Thiruvalla man crafts innovative homemade jeep using scrap parts

Thiruvalla: Mathew T Kurian, a 58-year-old electrician and cement block manufacturer, has captured local attention with his remarkable DIY project—a homemade jeep assembled from scrap parts. 

After returning to India following 22 years of working abroad, Kurian utilised his skills to build a four-wheeled vehicle that resembles a jeep. Running a cement block construction business, Kurian used mostly items sourced from scrap shops to create this vehicle. The jeep features wheels and an engine from a scooter, which he purchased for just Rs 4,000. Other components came from various vehicles. 

The total cost of the car was around Rs 40,000. Kurian completed the entire build, including welding and assembly, over a period of two months. 

Despite not having prior experience in the automobile sector, he successfully created this homemade jeep, designed to carry two people. Currently, he is not driving it on the road due to regulatory constraints and a lack of government permits.