RidiculousRides

BOASTING a twin-turbo engine with more than 900hp – ‘Filthy’ is the world’s first full custom-road registered burnout truck. Owner Michael Lake, from ‘Truckin Stainless’ in Brisbane, Australia, spent seven years working days and nights in his shed to perfect his latest burnout model. A ‘burnout’ is the practice of keeping a vehicle stationary whilst spinning its wheels, causing the tyres to heat up and smoke due to friction. Michael, 42, built ‘Filthy’ specifically for the entertainment of burning out to crowds across Australia, but he also made sure to produce a vehicle that was practical and street-legal for his own pleasure.

A GANG of car fanatics speed across Europe with only one intention to drive all day and party all night. This incredible adventure was shot by US filmmaker Zach Wingfield, who followed the Modball Rally Europe for six days, from the starting point in London to the finish line in Ibiza. Over 100 luxury and modified cars took part in the event, which included supercars such as a Pagani Huayra ($2.5million) and a LaFerarri ($1.5million). Fuelled by equal measures of petrol and alcohol, the rally took participants through the bars and clubs of Paris, Barcelona and Valencia, before finishing in the Spanish party island.

A DETERMINED father has taken a rusty 1985 Land Rover and converted it into a modernised Hot Wheels Land Rover Defender. Family man, Brian Reginald, spent two years producing the incredible vehicle with the help of his father and three sons. Brian, 42, originally bought the Land Rover Defender County for just $1,000 (AUD). Destined for the scrap heap, he saw an opportunity to convert the car into a modern Defender that replicated something from the hit toy car brand, Hot Wheels. Brian and his family, who reside in Brisbane, Australia, have been fans of the Hot Wheels franchise for over 15 years and they couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome.

AN EX-TEST driver and mechanic has built a road-legal replica of the iconic Sauber-Mercedes C9 using a 1:32 scale model as a guide. Johan Ackermann, from Gauteng, South Africa created a custom-designed chassis for the supercar - famous for winning the 1989 Le Mans - so that modern Mercedes-Benz parts would fit into it. The impressive custom-built replica boasts a twin-turbo 3.2-litre V6 under the bonnet capable of 370hp and 332lb of torque at 5000rpm and reaching speeds of over 186mph (300km/h). The 64-year-old mechanic built a lightweight frame, skinned with 4mm-thick cardboard which was coated with diluted resin and fiberglass cloth on both sides.

A PROUD collector is the owner of one of the world’s rarest cars – a special ‘Trump Edition’ Cadillac designed to be the ‘world’s most luxurious limo’. In 1987 Cadillac and Donald Trump partnered on the idea of offering a "Trump Edition" limousine. The aim was to produce the world's most luxurious limo with specialists Dillinger Coachwork as the chosen coach-builder. Their plan was to build 50 examples each of two slightly different models: The Trump Golden Series and the Trump Executive Series. Both featured an electronic bar, three phones, TV and VCR, raised roof for extra headroom, plus a paper shredder and fax machine, all topped off with an iconic ‘Cadillac Trump’ crest. Although the project was scrapped Trump bought both cars, one for himself and the other for his father, but one model now resides in Brian Gram’s Volo Auto Museum in Illinois.

CAR ENTHUSIAST Niall Seymour is the proud owner of a seven foot wide, six-wheeled Hummer SUVT – the first and only of its kind in the world. The one-off custom build started as a 2006 four-wheeled Hummer SUV but in 2017, was combined with a SUT Truck bed to create a six-wheel pick-up version. It weighs a whopping 3.5 tons, is six metres long and over two metres tall. The Londoner spent over 10 months working on his Hummer before he could get it on the road. So now, he says, he drives it everywhere – even on his way to the shops!

THE WORLD’S only stretched tracked vehicle - the incredible “tank limo” - has been built by wielding two tanks together. The incredible vehicle was designed by Nick Mead, the owner of the tank driving experience company Tanks A Lot, based in Northamptonshire, UK, with the help of welder extraordinaire Nigel Smith. They designed the vehicle by welding together two former British Army FV432 APC personnel carriers with an original two-man turret of the FV432 used in the Berlin Brigade. The vehicle can fit up to 10 people and is ideal for arriving in style at film premieres, stag and hen parties, and even weddings. And the 22foot long, 17 ton vehicle is in massive demand, despite hire charges starting at £1600 a day.

INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED builder of bespoke customer cars, Paul Bacon, has completed his most ambitious project yet – a steampunk hot rod built from scratch. The Automatron is a horse-drawn carriage inspired hot rod, boasting a 3.5L supercharged V8 engine with an estimated top speed of up to 110mph. Beginning with a 1924 Singer Sport base, parts were added from a variety of unlikely sources; including a switch gear from a Lancaster Bomber and the front wheels of an Austin 7. Taking over four years to complete, the build has won the maverick inventor critical acclaim, with Paul highly commended for the hot rod’s distinctive design.

CAR ENTHUSIAST John Ortlieb, from Nevada, is the proud owner of not one, but two ‘Boaterhomes’ – a spectacular half boat, half van hybrid. John inherited one from his father and purchased the second nearly ten years ago. His father’s, which stands at 36 feet-long, can travel up to 40mph on water and over 100mph on land. Only 21 of these unique vehicles exist, and John’s, built in the eighties was based on a Ford Econoline Van. The limited-edition hybrid is not just used as a boat, home and vehicle, but also as a unique party venue that you can often see cruising down the Las Vegas strip.

A MAN claims he has created a car that might solve the world’s traffic congestion problems. Rick Woodbury from Spokane, Washington USA, is the president, founder and sole employee of ‘Commuter Cars.’ The carmaker’s flagship model is the 2005 super slim two-seater Tango T600, a high-performance electric car that preceded Tesla. Rick told BTV: “I started this company 21 years ago – it was based on an idea that I came up with in 1982.” He was inspired by the shocking traffic congestion he had to face on a daily basis. “I used to drive a Porsche from Beverly Hills to Hermosa Beach every day and the traffic was horrendous,” explained Rick. What really made Rick think about a solution was the fact that in most of the cars he would see in his commute were occupied by lone drivers. “I noticed that everybody around me was a single occupant in a car, taking up the whole lane,” Rick said. Living and working in Los Angeles also helped inspire Rick’s unique creation. “I thought, everyone wants to get from point A to point B efficiently, and in cities like Los Angeles there’s really no centre, there’s no hub, everybody goes everywhere,” explained Rick. For him, there is a simple solution, and that is reducing the width that vehicles take up on the road so that 2 can fit comfortably in a single lane. “I don’t think there’s any other answer except doubling lane capacity,” said Rick. With a length of 102 inches this micro car can be parked just about anywhere, just like you would with a motorbike. Rick said: “The length is the same width of a semi-truck so I can park perpendicular to the curb.”The selling point of this vehicle is that it can drive in-between cars better than any other car. “The coolest feature for me to that it can get through traffic faster than any car in history,” said Rick. Much like a motorbike, the Tango T500 can drive right up to the stop line of traffic lights.

A COUPLE have converted a retired military truck into a purpose-built, one of a kind off-road mobile home. Kourtney and Trevor Smithson of Virginia, USA built their very own home on wheels using an original Stewart and Stevenson M1078 LMTV troop carrier which they picked up at a military auction. The conversion took just six weeks to complete and cost the couple around $37,000, including the purchase of the truck. Its owners named the ex-combat vehicle turned cosy mobile home, ‘Wazimu’, which translates as ‘crazy’.

BE PREPARED to spend big to own a Karlmann King - the world’s most expensive SUV. With a starting price tag of over $1M, the monster-sized vehicle can even come provided with an optional bullet proof exterior. Intentionally designed asymmetrical, the sport utility vehicle has what the creator calls the ‘diamond design’. Designer Luciano D’Ambrosio says inspiration was drawn from the Batmobile that featured in The Dark Knight trilogy. Luciano told Barcroft TV: “When you’re in this business for so many years you think, how about being a little different, especially exaggerated. The maverick designer threw the engineering manual out when envisioning the look for the Karlmann King. Multiple protruding surfaces making up its idiosyncratic look - the car is a spectacle to look at when it’s on the road. He said: “Going opposite to what the design rules would usually ask you for, it’s called the diamond design.” Although the car has been designed to be domineering and big, Luciano is quick to point out the car shouldn’t be seen as too aggressive. The construction of the car is comprised of a shell built and overlapped a Ford F550 chassis, but its unique design doesn’t stop there. For the more discerning customer the car is almost fully customisable. Under the bonnet the car boasts a Ford 6.7l V10 engine giving off 420 horsepower and, despite its mammoth shape, provides a smooth drive on the roads. The top speed of the vehicle is 220 km/h. Luciano said: “Given the size of the car you can imagine you’re driving an elephant but it’s a very flexible and nice drive.” Although its starting price begins at a cool $1,085,000, for a more bespoke design and with its customisable extras the vehicle can cost up to $3,800,000. “My most favourite thing is the way people look at the car, it doesn’t go unseen,’ said Luciano.

A FORMER race car driver has built a one-of-a-kind vehicle never before seen on the roads - a 1952 Ford pick-up truck that drives BACKWARDS. Davey Hamilton, from Indianapolis, was struggling to find the truck of his dreams. But having been inspired by his friend in Maine, another former driver who owned a truck, Davey decided to take things one step further. But to build his backwards truck, Davey had to first find a truck with a big back window that could act as a windscreen. Davey told Barcroft TV: “A lot of the older trucks have really small back windows; they don’t have the wide ones. I couldn’t find a truck with a big back window. I happened to find this truck three miles from my father’s house and knew I had to get it.” The truck had its original body, frames and pedals. “We had put the lights on obviously, going the wrong direction. I didn't know what to do for bed cover. So, we figured to keep the rustic look.” Davey had to do a lot of work for the truck to work just right. “We had to cut a hole between the bed of the truck and the cab of the truck for your feet to go in. And so that had to be sealed up so there's no water getting inside the truck.” With the seats in and doors on, the truck still had a little to go before making its road debut. The windshield wipers got installed to make it safe, so the truck had everything that’s required to get going. “It looks like it's supposed to go forward. And so, it took some time and to get everything levelled out and make sure that was mounted properly.” And Davey loves his creation for lots of reasons. “Number one, it’s an attention getter. Number two, it's definitely a fan favourite, number three, it was a lot of work. There's new people that see it every time we take it out and it's definitely a crowd getter.”

A CAR CUSTOMISER has built a spectacular Chevrolet low rider boasting over 600 custom parts. Chris Roark, from California, has transformed a 1958 Chevrolet Impala after his previous show-winning car, called The Perfect Score, was destroyed in a crash. Chris told Barcroft TV: “The Perfect Score was a three time Lowrider Magazine show winner and, on our third title coming home, we were cut off and we got swiped over onto the embankment. The trailer came loose from our toe rig and the car was totalled. That loss, it was very, very tough.” After the accident the other members of the Tradicionals Car Club encouraged Chris to create another car in honour of The Perfect Score. From there, The Final Score was born. The impressive lowrider was customised in every way possible with Chris estimating there is close to 600 custom machine parts in the car. This included the door handles, which were shaped for pop doors. The interior was made with full leather ostrich skin, with custom logos engraved on the seats. And everything matches, with the whole engine was engraved to match the outer pinstripe paint. Even the motor was customised, a LS1 that came out of a mid-80s Corvette. Chris told Barcroft TV: “When I look at the Final Score, I see engineering, craftsmanship and detail.” Despite the success of the original lowrider, Chris’s fans weren’t immediately approving of his new build. Chris explained: “A lot of people didn't take to it when it first came out. They were like, ‘What is this?, this doesn't look good, what are the colours that are mixing?’ “But a couple years went by and now you start to see a lot of people starting to entertain all these different colours.” The lowrider has built up a legion of fans, but will Chris continue building these cars? He said: “It’s tough as you get older, you slow down. I have my son and my nephew that are young guns and they've been keeping the fire under me to keep me going.” Chris’s son, Chris Jr is now leading the next generation of car customizers. Chris Jr told Barcroft TV: “My favourite part of the low rider is when you could get in it and drive, put the top down, just have fun. And they're different, they're unique, not everyone likes low riders, but everyone has their own different tastes. I just like to be behind the wheel and feel the creation of building something that’s unique like this.”

WEIGHING 10,000lbs, this colossal Monster Truck is not for the faint-hearted. Meet ‘Fluffy’ – the stunt-performing powerhouse that boasts more than 1,400hp. Proud owner, Kevin King, recently fired up the big engine and managed to jump over a fire truck and TWO police cars in his latest trick. Kevin has become one of the most well-known independent drivers in the Monster Truck Industry. Drawing a big crowd at one of his events in Waycross, Georgia, Kevin wanted to pay tribute to their local services – and thankfully, no one was left disappointed. Kevin told Barcroft TV: “This truck, it’s a beast. It’s a race vehicle. So it’s really not a matter of if it breaks – it’s just when and how bad. With the stunt, we wanted to show our support for those guys, to salute our first responders. It landed real good and I was happy with it.” ‘Fluffy’ is powered by an impressive Chevy 565 engine. And Kevin is more than used to handling this sort of vehicle – known for his work with ‘Fluffy’ and another truck called ‘Strait Jacket’. “I’ve been doing this for so long now,” he said. “When we get into the truck, when we put that helmet on, there’s really no thought process. If you’re thinking about it all, you’re going to screw up. It’s just what we do.” And when discussing the name ‘Fluffy’, Kevin added: “A Monster Truck called ‘Fluffy’? “It’s like the manliest, toughest name in Monster Trucks!”

For 15 years, BBI Autosport have been the experts in high-end, off-the-market tuning. But one of their most recent projects on a Porsche 911 GT2 RS seems to have stood out from the rest. Although this model is already Porsche’s most powerful car, BBI has expanded its capability even further by transforming one from a sleek sports car into a swift supercar. With specialist customisation, they pushed the car to reach speeds of 227mph, making it the fastest 911 in the world. Owner of BBI Betim Berisha told BTV: “We take this beautiful canvas that Porsche gives us and we tailor it to a client’s need or specific goal that we’re after. I don’t think we have ever built a car that made you actually feel this comfortable doing something so wrong. If I had to describe this Porsche in three words, I would say it’s visceral, raw and powerful.” Starting with the factory model, BBI upgraded the classic 911 with a custom engine, larger turbos and an advanced cooling system. Dmitriy Orlov, who works at the company said: “This car has bigger turbochargers, more intercooler, better calibration, a water-methanol injection system, better chassis to handle the high speed – and of course on Michelin tyres because they are just proven to be phenomenal at any speed and power level. There is also a lot of work on the interior. There are raised seats and harnesses to ensure that the car is safe.” To buy from the showroom, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS typically sells for around $350,000 – but with this level of modification, this car would cost closer to half a million dollars.

DESIGNED in the late 60s by Richard Teague, the father of the Jeep Cherokee XJ and Pacer – take a look at the award-winning ‘Javelin’ car. Brothers Mike and Jim Ring are known for having dedicated 4,700 hours to a 1969 Dodge Charger. Now, they’ve taken their passion into doing major bodywork and horsepower changes to high-end muscle car 1972 AMX Javelin. “Too much horsepower in a cool old vintage car, it’s a freak,” Mike said. According to the Ring brothers, the Javelin is an unusual choice for car enthusiasts. “If you talked to all the Ford Mustang guys and all the Camaro guys back then, the AMX Javelin was probably the ugly duckling” said Jim Ring. This did not stop the Ring brothers, and they set about an epic year-long project that cost them a whopping $500,000.

A TEXAN truck driver has created the world’s largest barbecue pit on wheels. Terry Folsom has been in the trucking business for over 30 years. Terry told Barcroft TV: “My passion is cooking meat and smoking it, so I own the largest barbecue pit in the world.” After purchasing the truck brand-new in 1997 from Houston, Terry decided to add his own personal touch - a 76ft-long BBQ. Terry said: “It’s the largest in the world. The truck weighs about 22,000lbs and the trailer weighs 80,000”. The smoking pit is at the back of the truck and took about six months to be built. On the front of the pit there is even a place for a big TV screen, stereo equipment, a freezer and beer taps to hook up kegs. Kimberly King, Terry’s wife, told Barcroft TV: “We acquired this thing through a business deal!” Terry and Kimberly put on a lot of cook-offs and cook free food for the first responders in town. Kimberly said: “We have taken it to the Salvation Army several times and fed the homeless and the veterans for Thanksgiving. During Hurricane Harvey we fed 55,000 people in 11 days.” But with a vehicle this long, it’s not easy to drive around. Kimberly added: “It is costly to move it. You have to have special escorts because it is overweight and over linked. To move out of our driveway alone, we have to have people block traffic because it takes us all the other side of the road.” Terry and Kimberly have no plans to sell the truck as it makes them feel so good when giving back to their community.

85 SPEAKERS, neon lights, and an incredible 13ft 2” height are just some of the incredible features on a giant replica VW bus. Kirk Strawn is the owner of Walter The Bus, a super-sized version of the Volkswagen classic, custom-built on the chassis of a 1963 fire truck. Once Kirk and friends discovered the truck in a junk yard, they decided to build the world’s biggest VW bus and Walter, named after the Walter Truck Company that made the fire truck, was born. Kirk, of Arizona, told Barcroft Studios: “There’s always a smile whenever anybody sees Walter. You just don’t see something like this driving the road every day. It just brightens your day. It opens your eyes and makes you wonder what else might be possible.” After the truck was found in 2003, it took three years and more than 100 people to collectively bring Kirk and his friends’ vision to life. The bus’ unique features have seen him attend desert festival Burning Man 11 times, as well as appear at events for Google and SpaceX. The truck is a three-speed manual with an air clutch and torque converter, and runs on a 330-horsepower engine with a 40-gallon gas tank. 85 speakers have been installed throughout the bus, powered by four amps on each side of the vehicle, giving it a 360-degree sound system that’s perfect for mobile parties. Meanwhile, more than 20,000 coloured LED lights line the contours of the exterior while an onboard misting system adds atmosphere to any event.

MEET the Sherp ATV – an amphibious vehicle that can tear through ice, mud and deep water. The all-terrain ATV is built to tackle conditions that other off-road vehicles can’t handle. The Sherp can travel through extreme and remote areas in the harshest of weather. Powered by a Kubota V150T engine and weighing 3,527lbs, the Sherp is equally at home on land or in water.

A RENOWNED automotive artist has built a $500,000 motorhome that you can drive from the roof. Randy Grubb, from Oregon, is well-known for building beautiful and unique chrome vehicles. Some of his masterpieces include the Blastolene Indy Special, Jay Leno Tank Car, Decoson and the $500,000 motorhome - the Decoliner. Inspired by the 1980s sci-fi space traveller Flash Gordon, Randy spent over $100,000 in parts and 6,000 hours in manpower on the stylised mobile home. Using the chassis of a 1973 GMC motorhome which sports a front-wheel drive, it allows the frame of the Decoliner to be very low to the ground, around 14 inches. This means that Randy had enough space to stack the vehicle as a double decker and for an additional driving position on the roof low enough to fit under most bridges and overpasses. Randy and his wife drove the Decoliner all over America, putting over 15,000 miles on the camper without being stopped for the unusual driving position. Randy told Barcroft TV: “I always get asked ‘is that legal?’ Well, it's not illegal." Recently, Randy was invited to the Frankenmuth Auto-Fest in Michigan to show off the 26ft aluminium Decoliner. Joining Randy was the new owner of motorhome, Mike Jahns, who first saw the mobile home on TV and fell in love with the art-deco design of the vehicle. “It’s an amazing vehicle to be involved with because everybody smiles profusely at it, it just brings a lot of joy to people,” Mike said.

MEASURING in at just 100cm tall - and 99cm wide - the Peel P50 is the world’s smallest car to ever go into production. The three-wheeled microcar was originally made from 1962 to 1965 by the Peel Engineering Company and was listed in the 2010 Guinness World Records as the smallest production car ever made, with a weight of just 59 kilograms. Of the 50 P50s ever produced, only 27 are still known to exist today. Canadian, Greg, is one of the owners of these rare cars, and he told Barcroft TV: “The P50 came out of the Isle of Man, basically the concept was a little car that you can use in the city”. With its DKW 49cc engine, the P50 has a top speed of 37mph and 4.2 horsepower. “It’s a one-seater with one headlight - I also love how it has three wheels, the back wheel is the one that is driving it with a chain from a little moped engine,” Greg said. With its uniquely small size, the P50 is not the most practical car to use. “There’s no reverse because you have to get out of the car and go around to the reversing handle, pick up the car and turn it around then get back in,” explained Greg. Although this is undoubtedly a small car, it has a big history. Greg said: “There was a Russian freighter that came into the port of Vancouver, they used it to drive around their huge freighter on the deck but then the refrigerator broke so when they came back, they traded this car in on a refrigerator”. Today, these cars are incredibly difficult to come by and are incredibly expensive - in 2016, a P50 was sold at auction for $176,000.

IN THIS week’s episode of Ridiculous Rides, we see how a group of friends have brought their skills together to transform an old-school Volkswagen Beetle, named Tope, in order to take part in one of the world’s most ruthless races. The Baja 1000 is a Mexican desert race which takes place annually in the Baja California Peninsula. It’s the longest point to point off-road race in the world, that's run in a single day. Josh McGuckin, one of Tope's mechanics, explained how much of a challenge preparing for the race was for the team. He told Barcroft TV: “Driving this car in the Baja 1000 can be summed up for me in one word, exhausting.” To an outsider the car would appear as just a “really old bugg” but once inside, “suddenly it just comes to life”. Starting with the VW Beetle was a huge undertaking for the team, as they had to modify the classic 1970 car to be suitable for the incredibly harsh conditions. However, the extreme nature of this race did take its toll on the well-loved vehicle, “every time you come back from a race, you’re constantly rebuilding and replacing everything”, Josh explained. The bugg may not be the fastest car, but it’s capable of doing the job for this team. And the teamwork paid off as Tope triumphantly reached the finish line. Josh spoke about his relief and elation, “every time we race this car, we learn something new."

A MODIFIED 1970s Corvette has been described as 'one of history’s greatest streetcars'. Custom-built by legendary modifier, Andy Granatelli, the Chevvy is worth over $800,000 and is capable of speeds over 180mph. It currently lives at the Rock ’n Roll Car Museum in Austin, Texas and is a stand-out piece in their collection. Boasting 880HP, it can push from 0-60mph in less than three seconds and has a gas turbine engine. Andy Schmidt said: “To drive this car, it’s not easy. You have to put a little work into it. There’s actually a fifth break that’s installed in order to help slow this car down. It can be a handful but when you get on the throttle, it’s all worthwhile. When you do hit the accelerator pedal, you better be holding on because this thing is going to take off."

MEET the USS Compensator - the ultimate off-road monster limousine. Unofficially the tallest Lincoln Town car in the United States, this beast belongs to builder and operator Jordon Foster of Keno, Oregon. The USS Compensator took three months of 12-hour days to build. Using minimal hand tools and doing 99% of the monster conversion himself, the vehicle cost Jordan around $10,000, which includes the purchase of the limo. The car is powered by a 4.6 litre engine, has air ride suspension and is sporting military grade spec tires. “The limo sits on 53-inch-tall by 16-wide tires on 20 by 14 fuel wheels, resulting in a 3.5 to 4ft lift of the vehicle,” Jordon explained. As well as using the car off road, the Compensator is street legal in the state of Oregon and Jordon uses the vehicle in his everyday life. “The car is not useful, it’s hard to park, hard to drive around town, I have to watch my corners, watch my blind spots at all times.” But none of this keeps Jordon from truly enjoying his creation. Besides that, Jordan gets plenty of attention for impressive creation, if only for the six-foot-long Texas Longhorns mounted to the front. And although Jordon has had plenty of interest from potential buyers, he doubts the limo will ever be sold off. “As much as I would like to sell this and build something cooler, I don’t think I could sell the USS Compensator, it’s almost too sentimental now,” Jordon said. About the name of his pride and joy, Jordan says it’s pretty self-explanatory. “A buddy came by one day and said 'man I don't know what you're compensating for with that lift'.”