded the Swiss watchmaker Swatch and elevated the small industrial product known as the wristwatch into a true cultural icon…

In the late 1980s…
With population growth and the advance of motorization, cities around the world were suddenly becoming more congested. Parking spaces were shrinking, and travel distances were becoming shorter, yet automobile manufacturers continued to move in the opposite direction—boasting greater “size” and more “equipment” in order to meet safety standards…

Confronted with this contradiction, Hayek posed a question that was simple, yet razor-sharp:
“Isn’t it possible to create a car that is small like a wristwatch, simple, high in quality, and still emotionally appealing…?”
What is important here is that this idea was not about “making a small car cheaply.” On the contrary, it was rooted in a watchmaking philosophy: because it is small, value must be created through meticulous design and craftsmanship…

As is well known, what Swatch had practiced in watchmaking was never about producing merely inexpensive watches…
Mass production combined with quality control, strong design capability, modular construction, and above all, creating something that “lifts your mood even though it is a tool you use every day.”
This concept of an “industrial product that makes you feel good” flowed directly into what would later become Smart…

And the partner Hayek chose for this collaboration was Daimler-Benz…
His decision to approach Daimler-Benz had nothing to do with brand preference or personal taste. Rather, because the car would be small, light, and used daily in urban environments, safety and reliability could never be compromised.
In Europe at the time, Daimler-Benz was the manufacturer that possessed a culture of “designing to protect lives,” regardless of vehicle class—and one capable of embracing this philosophy head-on as an industrial product…

The idea of a watchmaker building a car might have seemed reckless by the standards of the day…
But what Hayek sought was not merely manufacturing capacity—it was the “weight” of being able to establish safety and reliability as industrial standards.
If smallness was to be turned into an aesthetic virtue, safety could never be sacrificed.
At that time in Europe, there were few—if any—companies other than Daimler-Benz that could draw that line…

Thus began this “unconventional joint development,” which eventually translated the question “What is a car for the city?” directly into engineering.
Small, yet not just a toy car…
Light, yet not built from flimsy sheet metal…
And compactness itself established not as a compromise, but as a value…
The symbolic result of this direction was the concept that would later become synonymous with Smart: the Tridion Safety Cell…

The exterior panels were light and playful, almost like Swatch watches—suggesting easy replacement and personalization…
Yet the core structure was a rigid safety cell, designed to genuinely protect lives as a daily tool in urban traffic…
This dual structure—“light on the outside, strong on the inside”—is reminiscent of the relationship between a watch case and its movement.
Here, one can clearly see the moment where “Swatch-born aesthetics” and “Mercedes-born engineering” truly meshed…

Even the name “smart” itself carries symbolic meaning…
Swatch and Mercedes intersected, layered with the concepts of Art and Re-think, forming a project aimed at redefining the automobile…
It is fascinating how the everyday meaning of “smart” aligns perfectly with the direction the Smart brand represents.
In other words, Smart defined itself not by power or size, but as the vehicle that answers urban reality in the smartest possible way…

Through the 1990s, the project gradually took tangible form…
Creating space for two people within a tiny body…
Providing a place for necessary luggage despite a very short overall length…
And above all, lightening the emotional burden of driving in the city…
Could a car become not a source of “tension,” but a tool of “liberation”?
This philosophy emerged in the first-generation Smart, becoming a presence that conveyed “something more than just being small” on city streets…
That is precisely the quality that still makes one pause when spotting a Smart in traffic today…!

As time moved on, Smart evolved into its second generation…
This 2008 Fortwo (the 451 series) stands exactly at the “entrance to maturity”…
From an experimental car driven purely by novelty, to a refined tool suitable for everyday use—yet still unmistakably Smart…
This exquisite balance exists because Swatch-like lightness and Daimler-like rigor coexisted without negating one another…

When the era of the “Mercedes-built Smart,” which colored cities around the world until 2019, came to an end, what was lost was not just size…
What closed with that era was the miraculous intersection itself—where a “watch-like industrial product philosophy” overlapped with “Mercedes’ safety philosophy.”
That, I believe, is what truly disappeared…

That is precisely why, when standing before a beautifully preserved example like this 451, it feels like the kind of car enthusiasts should rediscover the meaning of—and enjoy driving every single day…
It represents one of the rarest answers ever given to the challenge of designing a “happy relationship between the city and industrial products,” approached head-on through engineering…

Chapter Three…
A beautifully preserved example with low mileage and excellent condition — Post-Interview Notes on the 2008 Smart Fortwo Coupe Passion…

Never again, perhaps… an artful Smart that lets you press the accelerator, rev the engine, and savor its uniquely distinctive driving feel—there likely will never be another car that resonates with the senses in quite this way.
The author has driven several later Brabus-spec models that leaned toward higher output, operated via paddle-shifted 6-speed AMTs and delivered a riding sensation akin to a liter-class motorcycle; yet, upon reflection, it is the basic version—free from paddle shifts—that best suits the Smart’s original character and inherent driving feel.

The very structure of the body shell and seats, integrated into the Tridion safety cell that protects both driver and passenger, inspires a curious sense of reassurance. As you let the compact body flow with the rhythm of city traffic, there are still moments—despite nearly two decades having passed since its release—when this Smart Fortwo feels less like a car on the verge of becoming a neo-classic, and more like a vehicle from the near future. That sensation, even today, speaks volumes about the freshness of its underlying concept.

Of course, this applies only to well-preserved examples that retain their original condition, free of faults or accident history; but when you actually drive one again, every control feels light, responses are utterly straightforward, and there is not a hint of excessive assertion. And yet, throughout the drive, a distinct “mood” is always present. There are very few cars that can offer such a sensation.

This 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion will continue to retain its value as the embodiment of a particular way of thinking from its era. And as it slips smartly through the bustle of urban streets, people will no doubt continue to find their eyes drawn to it—without quite knowing why.
That, surely, is proof that this was one of the rare cars created not by mere “rationality,” but by “philosophy.”

An era of diversification sought the form of a premium compact car within the concept of urban mobility… Even with an automatic-only license, it delivers lively, enjoyable everyday driving; the ultra-low-mileage 2008 Smart Fortwo, still completely untarnished by time, remains a small masterpiece that brightens daily life…!

Here, the author once again revisits and reflects upon the title of this manuscript—and presents it anew as a proposal.

We warmly invite you to come to Gunma Prefecture to view and experience this truly convincing example for yourself…

Because this is a private, owner-to-owner sale, no consumption tax or additional fees are required.
At the time of purchase, the buyer will be responsible for the prorated automobile tax (annual amount: ¥33,900) as well as the recycling deposit settlement (¥13,130).
Transportation arrangements, including vehicle shipping, are likewise to be handled by the buyer; however, please feel free to consult us should you require assistance or advice.

[Regarding Inquiries]
This vehicle is listed on Estate Sale Supremacy®, a cross-border e-commerce platform specializing in classic and collectible cars.

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Estate Sale Supremacy® is the Japanese adaptation of the North American estate-sale culture, introducing vehicles filled with the owner’s personal story through carefully prepared written articles and video interviews.
We faithfully convey the current owner’s sentiments, preserving their memories while ensuring a proper handover to the next generation, and providing full sales brokerage support throughout the process.

We conduct thorough interviews with the current owner, including detailed discussions of past maintenance records and repair history, and we investigate the presence or absence of accident history.
If a vehicle has experienced a major accident, or if the current owner’s period of ownership is extremely short and details cannot be sufficiently verified, we decline coverage in order to provide prospective buyers with the highest possible level of peace of mind.

This article was written based on an owner interview conducted over approximately three hours, beginning at 3:00 PM on December 11, 2025, under clear weather conditions.
Due to the limited inspection time, the condition of the vehicle may not be described with 100% accuracy. In addition, all statements regarding condition are based on the circumstances at the time of the interview and reflect the author’s personal impressions; not all details have been independently verified. Please understand this in advance.

For questions regarding the listed vehicle or to request an on-site viewing, please contact us via the inquiry form at the bottom of this page.
As this is a private transaction, and in order to prevent non-serious inquiries, on-site viewings are limited strictly to customers who are considering purchase with genuine intent.

We sincerely appreciate your kind consideration.