Road-legal Mini Hot Rods spotted in Germany

[John F]

A new* vehicle can now be seen on the road in Germany... powered by a 14 PS single-cylinder engine with one forward & one reverse speed, and equipped with no suspension at all, these single-seat machines are the new big thing. Because they're road-legal, and can even be used on motorways!

 

I saw a swarm of them driving through Düssedorf last Saturday. Mad as a box of frogs.

 

 

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/the-mini-hot-rod-is-made-in-hamburg-and-approved-for-road-use-a-900570.html

[mercrocker]

Maybe by the time I am a crumbly old git they might have developed a mobility scooter version...

[Taff]

that is mental. The bodies have been about on the hot rod scene for ages (known as tot rods) but putting one on the road is barking mad.

 

Dusseldorf must have far smoother roads than Bristol

[fordperv]

That's awesome, I'd love something like that

[John F]

that is mental. The bodies have been about on the hot rod scene for ages (known as tot rods) but putting one on the road is barking mad.

 

Dusseldorf must have far smoother roads than Bristol

 

To some extent it does, but they have trams there - and hence tram tracks... I bet the local osteopaths will be rubbing their hands with glee if this fad takes off in a big way

[Fabergé Greggs]

the video voice over says "these cars have a one stroke engine".... They must operate on something similar to the big bang theory. 

[hairnet]

 Because they're road-legal, and can even be used on motorways!

 

I wanted one but i wasn't allowed

 

 

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/the-mini-hot-rod-is-made-in-hamburg-and-approved-for-road-use-a-900570.html

lucky to do 50 on the autobahn - DEF mental

[Taff]

To some extent it does, but they have trams there - and hence tram tracks... I bet the local osteopaths will be rubbing their hands with glee if this fad takes off in a big way

 

or a far-thinking osteopath has money invested in the firm

[Mike D]

They are amazing!

[John F]

I am experiencing much wantage for one of these:

 

 

 

Wasn't someone after a small pick-up recently?

[worldofceri]

Excellent.  I always thought it was more difficult to get unusual stuff - hot rods, modified cars, anything that would be Q-plated over here - legally registered in Germany.  Have these guys found a loophole in the reg's or is this just a bit of a craze?

[John F]

Excellent.  I always thought it was more difficult to get unusual stuff - hot rods, modified cars, anything that would be Q-plated over here - legally registered in Germany.  Have these guys found a loophole in the reg's or is this just a bit of a craze?

 

Generally speaking, it is more difficult to drive a modified vehicle in Germany but It seems the inventors managed to find a way to get this idea through... the full story (in English) is in the link underneath the picture in my first post.

[Junkman]

And since the Germans, as is well known, have no sense of humour, they drove 40 of them around the Nürburgring.

 

http://www.hotrod-citytour-hamburg.com/homeeng/starthamburgeng/

[Justin Case]

Nothing new under the sun. Here in Birmingham, something very similar was being produced nearly 80 years ago:

 

http://www.icenicam.ukfsn.org/articles/art0015.html

 

An old lawnmower and a couple of sheets of aluminium and away you go

[purplebargeken]

Brilliant. One for each foot please!

 

Ace fun I bet.

[John F]

Nothing new under the sun. Here in Birmingham, something very similar was being produced nearly 80 years ago:

 

http://www.icenicam.ukfsn.org/articles/art0015.html

 

An old lawnmower and a couple of sheets of aluminium and away you go

 

Yep, that's why I included an autoshite apostropheâ„¢ after "new" in my first comment

[Tamworthbay]

Two questions:

 

1, where do I buy one?

 

2, how do you register a German vehicle with the DVLA?

 

Got to get myself one of those.

[John F]

Here are the details for the manufacturer:

 

Hot Rod Citytour GmbH

Schwanenwik 31
22087 Hamburg
Germany

Tel: 0157 71801154
e-mail: [email protected]

www.hotrod-citytour.de

 

Prices apparently start from about 12,500 EUR for the basic car.

 

Technically, re-registering a vehicle from another EU state in the UK shouldn't pose too many problems. Although I expect this particular vehicle type might well test that theory...