Young mechanic builds mini car from scrap for daily use in Nimrud

NINEVEH — A young man from Nimrud in Nineveh governorate has turned scrap metal and salvaged parts into a fully functional mini vehicle he now uses for daily errands and family outings.

Abdullah Mohammed, who completed elementary school and works as a motorcycle mechanic, told 964media he was inspired by similar DIY projects he saw on YouTube.

“I named the car ‘Baggi Al-Salamiyah’ after my area,” Abdullah said. “I built it for transportation, to shop for household needs, and to take children around.”

The project took 45 days to complete, working about four hours each day. With help from his cousin, Abdullah began collecting parts from junkyards and old vehicles. He bought a broken-down quad bike and repurposed its engine and tires. Using basic tools like a welding machine and grinder, he fabricated the frame and customized every part by hand.

“I bought a scrap motorbike and took its tires. Most of the parts I used were iron and metal I collected from scrap. I reshaped and reused them,” he said. “The tires are from quad bikes, and I used standard pipes for the chassis. The steering wheel was from a car — I cut and modified it.”

The vehicle includes wooden, sponge, and leather seats that he upholstered himself. The headlights were taken from Iranian motorcycles, and he restored a Malaysian engine that was no longer working. To add reverse functionality, he installed “differentials” from an Iranian engine system.

“The whole thing cost me between 600,000 and 700,000 dinars (about $428 to $500 USD),” he said.

Since finishing the project, Abdullah uses the vehicle for everything from riverside picnics to hauling goods. “This car has helped me a lot. I go shopping with it, take the kids out, and even drive on rough roads while carrying heavy loads,” he said.

Abdullah said he received strong encouragement from his community, with several people offering to buy the car. “Some people offered 800,000 dinars (about $571 USD), others 900,000 (about $643 USD), and one offered a million (about $714 USD),” he said.

Despite the interest, he has kept the vehicle, saying he is proud that every element — from the steering system to the engine mount — was built or modified with his own hands.