A quirky great-grandfather has spent three months turning his mobility scooter into an 8mph replica of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car.
Vin Wardman, 92, worked for eight hours a day in his garden shed to build the stunning model of the magical flying car from the classic children’s film.
The retired railroad worker painstakingly built the famous vehicle from household items and a scooter bought on eBay for under $400
The wheels are from a wheelchair he found on top of it, while the front cover is a discarded pedal bin and the windscreen is a picture frame from a charity shop.
Vin, of Craven Arms, Shrops., has been making mobility scooter models for several years – but believes his latest creation is his best yet.
The inspiration for his new masterpiece came when a replica of a car from the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang appeared outside Ludlow Castle in August.
In September. 1, the talented model maker tried to create his own version from various items – including old plywood, cardboard, Perpsex and vinyl.
The father-of-two, who has a grandchild and two great-grandchildren, said: “This is my best yet. It took me months and everyone seems to love it.
“It’s basically made mostly out of pedal bins and plywood.
“I managed to get a hold of a bath chair, which I removed about four inches before re-upholstering, and then attached it to a scooter I bought off eBay.
“The exhaust pipes are four pipes into one, while the windscreen was a picture frame from a hospice charity shop.
“The model was cut out of cardboard and I have a friend called Steve Garner who runs a sign shop – he helped with the vinyl and a lot of other stuff.
“There’s also a cake pan and we’ve got gold headlights and side lights. The imitation wheels are from a top pushchair.
“The guys there keep things for me if I tell them what I’m looking for. They put some pedal bins aside for me too.
“The Perspex that goes in is from a scrap dealer in Church Stretton, so I’ve had a lot of help, either free or at a low cost.
“I had to buy the scooter for this, so it will probably cost about $380 total. But I think people will pay a lot more money for it now.
“I’ve done all kinds of models in the past, but this one is very special.”
Vin first started making small model Chuckie trucks and buses using diecast models and stripping them down to replace them with local factory nameplates.
Since then he has turned the scooters into replica vehicles such as trains – including the Flying Scotsman, Thomas the Tank and King Charles’ royal engine.
The pensioner uses a variety of household items to make his designs including baskets, aluminum plates and wooden panels.
He added: “I have all kinds and now I’ve lost count of them all.
“I have a working showman’s steam engine that has smoke coming out of it and fairground music that plays when you open it.
“I’ve made the Flying Scotsmen, Thomas the Tank, King Charles’ Royal Train, a yellow submarine and a gypsy caravan.
“The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang replica came to Ludlow in August and I came home and thought I might be able to make one of those.
“The original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was made by two men in Oswestry and it’s coming back to town and I’m hoping to show mine on the day.
“They’re traveling around the world in it and coming back a week on Saturday, so I want to take it to show them and have their big one next to my little one.”
His latest creation is based on the 1968 film, which in turn was based on Ian Fleming’s book about a magical car that takes the family on a fantasy adventure.
The original musical was directed by Ken Hughes with a screenplay co-written by Hughes and Roald Dahl and starred Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus Potts.
Vin said he had been working all day, every day on the project since September. 1 and sometimes worked from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m
He added: “I’ve got a bit of a bad heart now and I have a pacemaker but I can go all day in that shelter and feel fine.
“I think this will be my final now although I’m not sure how I can do it.
“It costs money for heating and electricity when I’m working in my shed and now it’s getting colder.
“But at 92 this is the best I’ve ever done, so if it’s the last I’ll be happy.
“And if it can put a smile on people’s faces, then that’s a bonus.”
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Image Source : nypost.com