We turned a VW Beetle into a Hot Wheels carBBCConnor Bennett - in Guyhirn; Elliot DeadyMon, September 14, 2026 at 5:20 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleRay Ramsay (right) completed the project with the help of his friend Ben Tuckwell [Connor Bennett/BBC]A car enthusiast has transformed a Volkswagen Beetle into a life-sized Hot Wheels model.It has an aerial made from an old kitchen whisk, chrome trim from kitchen door handles, and its plastic roof dome came from the ceiling of a school toilet.Now the pimped up classic is in the running for an international award and could be made into a collectible miniature.Ray Ramsay, 64, who runs a workshop in Guyhirn, Cambridgeshire, said the 1972 vehicle – named the Riddler – was never intended to look like the tiny model cars: "It's just evolved into that."AdvertisementAdvertisementRamsay's creation won the UK leg of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour, held at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, and will now go up against other vehicles built around the world.Mattel, which manufactures the iconic toy cars, will turn the winning design into its next miniature collectible.Repurposed household items were used as part of the build [Connor Bennett/BBC]It was a project four years in the making and Ramsay said it was inspired by some US car models from the 1960s."They built some crazy, crazy stuff and I always knew I'd want to build something like it," he said."It's obviously not the most sensible thing to drive, but it's not about that."Every time someone sits in it or sees it, it just brings a smile to your face. Practicality is zero, but the fun and smile factor is off the scale."AdvertisementAdvertisementMore from Cambridgeshire:The city grappling with unreliable phone signalMy journey from council estate to Dragons' DenAlmost 4,000 homes could be built by universityThe Riddler won the UK leg of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour [Mattel]Ben Tuckwell worked alongside Ramsay on parts of the project and said his friend was known for doing "radical stuff"."Nothing with Ray is normal," the 49-year-old said.Hot Wheels spokesperson Nick Bailey said the car was a "phenomenal build"."As soon as the judges saw it, they knew that it was a car worthy of becoming a Hot Wheels finalist," he told the BBC.The judges – including former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond – also had the choice of a reconfigured 1989 Fiat Panda and a 1951 Tempo Matador truck that used to deliver potatoes in Australia.AdvertisementAdvertisementRamsay said he hoped to sell his masterpiece after the final of the competition to raise funds for a cancer charity, after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer."It is a frightening thing," he said. "When we all hear the word 'cancer' we all think that's it, we're going to die."I've had fantastic support – I really, really have. So this is just a way of me saying 'thank you very much'."Spending time in his workshop building the Riddler had been a welcome distraction from his treatment, he added.Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.More on this storyCarFest returning to Silverstone for second year'Wacky' camper heads for Nürburgring lapUK toy sales up as 'kidults' buy Lego and PokémonRelated internet linksHot Wheels Legends Tour
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