A lot of enthusiasts in India take up to themselves to make new vehicles. This Maruti Suzuki Gypsy replica is said to be the world’s smallest working Gypsy
Zakir Khan, an automotive enthusiast and modder from Bangalore, Karnataka has made a lot customised motorcycles and cars in the past. His latest customised product is a mini Maruti Suzuki Gypsy, which he has made by himself. The vehicle gets handmade chassis and even the body is made by Zakir Khan himself.
The vehicle is just 3 feet high, which makes it a dwarf among the modern cars and SUVs on the road. However, the small size of the Gypsy is perfect for the crowded Indian roads. It gets pick-up style body and two seats are fixed inside the cabin. It is a four-seater car and two more seats can be fixed on the open flatbed when needed.
The mini Gypsy is powered by the engine of the now-defunct Sipani Dolphin hatchback. The name may seem unfamiliar to many but it was a production hatchback in the Indian market which was launched in 1982. It was a rebadged version of the Robin Reliant. The Sipani Dolphin was powered by a 848 cc, 4-cylinder engine.
The engine now powers the mini Gypsy. It also gets the same 4-speed transmission that was available with the Sipani Dolphin hatchback. It gets a customised exhaust system, which is quite loud and makes the mini Gypsy sound like the rally Gypsy. The Gypsy can reach a top speed of 140 km/h and can do light off-roading too.
It gets a simple FWD layout and there is no AWD system in it. Zakir Khan says that it is the world’s smallest working Gypsy and he will apply for the Guinness World Record to validate the same. The interior of the mini Gypsy is quite interesting and it gets a red coloured cabin.
Zakir Khan says that the Gypsy gets all the modern car features but it just looks small in size. He has made the vehicle look exactly the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy and has even installed two round headlamps in the vehicle. The vehicle is not road-legal though as it will need certification from RTO and ARAI to become road-worthy.