The next recipient of Proton’s “Very Important Proton” Makeover programme is a 1996 Iswara Aeroback, owned by software test engineer Norzamzarini Mohd Bajuri. The 35-year-old from Muar, Johor received a year-end surprise when the company called him to announce that his car was to be the third makeover project vehicle.

“In his submission, Norzamzarini waxed lyrical about his love for his car. Its uniqueness really stood out,” said Proton’s director of group marketing, branding and motorsports, John D. Chacko. “We were quite taken by his expressiveness, ending his submission with what would best be described as him loving the car ‘till death do they part!’”

The red Proton Iswara Aeroback 1.3 that will receive special treatment from Proton’s R3 unit was a second-hand purchase by Norzamzarini in 1998. A keen Formula One follower and an avid Schumacher fan, he described a proud moment when he brought his then-girlfriend to meet his parents. That poignant moment, as he described it, was akin to that of him being a prince astride his red stallion with his prized maiden.

“I am feeling really blessed, having been informed that the car I love will be getting a new lease of life,” said the father of four. “Coincidentally, just last week, my wife and I were blessed with our fourth child, a lovely baby girl who we named Nur Mawaddah, which means ‘a ray of love’. Having the two events happening so close to each other, I cannot help but feel that I have received a double blessing,” he enthused.

Though excited, Norzamzarini was feeling a little hesitant when handing over the car to the R3 unit at the Proton Center of Excellence in Subang Jaya. Later expressing some slight embarrassment because of the wear and tear of the car’s body work, he was set at ease after receiving a compliment about the pristine condition of the car’s engine.

Proton’s head of engineering of the R3 unit, Tengku Djan Ley, expressed the team’s anticipation of working on yet another different vehicle. “After reading Norzamzarini’s submission, and meeting him in person and hearing of him and his family and their new daughter, we are really looking forward to working on this car and giving them a gift for the new year,” he added. The Iswara Aeroback is scheduled to be returned in January 2012.

Norzamzarini’s selection announcement comes off the back of the handing over of the second completed Makeover car, a 17-year-old Wira belonging to Sashideran Radha Krishnan from Klang. Fadly Hisham Roplay’s 1992 Saga was of course the first to be reworked. Three more Proton car owners will be rewarded with a complete makeover of their car, courtesy of the My Proton Makeover contest, which ends today.