The Ron Beer — Ginger Billy's Ford Festiva Lawn Mower
Retired respiratory therapist Adam Parkins, better known as YouTuber Ginger Billy, had a simple problem: cutting grass in the South Carolina heat meant getting sunburned, sweaty, and unable to drink a beverage with both hands on the mower. His solution? Chop the rear end off a Ford Festiva, mount a 600cc Briggs & Stratton engine and mower deck where the back wheels used to be, and create the Ron Beer — quite possibly the most luxurious lawn mower ever built. The Ron Beer features air conditioning, an AM/FM radio, a roof for shade, a two-seat cabin, one-handed steering (the other hand is for your drink), a keyed ignition start from the center console, and a kill switch for safety. It is simultaneously the worst car and the best lawn mower in the history of both categories. The video racked up over 2 million views in its first few days.
The most over-engineered yet completely practical redneck lawn mower conversion ever documented. Ginger Billy took two things nobody wants (a Ford Festiva and yard work) and created something everybody wants. The Ron Beer was covered by Jalopnik, Motor1, The Drive, and autoevolution. It perfectly represents TRWR's celebration of ingenuity that solves real problems in the most ridiculous way possible.
| Amenities | AC, AM/FM radio, two seats, roof, keyed ignition, kill switch |
|---|---|
| Mower Engine | Briggs & Stratton 600cc (~20 HP) |
| Vehicle Base | First-gen Ford Festiva |
| Video Views First Week | 2 million+ |
| Hands Required To Operate | 1 (the other is for beverages) |
