U.K. man builds world's smallest car out of children's ride (w/VIDEO)
World's Smallest Car - Click above to watch a video after the break
Standing just 39 inches tall and 26 inches wide, the little red Postman Pat car is apparently well-known in Europe as a children's toy. Oddly enough, it's now known all over the globe as the World's Smallest Street-Legal Car. The ridiculously small vehicle owes its newfound fame to a 47 year-old man in the U.K. named Perry Watkins, who gutted the plaything, added a steel frame to the fiberglass shell and propped it all up with the chassis from a quad.
Powered by a 150cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine hooked to the rear wheels, Watkins' machine won't be keeping up with traffic on the motorway, but its working headlamps, taillights, windshield wipers, horn and turn signals have enabled it to become fully street legal in Britain. The small-displacement engine reportedly returns 70 miles per gallon and manages to push the diminutive flame-painted flyer to what is likely a white-knuckle top speed of 40 mph.
This isn't Watkins' first foray into the automotive record books. Last year, the car-crazed builder made headlines with his so-called Flatmobile, which stands just 19 inches off the ground at its highest point. Finding it hard to imagine this thing actually driving down the road? Hit the jump for video proof and click here to check out a gallery from The Sun.
[Source: The Sun]
Video:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Franz 11:03AM (5/15/2009)
LOL. Love the wind up key sticking out of the back.
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alfaBAT9 11:08AM (5/15/2009)
So awesome.
Looks like he'll need to see a chiropractor eventually.
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critical 11:12AM (5/15/2009)
What a flat out idiot. He might be the only person worried about a Smart car hitting him.
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martin 11:20AM (5/15/2009)
yeah i dont think he's going to be using it as a daily driver you fool, it's just to show he can do it
mule dung 11:48AM (5/15/2009)
just because you can do something does not mean you should.
2004m3driver 12:13PM (5/15/2009)
You should do it for the laughter that would ensue!*
*lulz*
Bloke 11:14AM (5/15/2009)
Small is always beautiful!
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Smegley 11:20AM (5/15/2009)
Tell it to you girlfriend. :-D
Just joking. This car is too cool.
BigTeebo 12:11PM (5/15/2009)
Finally some much-needed competition for the Peel P50! Need a sunroof for Jezza to fit in it though.
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housecor 12:26PM (5/15/2009)
If it were any narrower the Euro plate would be wider than the vehicle!
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Rich 2:20PM (5/15/2009)
That's a UK plate, not a "Euro plate".
CarlosMC 7:46AM (5/16/2009)
First time I hear britain isn't europe (not that I have a problem with that...)
Dave 12:30PM (5/15/2009)
The future of GM right there.
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JLevy 12:39PM (5/15/2009)
So SMART is extending their model range, huh?
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xspeedy 12:44PM (5/15/2009)
Introducing the new Piel P50...
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Stumpy 12:53PM (5/15/2009)
I'm 5'3", that car looks like a perfect fit for me.
..
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Marco 9:15PM (5/18/2009)
Okie dokie Stumpy.
shortnguyen89 12:57PM (5/15/2009)
That's awesome
It's great to see people trying to make the world a better place for small people
just kidding lol
http://www.carz.com
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Rev Junkie 1:25PM (5/15/2009)
It may only go 40, but I bet that seems blazing from behind the wheel of that thing. It must make a Peel P50 seem big
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AKJeeper 2:37PM (5/15/2009)
Wow. I'm surprised to see a number plate on that car. Looks like it's taxed/tested too! Pretty cool that he was able to get this car street-legal. You'd never be able to accomplish that in our Nanny State.
Now if only we could get Clarkson to squeeze into that!
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