By Ed Chatterton and Richard Williams via SWNS
A wacky great-grandfather has spent three months converting his mobility scooter into a 8mph replica of the “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” car.
Vin Wardman, 92, worked for eight hours a day in his garden shed to construct the stunning model of the magical flying car from the classic children’s film.
The retired railway worker painstakingly constructed the famous vehicle from household items and a scooter bought from eBay for under £300.
The wheels are from a pushchair he found at his tip, while the front bonnet is a discarded pedal bin and the windscreen is a picture frame from a charity shop.
Vin, of Craven Arms, Shrops., has been making models for mobility scooters for several years – but believes his latest creation is his best yet.
The inspiration for his new masterpiece came when a replica of car from the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang went on display outside Ludlow Castle in August.
On September 1, the talented model maker set about crafting his own version from various items – including old plywood, cardboard, Perpsex and vinyl.
The father-of-two, who has one grandchild and two great-grandchildren, said: “This is my best yet. It took me months and everyone seems to love it.
“It’s basically mainly made from pedal bins and plywood.
“I managed to get hold of a tub chair, which I took about four inches off before reupholstering it, 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 template was cut out from cardboard and I have a friend called Steve Garner who runs a sign shop – he helped with the vinyl and many other things.
“There’s a cake tin in there too and we’ve got gold headlight and sidelights. The imitation wheels are from a pushchair from the tip.
“The guys there keep things for me back if I tell them what I’m after. They put aside a few pedal bins for me too.
“The Perspex that goes inside is from a scrap merchant in Church Stretton so I’ve had a lot of help, either for free or at a low cost.
“I had to buy the scooter for this one so it’s probably cost around £300 in total. But I reckon people would pay well over a grand for it now.
“I’ve made all sorts of models in the past but this one is very special.”
Vin first began making small models of Chuckie lorries and buses using die-cast models and stripping them to replace with the signs of local factories.
He has since turned 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 models including bins, aluminium plates and wooden panels.
He added: “I’ve got all sorts and I’ve lost count of them all now.
“I have a working showman’s steam engine that has smoke coming from it and fairground music playing when you open it.
“I’ve done the Flying Scotsman, 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 that is coming back to the town and I hope to show mine on that day.
“They are traveling 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 the book by Ian Fleming about a magical car that takes the family on a fantasy adventure.
The original musical film 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 worked all day, every day on the project since September 1 and sometimes would work from 8 am to 4 pm.
He added: “I’ve got a bit of bad heart now and have a pacemaker fitted but I can go all day in that shed and feel fine.
“I think this will be my final one now though as I’m not sure how I could top it.
“It costs money on heating and electricity when I’m out working in my shed and it’s getting colder now.
“But at 92 years of age this is the best I’ve ever made so if it’s my last I’ll be happy.
“And if it can bring a smile to people’s faces too then that’s a bonus.”
