HIS dream was to own a vintage Mercedes grand prix car.

However, the chances of Max Hyde affording one of the few magnificent Silver Arrows in existence was zero. After all, the last one sold went for several million pounds.

So the car enthusiast and mechanic decided to build his own - using parts from a £70 Citroen 2CV. Max, 26, sliced off the top of the bright red "snail on wheels" but kept the engine, wheels, suspension, gear box and headlights of the 2CV.

He built new bodywork out of steel tubes and aluminium to create a 12ft long unique replica of the Silver Arrow.

After spending two years and about £10,000 on the wacky project, he has just completed it in time for Christmas.

He said: "It's a great Christmas present to myself.

"The car is fantastic and fun to drive. It looks like a Silver Arrow but drives and handles like a 2CV.

"I know 2CVs get a lot of stick and derogatory comments like them looking like a snail on wheels, but I can't see anybody making fun of this one."

The Mercedes W25 Silver Arrow was deemed one of finest racing cars on earth when it was built in the 1930s. It won four grand prix in its first season.

It was personally sponsored by Adolf Hitler, who wanted it to represent the power and technology of Nazi Germany at the time.

The 2CV was an iconic and economic car, mass produced in France between 1948 and 1990. Max, from Winchester, has owned several and knew it would be easy to transform one into something entirely different.

He built the replica Silver Arrow, called the Max Hyde Motors Mark II, in his garden shed but had to take it apart to get it out of his terraced house when he finished it. He took a further four weeks putting it back together again before he was able to drive it on the open road.

Max said the single-seated car is bespoke to him and anybody taller than 5ft 8in would struggle to squeeze into the cockpit.

He said: "The 2CVs are so much fun. They look great and have a fantastic suspension and lean over 45 degrees around roundabouts and bends.

"I have taken it out on the road a few times and have turned a few heads in it.

"People are just amazed when they ask me what it is and I tell them it is a 2CV."