Touched up with happiness
WHEN VW lover Kishen Ramjith needed a theme for his favourite car show this year, he consulted his inner child.
And the 21-year-old human resources management student’s inner tot suggested minions — the silly, loyal little yellow henchmen from the Despicable Me films.
So Ramjith gave his limitededition silver 2009 VW Citi Rox Golf a makeover, complete with five collectable minion figurines on the dashboard.
At car shows, he moves his minions to different parts of his vehicle as part of his “show and shine” displays. “I had six, but I think a child stole one. At the Autostyle show [in September in Durban], kids were actually crying for the minions.”
And he understands — he adores the little henchmen for their childish humour and because “they’re so carefree”.
He began collecting the figurines by buying children’s meals from a fast-food outlet.
“It was only after we had bought all the minions with the meals that they told us we could buy them separately.”
The car itself was a gift from his petrolhead dad, Raj.
“It was a gift for me because I was going to finish matric and I also have a love of cars,” said Ramjith, who hails from Montclair in Durban.
The vinyl graphics on his car — a black-and-yellow checked pattern, oversized VW symbol and a sticker of Korean pop star Psy dancing Gangnam Style at the back — were created by by Ashwin Jugmohun. Brothers Nunnie and Ashen Ramadhar, who are panel beaters from Isipingo, were responsible for the body kit and styling.
Ramjith’s car is a family project of sorts — one of the stickers, of cartoon character Bart Simpson peeking out from behind one of the front wheels, was bought for him by his sister.
The car’s “LUV2ROX ZN” numberplate “was chosen by my dad. It has two meanings — one, for the love of the car, the other for the good sound system.”
Internally, Ramjith has installed a Targa subwoofer powered by two amplifiers and two 6 x 9 speakers. Two midrange speakers have been fitted into the car doors.
“It actually sounds better than it looks. The sound system was installed on the day it was picked up from VW,” says Ramjith.
While we are peering at the sound system housed inside the boot, the driver of a passing VW Golf revs his engine.
Ramjith laughs. “Look at that. I don’t know what it is — they get very agitated when they see my car . . . They start revving or they turn their music up. They want to get noticed.
“I don’t do it for the attention though, I do it for the love of cars.”
His limited-edition Golf is in great demand. He has been offered up to R120 000 for the car, which was originally bought for R113 000. But, says Ramjith: “I’ll keep this car and I’ll get another car. I have no intention of getting rid of it.”
The engine is standard. “It’s a show and shine vehicle, not a speed or drag racing one,” says Ramjith.
However, he is planning “a complete upgrade with a complete new theme. I haven’t decided yet what it’s going to be.”