Classic car modification ends in court: Garage fined BD 14,950

TDT | Manama

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The High Civil Court has ordered a garage owner to pay BD 14,950 to a Gulf national after damaging two classic cars that had been entrusted to him for race modifications.

The plaintiff, represented by lawyer Amna Al Awadhi, had initially agreed in 2022 to have a 2014 Toyota 86 modified. The car was delivered on 29 October 2022, with its condition documented in video and photographs. At the plaintiff’s request, a second car, a 2013 Toyota 86, was added and handed over on 5 January 2024 to a representative of the defendant at the border.

The modification plan involved transferring the engine and gearbox from the first car to the second, making it fully operational, and fitting the first car with a new engine, gearbox, and other necessary parts. The plaintiff closely monitored the process, both in person and online, and documented every stage.

Payments to the defendant totalled BD 3,300. An expert appointed by the plaintiff later examined the vehicles and reported extensive damage: engines and gearboxes were missing, other parts were faulty or non-original, and prolonged poor storage caused additional harm. The inspection also found the cars parked outside the garage owner’s father’s house. The direct loss was valued at BD 13,950, after deducting scrap value, with an additional BD 1,000 sought for distress.

The court upheld the expert’s findings, noting repeated but unsuccessful attempts by the plaintiff to secure progress. The defendant, despite being granted extra time, did not submit his own expert report.

The judgment ordered the defendant to pay BD 14,950 in total, covering damages, the expert’s fees, legal costs, and expenses.