The reflection of the viewers admiring Rayomand Khambatta’s transformed automobile was visible in the gleaming red beast, named "The Kraken.” The space around his vehicle at the Custom Show Emirates (CSE) in Dubai this year was so crowded that security had to be summoned to disperse the onlookers. Described as "a monster of a car,” Khambatta’s entry earned the 40-year-old Canadian car builder the Custom Made Car 2021 Award.
Started six years ago to encourage car and bike enthusiasts to display their works, and showcase their talent among each other and the public in diverse fields like styling, tuning, vehicle safety, after-market products, mechanical spare parts and automotive cosmetic parts, CSE is the leading automotive customization exhibition in the Middle East region. Participating in the Show alongside Khambatta in April 2021 were nearly 170 exhibitors whose vehicles were appreciated by around 29,000 visitors from 17 countries, according to their website.
After purchasing the 1200 horse power seasoned Chrysler 360 in 2017 in Chicago, Khambatta shipped it to the UAE where he could bestow it with "some desperately needed TLC (tender loving care)” to give it a retro classic look. Classified as a "resto-mod (restored cum modernized),” aesthetically the vehicle retains its original features until one looks under the hood to find new ones. Modification of resto-mods is generally undertaken to comply with emission standards, incorporate safety features, to enhance performance or improve fuel efficiency.
Top and above: Rayomand Khambatta with "The Kraken"
Engraved towards the front of the 72 Dodge Charger engine are the words: "Created for Khambattas, Pundoles, Moghuls, Divecha, Vandrewalas.” In an interview shared on YouTube, the car enthusiast mentioned, this is "a tribute to my family.”
"Ever since I can remember, restorations have been my passion,” conveyed Khambatta. "I couldn’t draw much but it only took me a few moments to envision the completed project in my head and start building by hand.” With the encouragement of his Toronto based parents Kersi and Nergish, he launched his first resto-mod at the age of 17 and painted his first car at 19. Recalled Kersi, "Initially he repaired and modified some cars in our Town House driveway, learning online. Even in winter he continued working. I remember him putting his socks and gloves in the microwave to keep himself warm. That was his dedication.” Rayomand enrolled at the Devry Institute of Technology when he was 20 and two years later joined Seneca College, Toronto’s leading Automotive Engineers Center College. His accomplishments were brought to Parsiana’s attention by Meher Panthaky, former director of the Ontario Zoroastrian Community Foundation.
Starting with small retailers he moved to bigger dealerships like Ford and BMW where he noticed a need for better customer service. That led him to open his own garage which he named Ray’s Hi-Tech Auto. "For a time I had a zero dollar budget,” recalled Rayomand. Initially he purchased accident cars from auctions or discarded kitchen equipment that he used for modification but as his sales and client listings got impressive, he earned the attention of local authorities who described him as a "curbsider (an unlicensed dealer or retailer who makes a profit from vehicles that have been in his possession for a very short time)” on the local news channel. With his father convincing him that "there is no such thing as bad publicity,” Rayomand managed to put the negativity behind him to emerge as a reputed mechanic and car designer cum builder.
He currently works out of the warehouse of his uncle Firoze Vandrewalla, owner of Wings industrial products in Dubai. Rather than seek new designing ideas from catalogs, Rayomand prefers to draw inspiration from the wild imagination of his cousins and is now gearing for the ECS Battle of the Builders promoted by the Young Guns division where car builders under 40 years of age are encouraged to compete alongside industry veterans. The qualifiers will be held exclusively online with three events in March 2022. The virtual corrals will be held via Zoom where young participants will be given 10 minutes each to pitch their skills and highlight their entry. The winning golden ticket package includes a cash prize and bragging rights (an entitlement to boast about something) to be an all-time winning builder.
Once a homeland security analyst working a day job for Singapore Defence, over the years Rayomand has dabbled with data center construction, advanced three dimensional printers, and is now aspiring to be an endurance trainer for Arabian horses. "There is always an opportunity to learn,” he is convinced.
A firm believer in artistic creativity that could impact millions, on his website his provocative mantra enunciates: "Pursue passions, not paychecks; be crafty, lovable, systematic and relentless; don’t take yourself too seriously; learn every day; believe in change; prioritize the customer; invest in ideas that matter; be lazy and dumb!”