In 2013 , John Bitmead ofAttitude Autosin lilliputian Ambrosden , England , was ready for a playfulness , new projection . Since his company is a vehicle restoration and fabrication business concern , building a road - going kids ' plaything seemed like a salutary estimate , and the classic red and yellowLittle Tykes Cozy Coupeseemed like the obvious option — to most mass . But not to Bitmead .
" Until about a week before we embarked on the melodic theme , I had no theme what one was — to the gasps of all forgather ! " he says via electronic mail . Once a supporter explained the short plastic car to him , Bitmead could see the ruined project in his idea .
He worked on the project for 17 unbowed workweek — far longer than the month he ’d allotted — and spend about 6,000 pounds ( $ 3,800 ) , not include labor . He ground the Crazy Coupe on a Daewoo Matiz ( a model sold now as the Chevy Spark ) . It ’s got a 0.8 - liter engine with a manual transmission , and while there are two place , just like the original toy , it only has one room access .
In being reliable to the original , it ’s also drop windowpane and a windshield . " In minus 2 degrees Anders Celsius [ 28 degrees Fahrenheit ] with no form of heating , there were time when I regretted vex so vehemently to my ordnance ! " Bitmead says .
It is fully effectual to drive the Crazy Coupe in the United Kingdom , and it ’s cover about 5,000 Roman mile ( 8,047 km ) in its shortsighted animation .
" I can categorically say not a individual land mile has gone by without me thoroughly enjoying it and the reaction that it create , " Bitmead mention . Many of those miles were driven to and from events to raise money for tyke ’s charity , where one can imagine the audience was appreciative . While the Cozy Coupe miniature is made in the U.S. , it ’s hugely popular in the U.K. as well , harmonize to Bitmead . ( He ’s an uncle several time over , though not a father , which does n’t quite explain how he ’d never seen one of these thing before begin this project . )
The Crazy Coupe has a top speed of 75 miles per hour ( 121 kph ) , though Bitmead has see the needle touch 80 miles per hour ( 129 kilometers per hour ) on a downhill slope . The aerodynamics are so terrible that Bitmead say he ca n’t leave the transmission in fifth gear ; the car ca n’t push through the air in front of it . So he exit it in fourth paraphernalia and gets about 30 mpg ( 7.84 litre per 100 kilometers ) . While he calls the H.P. " negligible , " he observe that it turns in " an impressive 0 - 60 sentence of around 17 seconds . "
But recently Bitmead put his Crazy Coupe up for sale on eBay . Bitmead ’s new task , the " Addams Family"-themed Crazy Camper motor home , requires funds to complete it . It was n’t wanton for Bitmead to sacrifice the Crazy Coupe . " I will be very , very lamentable to see it go , " he says . " I ’m still not sure that it ’s the right decision , but need must . "
