In Bali, a small team of craftsmen is doing what many would think impossible — rebuilding some of history’s most iconic cars without ever seeing the originals in person.
Image for representational purpose
Known as Tuksedo Studio, these artisans remake classic Aston Martins, Toyotas, and Mercedes-Benzes entirely out of aluminium, and their precision is so extraordinary that the replicas could pass for genuine 1960s classics.
Because Indonesia bans the import of luxury cars like the Aston Martin DB5, they chose a different path: if you can’t buy one, build one. That belief fuels their workshop — a place where patience, skill, and imagination turn into metal masterpieces.
Each car begins from simple internet photos. From those, the team builds wooden frames, bends wire skeletons, and then hand-shapes every curve of the aluminium body. It’s old-school craftsmanship at its finest.
“The scope in which our work covers includes the creation of the body, chassis, inner structure, meticulous accessories, and detailed instrument production, all the way to the paint finish,” a studio representative said, describing the attention to detail that defines their work.
Every piece of these 10,000-piece car is made completely in-house — from the glass and wheels to the smallest switches. The cars might not perform like the originals, but they look exactly the part.
One of Tuksedo’s most admired recreations is the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing — built without the team ever seeing the real thing. Seventy years after the original stopped production, they’ve brought it back to life, fitted with a modern powertrain but the same timeless beauty.
The studio also recreates the Porsche 550 Spyder, Porsche 356, Toyota 2000GT, Aston Martin DB5, and BMW 507 — each one a loving salute to motoring history.
These replicas aren’t just cars; they’re art — sculptures that celebrate the soul of classic design. Priced between USD 200,000 and USD 300,000, they’ve become prized possessions for collectors who value craftsmanship over badges.
Few workshops anywhere show as much passion or skill as this Bali-based team, who are quietly turning imagination, memory, and metal into rolling legends.
Also read: The World of Aluminium Extrusions – Industry Forecast to 2032
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