Flatmobile- world's lowest car

The worlds lowest street legal car is a jet - powered reproduction of 'The Bat Mobile.'

Perry Watkins of Buckinghamshire started the project in October 2006 after his success with two other world record flattened cars, 'Impressed' at only 26 inches high which gained the Guinness Book of records in 1990 as the lowest legal car, and 'Lowlife' at 24 inches high, his flattened and elongated Mini which held the record from 2000 to 2008.

Two donor Hillman Imps were used for the latest attempt at the world record for the lowest street legal car. They were stripped down to the bare bones after many hours of planning and calculating. When bits of the mid sections were removed and the roofs taken off, the remaining chassis lengths were welded together to form the body of the new car. Work also started on the jet engine which would power the car. Once the jet engine was aquired, it had to be tested, and that was another hair raising experience. Tests were completed with the jet belching flames all over the yard, and the engine was given the thumbs up. Then it had to be fitted, somehow, into the back of the car. But, the task was completed and finally it was sitting snugly into the rear engine compartment.

Wheels and suspension were the next headache. They, along with the steering column had to be engineered to fit into the space available in the Imp's chassis.

In January 2007, tests of the driving position and the steering wheel position were worked out.

Up until the end of March work progressed gradually with bodywork being crafted and headaches and obstacles, problems and glitches finally being overcome. A 1959 Cadillac was bought and parts of it were used to enhance the vision that Perry had of the overall look of the Bat Mobile. The exhaust system was the correct size and the tail lights gave her a unique appeal. She was finally taking shape.

By the end of June the steering column was in and the cockpit started to look the real business with dials, switches and gauges. On 30th June the cockpit cover was finished

and preparation was made to give the engine a run-up.

On 4th August the engine was put through its paces and things went well, until suddenly disaster! Fire broke out in the engine bay! Great clouds of smoke and naked flames engulfed the rear of the car. Luckily someone with a fire extinguisher was to hand and after Perry nearly melted his hand opening the engine cover, the flames were extinguished. The project still lived!

Once this near disaster was a part of history, the work began to clean up the mess left by the fire. The car had to be prepared for the paintshop. It was time to leave the car in the hands of the professional painters and relax for a while, although relaxing is not a word in Periwinkle Customs' vocabulary.

On 12th January 2008 she was back at Periwinkles dressed in her new finery, and what a picture she looked with her gleaming paint and lustrous chrome. Flatmobile was a sight to gladden the eye of any red blooded male. The last obstacle in her emergence from the chrysalis was to face the dreaded M.O.T. men.

On 5th March she stared the Ministry of Transport Examiners down, looked them boldy in the eye and said, 'Well, what's the verdict?'

The M.O.T men had nothing to say, except. 'You've passed.'

What a tremendous feat of engineering.