A mechanic's exceptionally skilled in car painting and restoration captivated a section of Kenyans after amplifying the value of a Subaru Forester.
In an era of second-hand cars being offloaded at throwaway prices, the mechanic, Anto Mbugua, disclosed that he hatched a technique that transformed the car into an opulent automobile valued at a staggering Ksh1.5 million.
Earlier, he converted a Ksh1.5 million car into a Ksh4.5 million automobile for a client who sought anonymity.
Mbugua, while speaking to Kenyans.co.ke explained that he purchased the SG5 Subaru Forester at Ksh300k and worked on it at his paint shop.
“Many people frequent my Autoshop so that we can increase the resale value of their vehicles. For example, after restoration, a client can get up to an extra Ksh1.5 million in profit, making it a worthy investment,” he told Kenyans.co.ke.
In the case of the SG5, the Junkyard Auto owner revealed that with just a few restoration tricks, the car could fetch a profit of over half a million.
Mbugua, a seasoned car expert, emphasised that the crucial aspect of the restoration of the Subaru lay in beautifying it with a pristine coat of paint that mirrored the impeccable quality of its original state.
“Day one, we strip the car and on the next day start peeling and scrubbing the paint,” Mbugua explained the goal was to restore every part to its original form hence zero filler.
For optimizing the car's value, Mbugua charged between Ksh60,000 and Ksh100,000 depending on the type of Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).
After giving the car a fresh look, Mbugua overhauled its engine at Ksh300,000, including wiring and gearbox.
Other notable expenses included; brakes (KSh200,000), Coilover suspension (Ksh80,000) and body kit (Ksh100,000).
“Every car comes with its own specification, since this was a car, we were literally building from scratch, we had to overhaul almost everything,” he explained.
"The restoration was around Ksh800,000, meaning that with the few tweaks we did, a client can get Ksh700,000 in profit," he added.
Mbugua reveals that Junkyard Auto receives daily clients due to his transparency in conducting business.
“We detail to the client every step of restoration. We also allow clients to bring their own car accessories they would want installed on their vehicle,” he explained, noting some clients would import their spare parts.
