‘It’s definitely not the car to rob a bank in!’: Man draws attention of Welsh locals by driving his floating car dubbed ‘Boatswagen’ across world’s highest canal aqueduct

•  Charlie Burns, 29, bought the car for £1,200 in 2019 and converted it in 3 weeks 

A dad drew the attention of Welsh locals as he drove his floating car dubbed ‘Botaswagen’ along the historic 126-foot aqueduct.

Whilst holidaying in North Wales, Charlie Burns and his family waved to shocked passersby as they saw his Volkswagen Polo fitted with an outboard engine driving along Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen.

The 29-year-old said: ‘You don’t take long to get spotted in this thing. I’m sure everyone we passed took a picture. It’s definitely not the car to rob a bank in.’ 

Charlie, of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, bought the car for £1,200 in 2019 and teamed up with two petrol-head pals to convert it into one that could float above the surface. 

The car was originally made from two Volkswagen Polos for Discovery Channel show, Bernie and Leepu’s Chop Shop in a bid to make it the ‘surfer’s dream car’. 

The floating card being driven by Charlie Burns, 29, along the historic Welsh aqueduct

The family waved to shocked passersby as they saw a Volkswagen Polo fitted with an outboard engine driving along Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen

The floating car has been dubbed ‘Botaswagen’ by Charlie and his friends 

 But Charlie came across it years later rusting in a Blackpool car yard – and set about making it amphibious.

Charlie and pals Gazz Jenkins and Corey Charnell were inspired in the project by a ‘Toybota’ made by Jeremy Clarkson in an episode of BBC’s Top Gear and previously made a ‘Boatzuki’ from an old Suzuki SJ.

The Boatswagen was converted in just three weeks – with the team making it water-tight and inserting three bilge pumps in case it took on water.

It debuted its waterproof status last year when the friends – who call themselves Red State Connection – attended the Traditional Boat Festival at Henley on Thames and won an award. 

The 18-arched aqueduct was completed in 1805 having taken ten years to design and build.

It is 12 feet wide and is the longest aqueduct in Great Britain – as well as the highest canal aqueduct in the world.

The Boatswagen was converted in just three weeks by Charlie and his petrol head pals Gazz Jenkins and Corey Charnell

The car was originally made from two Volkswagen Polos for Discovery Channel show, Bernie and Leepu’s Chop Shop in a bid to make it the ‘surfer’s dream car’

Everyone who spotted the floating car took a picture, according to Charlie who was holidaying in North Wales

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