When we say we make bespoke wheels for anything, we mean anything. From Group 4 rally cars to red carpet curiosities, Image Wheels has seen it all. And back in 2003, we were asked to create something unlike anything else before or since — custom billet wheels for a giant motorised shopping trolley.
Yes, you read that right.
The Brief: A Trolley for the Red Carpet
Ahead of the London premiere of Jackass: The Movie in 2003, the production team wanted to recreate one of the most iconic stunts from the film — a massive shopping trolley built for mayhem. But this time, it needed to be fully drivable, premiere-ready, and made to wow the crowds.
Enter our good friend Ed China — the engineering maverick known for his work on Wheeler Dealers and other television projects. Ed was producing the build and knew exactly who to call for the wheels.
His brief was simple: “Make it cool. Make it roll. Make it unmistakably Image.”
The Build: 10-Inch Billet 3-Piece Custom Wheels
We designed and machined a set of tiny 10” billet 19 style 3-piece wheels — a scale-down of our high-performance split rim designs, but made to handle the demands of a heavy, drivable steel trolley.
Despite their small size, these weren’t toys — they were built using our standard billet construction, with proper machining, bolting, and precision fitment. A Billet 19 style configuration added both strength and visual punch, befitting the oversized madness of the trolley itself.
A high polished finish all over, they gave the build a show-ready shine and handled the red carpet crowd without breaking a sweat.
The Premiere: Jackass-Style Chaos on the Streets of London
The trolley made its debut at the Leicester Square premiere of Jackass: The Movie, rolling onto the red carpet in style — powered by an engine and rolling on genuine Image Wheels. The crowd loved it. The press took notice. And the legend of Trolleyshoppus Rex was born.
Still Rolling Strong — And Breaking Records
Far from being a one-time stunt, Trolleyshoppus Rex has lived on. It still turns up at events across the UK and beyond — and yes, it’s still rocking those original Image wheels.
In fact, it even made it into the Guinness World Records:
Record: Largest motorised shopping trolley
Date: 9 November 2005
Dimensions: 2.99 m x 1.80 m x 3.47 m
Nickname: “Trolleyshoppus Rex”
The last we saw, it was spotted in 2024 on the back of a trailer, off somewhere exciting we hope, still on the move, still drawing crowds.
Why We Loved This Build
This project reminds us that creativity has no limits — and neither does our wheel-making. Whether it’s a high-performance track car or a giant novelty trolley for a Hollywood premiere, bespoke means bespoke. We treat every project with the same care, precision, and attention to detail — even when it’s a bit mad.
Specs Recap:
- Wheel Type: 3-Piece Billet Split Rim
- Diameter: 10”
- Design: Billet 19
- Finish: Polished
- Vehicle: Motorised shopping trolley
- Project Lead: Ed China
- Event: Jackass: The Movie London Premiere, 2003
- Fun Fact: Held a Guinness World Record as the largest motorised shopping trolley (2005)
More Stories from the Workshop Coming Soon…
Up next in the Behind the Wheel series: our work with Mark Reynard on Build a Race Car — a high-performance race machine, made for Discovery Channel. Stay tuned!
Got a weird or wonderful project of your own? We’d love to hear about it — and maybe even feature it.
