Designed by Aston Martin’s Mad Genius, This Glass-Box Kit Car Just Survived a French Road TripMotorBiscuitRahaan MazumderThu, September 24, 2026 at 11:30 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleIf you asked a group of 1980s children to draw a spaceship, slap four wheels on it, and power it with a commuter engine, you would likely end up with something that looks exactly like the Hustler Holiday 4.This bizarre, glass-paneled kit car is a rolling relic of an incredibly niche era of British automotive history. In a recent video from the Roadtrip Revivals YouTube channel, the host, Al, takes viewers on a hilarious journey to rescue what might genuinely be the last remaining model of its kind in existence."I say the Hustler Holiday 4 because it's probably the only one left. It might even be the only one they ever made," Al explains, proudly showing off his new, highly unusual purchase.The Genius of William TownsTo understand why this car looks like a rolling greenhouse, you have to look at its creator. The Hustler range was the brainchild of the late, eccentric British designer William Towns, a man best known for penning the sharply angular, highly controversial Aston Martin Lagonda.AdvertisementAdvertisement"In 1976 the Hustler range included a choice of no less than 13 different models," Al notes, showing off archival brochures featuring six-wheelers, amphibious variants, and even a V12 Jaguar-powered monster.The "Holiday 4" variant was built around the classic, reliable subframes and A-series engines of the British Leyland Mini and Metro. It features sliding glass doors, a completely flat nose, and an interior that is as spartan as it is bizarre. The dashboard includes a vintage "Driving Control System" computer, an old radio Al dubs the "boom boom machine," and a steering wheel that looks like it belongs on a riding mower.20 Years in the DarkDespite being meticulously finished by its original owners back in 1994, the kit car—lovingly named "Harry"—hadn't seen the open road in decades."I don't think it's actually been used in anger for a great many years," Al explains, pointing out that MOT (inspection) records show it had only traveled 15 miles between 2020 and 2024, and had likely sat completely dormant since the early 2000s.But rather than spending months meticulously restoring the vehicle in a warm garage, Al opted for the ultimate trial by fire. He got the 1275 GT Mini engine to fire up and immediately hit the French countryside for a test drive, MOT inspection, and coastal road trip—all on the same day.The Coastal Trial by Fire"The best thing to do: get it straight on the road. You soon find out if the clutch is good, if it overheats, if the brakes are sticking, what bits are going to fall off," Al laughs.AdvertisementAdvertisementMiraculously, the little Hustler passed its French road inspection with flying colors. With the carburetor manually tweaked to stop it from bogging down on the hills, the car proved to be an absolute joy to drive."The other really neat thing about driving with the doors open is the wind doesn't come and blast you sideways," Al marveled while cruising down the highway. "It actually scoops up the wind, it goes to the back, and then it sort of gives you a nice breeze from behind… You feel like you're on a motorbike or something".The road trip wasn't completely without its mechanical gremlins, of course. A split fuel filter sent gasoline pouring out early on, and halfway through the trip, the clutch slave cylinder blew out completely."Got our first breakdown. Clutch pedal's gone all squishy," Al noted, forced to start the car in gear and speed-match his shifts for the remainder of the trip.AdvertisementAdvertisementDespite the missing clutch pedal and the hilariously bumpy Mini suspension, "Harry" successfully made it to the coast and back. The 300-plus Hustler kits sold by William Towns may have largely faded into obscurity, but thanks to one fearless road trip, at least one of these eccentric glass boxes is back on the road where it belongs.