'Ambitious' Maruti 800 Owner Really Wanted an SUV - This Is The Result
Every now and then, someone looks at a Maruti 800 and thinks, “Nice car… but what if it was a Mahindra Thar?” That’s exactly what seems to have happened somewhere in Maharashtra, where this little hatchback has been transformed — or at least visually encouraged — into something resembling India’s favourite off-roader.
We have seen several attempts at converting Maruti 800s into tiny SUVs (lookswise) but this one is one of the most hilarious we have seen.
The base car is unmistakably a Maruti 800, but not much of the original bodywork survives. The front grille and bumper have been reworked into an upright, boxy design meant to echo the last generation Thar’s signature tough look.
The hood and fenders are bulkier, hammered almost flat, while the wheel arches have been expanded and squared to mimic the SUV stance. It’s the kind of makeover that tries its best to say, “I’m ready for off-road,” even if the suspension underneath still whispers, “No, don't do it please.”
From the side, the car’s silhouette has changed from smooth and rounded to angular and upright. It looks like the designer’s main reference was a Thar poster - and to be fair, they’ve followed it with some dedication.
The rear is where creativity really takes over. There’s a spare wheel mounted for that authentic SUV feel, though the proportions make it look slightly… compact. Online viewers have compared it to a toy SUV or something straight out of GTA Vice City’s simpler days.
We are not confident about the mechanicals of the car, though. Commenters noticed a bit of a rear wheel movement - something that the owners and passengers do not seem to mind, but makes us a little jittery.
Under the surface, it’s still a Maruti 800 - front-wheel drive, small engine, light chassis. The transformation is almost entirely cosmetic. The extra ground clearance appears to be more optical than mechanical. Still, the effort is clear: whoever built this didn’t stop at just slapping on badges and stickers; they tried to shape the illusion. We can even say that the squarishness of the design rivals that of the Thar!
Badges, mud flaps, and that spare wheel all work overtime to complete the look. The build quality appears to be locally done - possibly by a workshop familiar with jugaad customization.
Interestingly, while the car was filmed in Maharashtra, the reel’s commentary is in Malayalam - a mix that’s as funny as it is unexpected. The tone is typically Malayali: dry, observant, and slightly teasing. The narrator and commenters joke about “cardboard panels” and even speculate whether it might turn into a three-wheeler someday.
Given how Kerala’s RTO and MVD treat vehicle modifications like a personal insult, the Malayali vlogger is quite appreciative (and quietly roasting) of the confidence and ambition of the Maharashtrian owners - and a little jealous too perhaps, considering that this 'Thar' would be confiscated within 30 minutes of attempting a drive on a Kerala road!
This 'Maruti-Thar' crossover isn’t fooling anyone mechanically, but that’s not the point. It’s an inventive, slightly overconfident attempt to merge practicality with aspiration - something that most of India can still indulge in, but modification-crazy Keralites cannot.
It’s not a Thar. It’s not quite an 800 anymore, either. It’s something in between - the kind of jugaad which India's rural mechanics and bodyshops were famous for, but is sadly on the decline nowadays due to stricter law enforcement.