Sulaiman shows thumbs-up for his plywood-based creation.
LIMBANG: It was a combination of sheer passion for cars and innovation that had spurred a former hospital personnel to design and build a unique car using mainly plywood for the body, and an old car engine to power it up.
‘Si Kaki Empat Yang Disayangi’ (directly translates to ‘The Beloved Four Legs’) was the name given by Sulaiman Mahrop to his motorised wooden project upon its completion on Dec 11 last year.
“Because of its uniqueness – it’s probably the one and only of its kind here or even in Sarawak – the car has already garnered tons of admirers barely one month after completion.
“Several foreign automotive enthusiasts came to see this car and told me they had never seen anything like it in Sarawak.
“There are also some wedding packages for newlyweds that feature my ‘Kaki Empat’ as a unique addition to their photo sessions,” said the 61-year-old, who is a former health assistant at Limbang Hospital, when met yesterday.
He began the construction of the car soon after his retirement last May.
“My focus was on this project soon after retirement. I admit it was rather difficult to get this car to move like one but then, inspiration came from a horse cart – also made from wood and its movement is powered by horses,” he said.
Sulaiman then used an old engine to be installed inside the car. After that, he assembled waterproof plywood pieces and pieced them together to form a very distinctive, but modern-looking body. He went further to install some fixtures such as the seats, lights, side mirrors, a simple dashboard and a cargo bed that appeared quite spacious considering the vehicle’s overall size.
For the retired government servant, his ‘Kaki Empat’ signifies his passion for innovative designing and workmanship, especially in woodwork.
It is not surprising to learn that Sulaiman had been the winner and top runner-up at several state-level innovation challenges during his tenure at Limbang Hospital.
However, it appears that ‘Si Kaki Empat’ stands as his most prized creation to date.
“I clean and ‘bathe’ it every day, just like a baby,” he quipped.
“I’m just so happy to have been able to build ‘Si Kaki Empat’. This is my pride,” he later said, adding that he would continue to upgrade the wooden car from time to time in line with the changing trends.
Technically, ‘Si Kaki Empat’ is an actual car, equipped with engine to drive it.