Only 19″ tall, the Flatmobile proclaims itself to be the world’s flattest car: a Batmobile pancaked by a steamroller.

The Flatmobile is powered by a jet engine (based on a gas turbine jet engine and a Holset 685 turbocharger from a Volvo FL10 truck) which, thanks to having its own custom afterburner, is capable of delivering 90lbs of thrust powering the Flatmobile to speeds in excess of 100mph.

Designed and built by Perry Watkins using shells from two vintage Hillman Imps, the Flatmobile is powered by a jet engine (based on a gas turbine jet engine and a Holset 685 turbocharger from a Volvo FL10 truck) which, thanks to having its own custom afterburner, is capable of delivering 90lbs of thrust powering the Flatmobile to speeds in excess of 100mph (incidentally, from what we can gather, a second stage afterburner is also on the cards which will result in a flame of some 20ft in length when ignited – very cool).

When asked about the car’s handling, a cape-free Watkins, who claims that the Flatmobile ought to prove road legal though whether certification will ever actually be granted remains to be seen, remarked that ‘it handles fine but it’s only got a six-inch steering wheel so it’s a bit stiff…You’ve got to be wary of speed bumps. Other drivers look at you instead of the road.’

Flatmobile Technical Specifications:

Donor car 1963 Hillman Imp
30″ height sectioned out from body
Ground clearance 2″
Height: 19″
Length: 12′2″ (17″ longer than standard)
Width: 5′ 5″
Combustion Engine: Hillman Imp 875 Sport
Jet engine: DIY gas turbine
Suspension rear: standard springs and shocks on rear but cut down
Suspension front: Avro shocks with adjustable height 4″ springs
Wheels: Cosmic alloys 10×6J
Tyres: Goodyear Eagles 205 x 50 x 10
The Flatmobile, which seems to bear more than a striking resemblance to the original Batmobile (which, incidentally, was based on a 1955 Lincoln Futura), is presently awaiting verification from Guinness World Records with respect to gaining the ‘World’s Flattest Vehicle’ record which, at the time of writing, is presently held by a vehicle called Flat Out measuring 56cm in height.

Interestingly Perry Watkins’ next project is already on the drawing board and is sure to prove just as distinctive in being modelled on the post van featured in the popular US TV children’s TV series, Postman cat (one word as jet whether a jet propelled Jees the cat will make an appearance).

Interested parties can find out more concerning the Flatmobile, its production and development via the official Flatmobile site as linked below.

See more here

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