I transformed mobility scooter into a RACE CAR using old PlayStation controller – it took 300 hours of painstaking work
A GRANDAD has revealed how he transformed a mobility scooter into a fully functional race car over 300 hours of painstaking work.
Terry Waldron created the bizarre invention for his beloved granddaughter Ella Gibbs as he battled a devastating illness.
Terry, then 69, finished the contraption in 2016 after 18 months of graft.
The OAP was inspired to create it by a friend who was working on a similar project for their grandson.
But there was an added urgency for Terry after he was tragically diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
The condition, which famously afflicted Stephen Hawking, has no cure and is degenerative, meaning it gets progressively more severe over time.
People dealing with MND ultimately lose even the most basic physical abilities, including walking, swallowing and, ultimately, breathing.
As such, former engineer Terry was determined to get the work done before his illness took that chance away from him.
The “Ferrari Purple” mini racer was loosely based on designs from classic British car firm Morgan and used an old PlayStation controller instead of a steering wheel.
The chassis was based on a mobility scooter, the battery of which was used to power it.
An extra special touch was the license plate, which bore a custom registration made up of little Ella’s initials.
Terry told The Express: “Seeing her take her first drive in the car was something very special – she did really well driving it.
“It was lovely seeing it go together.
“I just felt pleased with myself at being able to finish it given my condition, and with the help of my brother Tony, and it was fantastic to see her driving it.”
A delighted Ella, who was five years old at the time, added: “It’s really cool, I can go really fast.”
“I love my grown-up car, I’ve learned to steer it.
“I’m very proud of him for making it.”
Amazingly, Terry was able to make the whole car on a tiny budget after spending months collecting parts.
The mobility scooper, which was set to be scrapped, was donated by friends and the paint was leftover from Morgan’s Malvern factory.
All that they had to pay for was the aluminium bonnet, the PlayStation controller and a second-hand miniature windscreen.
Altogether it came to just £95 but, to little Ella, it was no doubt priceless.