- The Chelsea Rivet is a 2286mm-long, single-seat off-roader weighing 230kg.
- Power comes from a 125cc petrol engine producing 7hp, around 5kW.
- It features a steel ladder-frame chassis, disc brakes and 17-inch tyres.
Chelsea Truck Company has stepped away from its usual Defender makeovers to launch something far smaller, and arguably far stranger.
Meet the Chelsea Rivet, a single-seat off-roader so compact it makes most kei cars look positively oversized.
Revealed by Project Kahn’s boutique arm, the Rivet trades horsepower and bulk for simplicity and low weight. The result is a tiny four-wheeler designed, in the company’s words, to deliver “mechanical honesty” rather than brute force.
Smaller than small
At just 2286mm long, the Rivet is about the size of a large bicycle with ambition. Its styling sits somewhere between a pre-war roadster and a miniature farm runabout. Wire wheels wear 17-inch tyres, and generous ground clearance gives it a purposeful stance.
There’s no roof, no doors and no windscreen. The lone seat is fully exposed to the elements, and the cabin is pared back to basics: a trio of spokes on the steering wheel, two gauges ahead of the driver and a handful of switches for the LED lighting. Even the gear lever sits outside the tub, reinforcing the stripped-back theme.
Light work
Underneath is a steel ladder-frame chassis keeping weight down to just 230kg. Power comes from a 125cc petrol engine (likely motorcycle-derived) producing 7hp (approximately 5kW). That may sound modest, but with so little mass to move, the Rivet claims a top speed of 60km/h.
Drive is managed through a semi-automatic gearbox offering three forward ratios plus reverse. Disc brakes are fitted at each corner, while chunky tyres aim to provide traction on loose surfaces.
Chelsea describes the Rivet as “quick enough to feel thrilling without ever becoming intimidating”. On paper, the performance envelope suggests fun rather than fear.
Pocket-money pricing
The Rivet is available to order in the UK at £4,000 (about NZ$9000) before taxes. Reports indicate it may be sourced from another manufacturer, with Chelsea Truck Company acting as importer. A US retailer lists what appears to be the same vehicle at US$4,499.95 (NZ$7400).
Whether it’s destined for paddocks, private estates or novelty status remains to be seen. Either way, it proves that off-road entertainment doesn’t always require towering tyres or triple-digit kilowatt figures, sometimes, less really is more.
