Street Legal- I want one

[David Whatley]

Yes, you read that right: These little beasties are street legal. They run on either Kawasaki or Honda motorcycle engines and co-opt vintage bumper car bodies as the most awesome form of mini-car we've seen in too long.

There are seven of these little monsters floating around California, and they're all the creation of one man, Tom Wright, a builder in the outskirts of San Diego who figured leftovers from the Long Beach Pike amusement park needed a more dignified end than the trash heap.

They were originally powered by Harley-Davidson motorcycle engines, but rattled like heck because of the two-cylinder vibration, so Tom replaced them with four-cylinder Honda or Kawasaki 750s.
A couple of them have been measured as capable of 160mph, which is terrifyingly fast in machines with such a short wheelbase.

By the way, they are nearly indestructible in accidents!

[bgpro611]

Short wheelbase and a high center of gravity I'd say!

[Noel Hankamer]

Those are too cool!!!

[dmcantrell]

I think they are very cool, but "nearly indestructible in accidents"? <unsure>

[Nikonfan]

Where can I buy one? I have to have it :)

[r0xikat]

bumper cars on wheels!

interesting idea, but definitely not for me.

[Ralph Merlino]

What are they selling for?

[revjvegas]

Originally Posted by bgpro611

Short wheelbase and a high center of gravity I'd say!

Surely looks that way, but depends really on where all the weight is centered. They may have the engine mounted low in the frame so it rides like a go-kart. Hard to know just from a few photos.

I wouldn't want to be the one to find out though.

Aside from that, they are awesome looking.

[lfmerrell]

I want a Boss Hoss trike. Not gonna happen though.

I like the bumper car mode. Question is the drivers psyche messed with while driving one? Is there an irresistible urge to collide with nearby vehicles?

[Toad]

OMG! I want one of those sooooooo bad!
As others have asked... how much are they and where can we buy one???

[revjvegas]

Apparently they are NOT street legal .... FUNYWUD - Bumper Car - No Longer Street Legal | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[picman]

Originally Posted by revjvegas

Apparently they are NOT street legal .... FUNYWUD - Bumper Car - No Longer Street Legal | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Don't know why - they're just a convertible Smart Car!

[Toad]

Probably because of the bumper requirements... or maybe the lack of seat belts.

[Saltwater Servitude]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

I think they are very cool, but "nearly indestructible in accidents"? <unsure>

The vehicle might not be, but the last time I checked the human body is pretty destructible in accidents.

Pass.

[photonewb]

those are pretty sweet looking