Smallest road-legal car awarded Guinness World Record

After discovering the measurements he had to beat to claim the title, custom car maker Austin Coulson built a fully functional four-wheeler measuring just1260mm long, 654mm wide and 635mm tall.

“I’ve always wanted to have a Guinness World Records title for something and automotive was always my favourite," Coulson said. "So I went home and looked up the world record and thought, ‘I can beat that'."

As a part of the judging process, the car had to be deemed roadworthy. This involved Coulson successfully registering the car, and Guinness World Records officials undertaking a thorough inspection of its safety features. The latter lead Coulson to fit a windscreen made from federally approved safety glass, functional windscreen wipers (although most drivers will sit far above the windscreen anyway), Department of Transportation approved lights, a seatbelt, and a working horn.

Not to be outdone in bigger-is-better America, Coulson themed his car’s paintwork on the US P-51 Mustang military aircraft, while the car is also inscribed with the numbers of a ship Coulson’s grandfather served on in WWII.

That streak of patriotism means Coulson’s car is regularly included in local war veteran parades.

“When I told my family I was going to try and get the record for the world’s smallest roadworthy car, they were a little sceptical. They knew I could build the car, they just didn’t think I could get it legal,” says Coulson.

The car’s numberplate, which spans most of the width of the front end, ironically reads ‘I’m Big’.