Flatmobile, The World's Lowest Car

The record for the world's lowest car has been claimed by a Buckinghamshire man - who held the title twice before. At 19in (48cm) tall the "Flatmobile", built from a 1963 Hillman Imp with an added jet engine, has been built by Perry Watkins in Wingrave. The batmobile-inspired car took almost 18 months to build. Mr Watkins is awaiting verification from Guinness World Records that the roadworthy car has taken two inches off the current record. In 1990 Mr Watkins built the "Impressed" also based on a Hillman Imp which stood at 26 in (66cm) and in 1999 he held the record with "Lowlife", built from a Mini, which was 24in (61cm) tall.
"I've been building unusual cars for 25 years or so, so its my hobby, I enjoy doing it. The car is based on comic-book hero Batman's Batmobile. The original car (a Hillman Imp) has been cut down by 30in in the body, the suspension has been lowered by 9in and the roofs been removed so its left us with a total height of 19in at the highest point. The Batmobile had a jet engine so I thought 'great, lets stick a jet engine in' and built a jet engine and put that in the back as well. Cost I don't count because I get upset and depressed if I count - it's the wrong side of £10,000 anyway," Mr Watkins said.