Meet the Car Lovers Who Build Pop Culture Replicas Out of Junk

Iconic vehicles from film and television are often auctioned off for big bucks. Collectors are willing to shell out in order to recapture the magic they felt when they first saw the cars roll onto the screen. But one Georgia-based car fan and his team capitalize on nostalgia at a (relative) discount. The group, profiled in a recent Great Big Story video (above), makes working replicas of famous rides by hand.

Through fabrication, sandblasting, fiberglass, upholstery, and some trial and error, Jerry Patrick and his team have created replicas of about 15 fan-favorite cars from Batman (1989),Cars (2006), Knight Rider, The Love Bug (1968), Speed Racer, Scooby Doo, and other works.

"We create a lot of wild rides out of some junk," Patrick of Akajunk said.

Projects can take as little as two weeks or as long as three years to complete. And, according to Patrick, each finished vehicle is put to use, instead of sitting as a display piece.

"We take it all to the local stores, we go to McDonald's," Patrick explains. "What better thing to get groceries in than the Batcar?"

The company's Facebook page takes fans behind the scenes with in-progress photos from various angles, as well as for-sale listings. Soon, that golf cart replica of Mater from Carscould be yours. 

Projects can take as little as two weeks or as long as three years to complete. And, according to Patrick, each finished vehicle is put to use, instead of sitting as a display piece.

"We take it all to the local stores, we go to McDonald's," Patrick explains. "What better thing to get groceries in than the Batcar?"

The company's Facebook page takes fans behind the scenes with in-progress photos from various angles, as well as for-sale listings. Soon, that golf cart replica of Mater from Carscould be yours.