In recent months, images of vehicles that have been shrunk using Photoshop & Co. and look similar to cartoon cars have repeatedly appeared. Now we have found a film on the 1320 Video channel on YouTube that shows such a car in reality. The so-called "shortened car" (also shorting -> shorten) is a classic yellow VW Beetle from Qatar that could pass for a miniature version of "Bumblebee". The vehicle is fully functional and still carries the VW engine in the rear. The changes relate exclusively to the middle section, which has shrunk by around 50%.
Shortened - shorten the car
In the interior you sit directly on the back seat and the roof and the tiny doors are adapted to the new shape. It goes without saying that getting started is extremely difficult.
There are many terms:
Cartoon cars, Mini cars, shortened cars, Shorty, Car shortening, Stumpy, Chopped cars, Compact customs, Shrinked rides, Micro-mods, Mini-modified, Slice-n-dice vehicles, Tiny tuners, Cut-down cars, Abbreviated autos . The principle is always the same. The vehicle is in the end significantly smaller than the series! Whether it is in the Width shortened vehicles there? We do not know any yet!
What is a shorty?
In the tuning scene, a "shorty" refers to a vehicle whose body is significantly longer shortened became. This often involves removing the center sections of the vehicle and then removing the front and rear sections again welded together. This gives the vehicle a shorter, more compact and often quirky look. Such conversions are manual work made because they require precise welding and adjustment work.
Why build a shorty?
The reasons someone buys a car for Shorty would like to remodel are diverse. For some it may be purely aesthetic - they enjoy the unique, eye-catching look that such a vehicle has on the road. Others are intrigued by the challenge of driving a car this way to rebuild and keeping it rideable despite the changes. Another possible reason could be the desire to own a unique show car and stand out at car shows and tuning events.
Challenges and technical considerations
Shortening the car isn't just cutting away a center section and then rejoining the ends. It requires extensive consideration of structure, driving stability and safety.
- Structure: The structural integrity of the vehicle is compromised by the removal of parts, so extra care must be taken when re-welding them together.
- Driving stability: The vehicle's handling will change, especially at high speeds or when cornering.
- Safety: In addition to structural integrity, other safety factors must also be considered, such as the location and function of any airbags, the stability of the roof in the event of a rollover, and other passive safety elements.
Conclusion
A Shorty is a rare and conspicuous project in the tuning scene. Such a conversion requires a high degree of craftsmanship, technical understanding and passion for autotuning. Although it's not to everyone's taste, it stays Shorty a cool testimony to creative diversity and technical competence!
The smallest version of the VW Beetle discovered
