Highwayman (Fallout 2)

The Chryslus Highwayman is a full-size car manufactured by the Chryslus Motors Corporation of the United States. It was utilized by the Chosen One in 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 fully analog 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 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 Smitty 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 one'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 from Klamath (found in a wrecked Highwayman after going to the end of the Rat Caves in Trapper Town), doubles mileage. Installed by Smitty.
 * Blower in NCR, improves speed. Installed by Ratch.
 * In the Chop Shop in New Reno, T-Ray can install a speed and trunk space upgrade. He can also install a speed and fuel-saving enhancement called the grav-plates after completion of the game, obtainable by having the car stolen after blowing up the Enclave Oil Rig, without having it stolen prior.

Location

 * The car can be purchased in the Den from Smitty.

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


 * Starting the car for the first time was supposed to be accompanied by a movie, and the rendered video was actually complete. Scott Everts in Fallout Bible 8 explained that it turned out so bad it was removed from the game. car.mve is still referenced in the game's files.
 * The Highwayman is called "KSCORVEG" in the game data. It was reused for another car model in later installments.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * The Highwayman shares a resemblance with the third-generation Plymouth Belvedere (a Chrysler product).

Bugs

 * In towns like New Reno, the trunk can be separated from the Highwayman and is located in different sections of town.
 * Leaving the Highwayman on the open map after a random encounter will make the car disappear forever. Entering a cave after a random encounter, then leaving the cave by any other exit than the one first entered will also result in the car vanishing forever.