Bling mobile remains a work in progress

Sagie Govender's obsession to constantly modify his car can be likened to a drug addiction.

Unfortunately, like narcotics, his showpiece is somewhat illicit. But the car "pimper" from Chatsworth says "the cops are after the wrong guy" and that his 1994 Honda Ballade 160i masterpiece is "only for show".

The 38-year-old businessman admitted: "My car has been impounded before, and I've been slapped with a number of fines for infringing regulations as a result of the stickers on my baby.

"What they fail to realise, is that it's just art. My Honda has a standard 16-valve engine, and there's no way I would race it - even if I could," he said.

Govender forked out a reasonable R35000 for the car in 1998, and has since splashed out more than R155000 turning it into a rolling work of art.

His car now sports scissor doors, an incredible paint job, quad exhaust pipes and imported chrome spinner s (chrome rims that spin regardless of whether the vehicle is in motion).

"WhenThe Fast and the Furious was screened in 2001, it had a huge influence on us car fanatics. It inspired my buddies and I to pimp our cars to the max."

Once he started fiddling, he couldn't stop. And, he's still not done.

"Next, I want suicide rear doors [hinged on the edge closer to the rear of the vehicle], like those on old-school Limousines."

Govender loves that his car makes people smile.

"Wherever I go, people are interested in my creation. There's never a dull moment."

Having earned the interest of too many traffic officers , Govender now sticks to car shows.

"I have 360000km on the clock, so you could say that I've enjoyed her."

He has won 140 trophies at various car competitions, and is keen to win more.

"I will never part with her, and my wife completely understands."

His wife, Kumari, is equally car-mad and owns a customised 2007 Toyota RunX.

"I have three daughters and my youngest, Jadine, 3, is obviously the pet so her name features prominently on my front spoiler," said Govender.

A highlight for him was when he was approached by Suncoast Casino and Entertainment Centre in 2007 to have the car parked at the doors for a week.

"I was quite chuffed, it's these little things that make it all worthwhile."

Govender despises inconsiderate speedsters on the roads and is against illegal racing.

"Innocent people get hurt, it's selfish and should be met with the full might of the law," he said.

But he is asking for leniency to be shown to cars that are just there for the show.

"There is a huge following of artists like myself. We are not harming anyone, please let us be."