Street Legal Bumper Cars

[81X11]

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 into 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 the leftovers of the Long Beach Pike amusement park needed a more dignified end than the trash heap. They were originally powered by two cylinder Harley Davidson Motorcycle engines but they rattled like heck because of the two cylinder vibration and Tom replaces them with four cylinder Honda or Kawasaki 750's and a couple have been measured as capable of 160 MPH, which is terrifyingly fast in machines with such a short wheelbase.

By the way, they are almost indestructible in accidents!

-Mike

 

[Phoenyx]

lol those are cool. I like some of their personalized plates :lol:

 

[Mikes83ss]

These remind me of those old hotwheel cars called zingers.There was a hand few that were built into adult size for car shows.So whats the price tag cause I want one?

 

[billyjack]

Damn, are they cool!
Having spent many, many hours at Kennywood Park in vehicles of that era back in the late 50's-mid 60's, I would just love to have a street-legal version in my garage, especially the red/black late 40's Chrysler-looking one. Of course what's street legal in CA would never pass in PA.
Thanks for sharing!

Bill

 

[Longroof79]

Wow!! Those are way cool. Brings back memories of my childhood in Coney Island.
At least this guy made them functional, rather than being on display in someone's private museum somewhere. I could still dig having one in either form.
The Coney Island bumper cars weren't that nice though. Also, there's no way that I'd want to be cruising over 50 or 60 mph in one of those.

 

[80lemans]

Damn, are they cool!
Having spent many, many hours at Kennywood Park in vehicles of that era back in the late 50's-mid 60's, I would just love to have a street-legal version in my garage, especially the red/black late 40's Chrysler-looking one. Of course what's street legal in CA would never pass in PA.
Thanks for sharing!

Bill

Kennywood!!! You have to be as tall as Howdy Doodey to ride on the bumper cars. :lol:

 

[billyjack]

Fortunately, I was tall as a kid (6'3" now) so I was able to get in at an early age. Are you sure it wasn't "Henry" they used as a gauge at the bumper cars? I think Henry was taller than Howdy.

Bill

 

[80lemans]

Fortunately, I was tall as a kid (6'3" now) so I was able to get in at an early age. Are you sure it wasn't "Henry" they used as a gauge at the bumper cars? I think Henry was taller than Howdy.

Bill

Coulda been Henry, he was taller than Howdy, for the "big kid" rides.

 

[83hurst-olds]

lol those are cool. I like some of their personalized plates :lol:

They are great aren't they!

 

[1979ratrod]

a little off subject but have you guys ever heard of a hudson sir-vival? they only made 1 and drove it in a parade once in the 60's i think. a few years ago i was at an old hudson dealership that a guy stored his cars in checing out a 57 chevy and he had it sitting in there.didnt want to sell it tho haha http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/show ... p?t=171985