Known simply as Leepu, this creative takes junk automobiles, and using nothing but old hammers, sheet metal and spare parts, transforms these wrecks into supercars. Now the fast-talking mechanic is putting his money where his mouth is and has teamed up with the eccentric Bangladeshi car designer Leepu to join him in his next high-risk and high-octane business venture, building affordable, American muscle cars for the average Joe for the new series on History, channel 186 on DStv.
So can two car customisers share a garage without driving each other crazy?
"Leepu flies by the seat of his pants," says Trimboli. "No plans, no organization, no structure. When he came into town (from Idaho, where Leepu lives with his wife and three children), it was OK for a couple of days and then we started working on things. I saw that he was like a little kid, without really understanding ramifications. It was a rough go," he admits. "I had to adjust to his ways, as he did mine. The thing is, he's a very likable guy. And as opposite as we are, we still had common ground, a love of the cars we customise on the show and a respect for the work."
"I'm a free man of my own will," says Leepu. "I design cars, I build cars, that's what I do. When you build or design cars, you don't care what's going on around you. When an artist is at work, he only cares about what he's creating. He's in the zone, he gets lost."
Or as Trimboli puts it; "You leave the guy alone for a day and he cuts the car up. What are you gonna do?"
Pitbull and Leepu airs from Thursday, 14 January at 20:30 on History, channel 186 on DStv.