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Front of Arrinery Hussarya 33 at Motor Show Pozna艅 2017. Photo by Jakub “flyz1” Maciejewski on

Top 10 Unknown Facts about Leepu Nizamuddin Awlia

Nizamuddin Awlia who is popularly known as Leepu is a Bangladeshi-born-American automotive designer and coachbuilder. He is best known for building imitation supercars out of old models which he is perfect.

Leepu was born on 1st October 1968 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Leepu studied at the Dhaka Residential Model College up to the ninth grade.

The father of Leepu Nizamuddin Awlia was an officer at the United States Embassy in Riyadh. He had moved to Saudi Arabia where Leepu Nizamuddin Awlia attended college.

Leepu was privileged to be born into a well-off family even though his family history is not spoken about that much. As he grew up, Leepu had a passion for cars which began when he was growing up in the rich suburbs of Riyadh.

He was so lucky to have visited cool places as at the age of 16, he went to his first motor show in Saudi Arabia. At this age, his father bought him a Mazda.

In October 1994 at the age of 26, Leepu made the version of his dream car, the Lamborghini Countach. This imitation was known as the Leemo-bil.

He never had any idea how to do bodywork or paint, so he used a poster for the design. The Leemo-bil became an awful design just like another design known as Balo Bashi.

Here are the top 10 Unknown Facts about Leepu Nizamuddin Awlia;

1. His Father was an Officer at the U.S Embassy in Saudi Arabia

The deep family history of Leepu Nizamuddin Awlia is not fully known as he talks less about them. However, his father had a good job at the United States Embassy.

His father whose name is not mentioned was an officer at the United States Embassy. He had to relocate with Leepu to Saudi Arabia where he (the son) attended college.

2. Leepu鈥檚 Passion for Cars Began in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Arrinera Hussarya supercar at Pozna艅 Motor Show 2015. Photo by Jakub “Flyz1” Maciejewski on

After Leepu Nizamuddin Awlia relocated with his father to Saudi Arabia, his life began changing. Saudi Arabia is well known for the unique lifestyle of the people living there.

There you can find all types of luxurious cars which several visitors admire. Leepu Nizamuddin Awlia was one of the big admirers of cars in Saudi Arabia.

This is where he developed a passion for cars as he grew up in the Gulf country. His interest in cars became more open as he grew up.

3. He owned His First Car after the First Motor Show he Attended

The passion and interest of Leepu Nizamuddin Awlia in cars was not a secret. His father knew what he wanted and delivered it to him.

At the tender age of 16, Leepu was taken by his father to the first motor show in Saudi Arabia. His father then bought him a Mazda which was the first car he owned. At this moment, Leepu used to live in Lalmatia.

4. Awlia made a Version of his Dream Car that became Awful

At the age of 26 in October 1994, Leepu started putting his passion into making new versions of his favourite cars. His dream car was the Lamborghini Countach which he made a version of.

Leepu decided to make the Leemo-bil which never turned out to be what he wanted. He never knew how to do bodywork or paint which made him use a poster for his design.

The use of a poster for his design was not the best idea. This tended to be an awful design just like the Balo Bashi.

5. He made a 22-Foot Long Limousine by Welding Several Cars Together

A local car store that opened up here in Airdrie. They have a racing limo for sale. Photo by dave_7 on

In the 2000s, Leepu started venturing more into his passion. He set up his business in Dhaka after relocating from Saudi Arabia.

He started by making the Leepu which was a loose copy of a Lamborghini Diablo, another type of his dream car. Over this period as a starter, Leepu made an incredible 22-foot-long limousine.

Leepu welded together several cars to make the 22-foot-long limousine. This amazing limousine was powered by a 2.8-litre diesel engine.

6. Leepu Converted Rusting Toyotas and Hondas into Imitation Supercars

While in Dhaka, Leepu Nizamuddin Awlia came up with another idea of making imitation supercars. He used to convert rusting Toyotas and Hondas into imitation Ferraris and Lamborghinis. However, these models never looked anything like the imitations.

He owned his converted garage where he worked with four mechanics. They used to strop down Japanese cars and replace their bodywork with metal cut in form of a sleek Italian sports car.

7. He Put Aside Studying to Open his Workshop in the U.S

Leepu Nizamuddin Awlia visited the General Motors Institute in Michigan, the United States. He intended to study motors but he never completed it.

He decided to put aside his studies and opened up his workshop to get practical experience. Three years later, he returned to Bangladesh and started making cars to order based on old Daihatsus and Toyotas.

8. He Completed an 8 Weeks Assignment by Discovery Channel in 7 Weeks

Leepu began attracting interest from several people who started following up on his work. In 2006, the Discovery Channel gave Leepu an assignment which he completed a week before the set date.

Discovery Channel had requested Leepu to build two cars in eight weeks. However, Leepu completed the cars within seven weeks. He had help from Cockney car mechanic, Bernie Fineman.

9. His Seven Weeks Built Cars were Unveiled in Bangladesh

Koenigsegg CCX. Photo by nakhon100 on

The perfect assignment of Leepu and Bernie from Discovery Channel could not have gone unnoticed. In April 2006, his first car was unveiled during a three-day show at the Dhaka Motor Show. This show was held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

The car was one of Leepu鈥檚 sports models made in four weeks using a 22-years-old Toyota Sprinter chassis. On 7th May 2006, the second car of Leepu was unveiled.

The Peace Car was unveiled at the Bangladesh National Museum. It was from the heavy modification of a 1979 Toyota Crown.

10. Leepu became 鈥淎rtist in Residence鈥� for a London Company

As his fame spread worldwide, Leepu got several lucrative work offers. In June 2006, Leepu was invited to work on a car project by Rich Mix Centre in East London.

His task was to be part of the company鈥檚 opening exhibition project. Leepu became the artist in residence at the Rich Mix centre where he worked on the project for two months.

Leepu will always be celebrated as a creative individual who has been perfect in what he does. He is an inspiration to the future generation for his self-belief and the utilisation of his skills to make unique things.