South Shields garage owner Stan Yanetta creates amazing Flintstones car in his latest wacky project to help lift people's spirits

A South Shields garage owner has been bringing smiles with a Flintstones car he built to lift spirits during the pandemic.

By Sophie Brownson

Published 28th Apr 2021, 05:58 BST

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Stan Yanetta, who owns Stan's Auto Services on Commercial Road, South Shields, was inspired to build his own version of the iconic Flintstones car after seeing one for sale on Facebook

Stan said: “I saw that someone had put on Facebook that a Fred Flinstone car was for sale and I thought; ‘I could make one of them’.”

The 59-year-old, who is well known for the array of life-size characters which adorn his home on Heaton Gardens, Whiteleas, went one step further – creating his own Flintstones-inspired video.

A Flintstones car made to cheer people up during the pandemic. Stan Yanetta as Barney Rubble, Gary Thorius as Fred Flintstone and Simon Lishman as 'Dino'.

A Flintstones car made to cheer people up during the pandemic. Stan Yanetta as Barney Rubble, Gary Thorius as Fred Flintstone and Simon Lishman as 'Dino'.

Stan, who has owned the garage for 20 years, roped in colleagues John Ratcliff, Gary Thorius, Simon Lishman, to take part in the hilarious clip which sees Barney and Fred from the Flintstones riding off in their Stone Age car.

The video has gone down a storm with people on Facebook, with people now stopping by the garage to see the car and get photos taken with it.

Stan said: “We had to make a video of us all dressed up in the car.

“We were howling while making the video, it was so funny.

Stan Yanetta as Barney Rubble, Gary Thorius as Fred Flintstone and Simon Lishman as 'Dino'.

Stan Yanetta as Barney Rubble, Gary Thorius as Fred Flintstone and Simon Lishman as 'Dino'.

"We did a practice run of it and then shot it in one take.

"It’s even better now because a friend put the Flintstones music on it.

"We just wanted to do it to cheer people up and make them laugh after all we’ve gone through [with the pandemic].

"People on Facebook have gone mad for it and commented saying that it’s made their day.

"We’ve put the car at the gate and people have been coming to get their photos with it.”

Stan loves making people laugh and has brought joy to his own home, with around 30 statues on display in his front garden including his favourites, Laurel and Hardy, plus a polar bear and a gorilla on the porch roof.

He is also well known for his epic charity displays at Christmas and Halloween, where he goes all out to entertain families for a good cause.

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