Charity banger Rally - 2002 Smart Fortwo
Discussion
Some of you may remember my thread on importing a Pagoda unseen from ebay. This was another unseen eBay purchase which did not initially go so well, but is slightly different... 
In 2014 my wife and I had cause to use a children's hospice in Scotland, when our first son passed away at just over two months old. I have been wanting to fundraise for the charity as the help they provided to us and ongoing to other families is incredible.
We decided to do a banger rally and so set about thinking about what to do. My brother and I both had smarts 15-odd years ago and so it seemed sensible to buy an absolute shed of a smart car, dismantle it and then turn it into a giant cozy coupe.
I bought the car unseen on eBay in June last year. It sat in my mates yard in London for a while and whilst down in London for work I thought I would drive it back to Glasgow. I got about 20 miles down the M40 when one of the Maxxsport rally tyres it was wearing (yeah I have no idea why you'd put them on a smart car either) gave way and I slid down the inside and middle lanes sideways. Genuinely the most scared I have been in a car.
Eventually got it back to Glasgow and set about dismantling it.
We (mostly my brother) did all the wrapping and vinyl stuff ourselves. It looks good from ten feet away but atrocious up close but that is part of the charm. Or something.
We have painted the steel wheels for day to day use and will need to refinish the chrome domes as the plastidip white that was on it before just flew off on the motorway. If anyone has ideas on how to paint the plastic chrome dome hubcaps please let me know.
Yesterday we took it to the Tartan Tarmac breakfast event in Glasgow and it was very well received. I think having my 2 year old son in the passenger seat shaking his donation tin helped!
My brother and I have driven and owned some very fancy cars but nothing gets as much attention as this thing does!
You can follow us on instagram at www.instagram.com/teamcozycoupe or www.facebook.com/teamcozycoupe
In 2014 my wife and I had cause to use a children's hospice in Scotland, when our first son passed away at just over two months old. I have been wanting to fundraise for the charity as the help they provided to us and ongoing to other families is incredible.
We decided to do a banger rally and so set about thinking about what to do. My brother and I both had smarts 15-odd years ago and so it seemed sensible to buy an absolute shed of a smart car, dismantle it and then turn it into a giant cozy coupe.
I bought the car unseen on eBay in June last year. It sat in my mates yard in London for a while and whilst down in London for work I thought I would drive it back to Glasgow. I got about 20 miles down the M40 when one of the Maxxsport rally tyres it was wearing (yeah I have no idea why you'd put them on a smart car either) gave way and I slid down the inside and middle lanes sideways. Genuinely the most scared I have been in a car.
Eventually got it back to Glasgow and set about dismantling it.
We (mostly my brother) did all the wrapping and vinyl stuff ourselves. It looks good from ten feet away but atrocious up close but that is part of the charm. Or something.
We have painted the steel wheels for day to day use and will need to refinish the chrome domes as the plastidip white that was on it before just flew off on the motorway. If anyone has ideas on how to paint the plastic chrome dome hubcaps please let me know.
Yesterday we took it to the Tartan Tarmac breakfast event in Glasgow and it was very well received. I think having my 2 year old son in the passenger seat shaking his donation tin helped!
My brother and I have driven and owned some very fancy cars but nothing gets as much attention as this thing does!
You can follow us on instagram at www.instagram.com/teamcozycoupe or www.facebook.com/teamcozycoupe
Talking to myself here (amazed nobody is interested in a smart car decorated like a kids car ) but thought I’d share a video my brother made.
We are up to over 4,000 views across Facebook and YouTube.
https://youtu.be/-hrBg5GPHlM
) but thought I’d share a video my brother made. We are up to over 4,000 views across Facebook and YouTube.
https://youtu.be/-hrBg5GPHlM
Sheetmaself said:
I for one think this is brilliant and for a good cause.
Do you have a just giving page or anything?
I wasn’t posting on here to tout for donations, but if you follow the Instagram or facebook links you’ll find our JustGiving Page.Do you have a just giving page or anything?
Going to keep this thread updated in the months running up to departure.
We have covered 200 miles so far and trying to make sure the car is reliable before we leave as it’s only done a few thousand miles in recent years.
exgtt said:
The 3rd pic down, would it be possible to bolt the lights back on, keep it this stripped, take the doors off and have some kind of funky summer time beach mobile thingy?
Ya yeah, a kind of home-brew version of the official Smart Crossblade? Will keep that in mind for a future banger Rally as we would like to keep the car and do a few in coming years...jke11y said:
Ya yeah, a kind of home-brew version of the official Smart Crossblade? Will keep that in mind for a future banger Rally as we would like to keep the car and do a few in coming years...
Yeah exactly, I've had a quick look on google and couldn't find someone who has done it yet. Could take it to Africa... Off to the classifieds!
Smart Crossblades go for proper money nowadays, if that's what you're thinking. 
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/533/crossblad...
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/533/crossblad...
great cause as well!SiT said:
Really need to see this on new wheels....friend of mine ran a Stage 3 VXR220 which was rapid, he fitted same wheels but in satin black and they looked incredible!!!!!!
Si
Thanks but I think that the dome wheeltrims are doing the business with the 60-odd BHP that the CozyCoupe has on tap. Si
The car failed its MOT but fortunately it was a few things mostly electrics related, and they are all well documented online.
No rear lights caused by the contacts in the stalk, and no brake lights caused by the brake switch. Fixed and back on the road. Car has done 400ish miles now in my ownership, so not even 1/10 th of the planned road trip mileage but hopefully it'll be fine....
Took the car to the Kiltwalk where it generated a lot of smiles and laughs from those who had just walked 23miles for charity. Sir Tom Hunter adds 40% on top of all donations, making it a well subscribed event.
Car still continues to cause amusement wherever it goes!
No rear lights caused by the contacts in the stalk, and no brake lights caused by the brake switch. Fixed and back on the road. Car has done 400ish miles now in my ownership, so not even 1/10 th of the planned road trip mileage but hopefully it'll be fine....
Took the car to the Kiltwalk where it generated a lot of smiles and laughs from those who had just walked 23miles for charity. Sir Tom Hunter adds 40% on top of all donations, making it a well subscribed event.
Car still continues to cause amusement wherever it goes!
Edited by jke11y on Thursday 10th May 14:10
We are now a few weeks away from the start of our trip and the car has still been running well with no issues to report. Adjusted the clutch and changed the oil, and made a rear carrier for the little car to hang off the back. Having the car on top looked amusing but the car really struggled on the motorway and the wind effect was scary.
Our fundraising is going really well and we are not far off our £10k target excluding giftaid...
Our fundraising is going really well and we are not far off our £10k target excluding giftaid...
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff