🐢 I turned an old go-kart Into a TMNT party wagon — A childhood dream, rebuilt in my garage
Every maker has that one dream project — the one that started way back when you were a kid, staring at a toy you couldn’t have.
For me, that toy was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Party Wagon.
Fast-forward a few decades, a bit more experience with CAD, and a lot more access to tools — and I finally decided to build my own.
But with a twist: instead of a toy, this one is a fully functional electric go-kart, designed from scratch in SOLIDWORKS, printed with Prusa Carbon Fiber filament, and powered by pure childhood nostalgia.
💡 The Idea: From a Childhood Toy to a Real Ride
The original TMNT Party Wagon toy was legendary — boxy, yellow, full of attitude. I remember staring at it for hours as a kid, imagining what it would feel like to actually drive it.
Now that I’m older (and slightly better with power tools), I thought: why not make it real?
So I took an old go-kart, stripped it down completely, and rebuilt it into a plywood-based electric mini-van — a true, rideable Party Wagon.
💻 Designing the Build in SOLIDWORKS
The design process started in SOLIDWORKS, where I modeled everything:
The new chassis, made from cut plywood panels for accessibility and cost-effectiveness.
The mechanical add-ons: motor mounts, steering links, and wheel brackets.
The TMNT-inspired body panels, including the front “turtle nose” and signature roof-mounted accessories.
Using SOLIDWORKS allowed me to work at full scale while keeping every part modular, so it could be built in a garage with standard tools — exactly the kind of dad & son project that builds memories as much as machines.
🧩 3D Printing Details: Steering, Structure & Style
A few key parts were 3D-printed to add that extra maker touch.
The steering wheel, for example, was printed on the new Prusa Core ONE using Prusa Carbon Fiber filament.
This combo gave me the perfect mix of rigidity and lightweight feel — the wheel feels authentic and strong enough for real driving, not just show.
3D printing also helped with aesthetic pieces like the logo badge and accessory mounts, giving them clean detail and durability.
⚡ Converting to Electric
I replaced the old combustion setup with an electric drive system, including a compact battery pack and custom mounts designed in SOLIDWORKS.
The new setup is quiet, clean, and surprisingly powerful — ideal for a city-street cruiser that looks like it drove out of a Saturday morning cartoon.
🚗 The Test Drive: Nostalgia on Wheels
When the build was finally ready, I got the authorization from the mayor of Saint-Brieuc to take it for a spin.
Rolling through the streets, I could see people instantly recognize the design — smiles, waves, and a lot of “COWABUNGA!” moments.
It wasn’t just me reliving my childhood; it was like giving that nostalgia back to everyone who grew up with the same dream.
🔍 What I Learned
Plywood is underrated. It’s affordable, sturdy, and perfect for DIY electric vehicle conversions.
SOLIDWORKS made it easy to merge mechanical precision with creative design.
Prusa Core ONE + Carbon Fiber filament are a dream team for strong, functional prints.
Sometimes, the best projects are built with your inner child as the client.
🧠 Final Thoughts
This TMNT Party Wagon wasn’t just a project — it was a time machine.
It brought together design, fabrication, and emotion in the best way possible.
And that’s what I love most about making: the ability to turn childhood dreams into real, rideable experiences — one layer of plywood and filament at a time.
Big thanks to SOLIDWORKS, Prusa, and the city of Saint-Brieuc for making this nostalgic adventure possible — and to every maker out there who still builds like a kid, but with grown-up tools.