HYDERABAD: The iconic Sudha Cars Museum in Bahadurpura has unveiled its latest attraction, a handcrafted FIFA World Cup themed Soccer Ball Car by founder and automobile artist K. Sudhakar Yadav. Built ahead of the Spain vs Argentina tournament final, the spherical vehicle is made largely from recycled scrap, features the official FIFA logo alongside the Canadian maple leaf, and was driven around the museum courtyard to cheers from the crowd.
Stepping out of the driver’s seat, he shared his journey in his own words:
“I was 14 when I made my first bicycle from junk parts collected at a garage. That’s where it began, and my love for automobiles only grew. My father is a businessman, so he encouraged me to pursue my interest.
I gradually designed an ‘easy rider motorbike’ and my Dune Buggy, inspired by a Volkswagen ad I saw in the US. That pushed me to design wacky cars, starting with a skating shoe car. I realised these cars drew instant smiles.
Look at my collection today. I have a brinjal car inspired by Hyderabadi slang, a toilet seat car, and a condom themed bike built for an AIDS awareness drive. I built a cricket ball car for the 2003 World Cup and a football car for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. My toughest project was a Swan Car replica that took two and a half years to finish, and in 2020, I built a six wheeled Corona Car in just 10 days to spread COVID-19 safety awareness.
I’m not an automobile engineer. I’m a commerce graduate, and everything I know comes from years of hands on observation and practical learning, working alongside local mechanics.
I still visit the junkyards around Bahadurpura myself, picking parts from broken cars, rail engines, and buses. Since opening my museum in 2010, I’ve built over 250 iconic designs, including the world’s smallest double decker bus.
My 41 foot tricycle holds a Guinness World Record and my museum also earned a Guinness title, for the largest collection of wacky vehicles in a museum. Between designs, I run our family printing press. But when you love something this much, you don’t stop. As long as there’s junk in the yard, I’ll keep making wheels tell stories!”