A Wooden Karmann Ghia Cabriolet from Jepara

Teak wood is indeed known for its strength when compared with other types of wood, but what happens if this type of wood is used as a car body? Will it be strong or not? To prove its strength, a wooden craftsman and also furniture entrepreneur from Jepara named Al Sadad tried to prove it. And not half-hearted he then made wooden-bodied car made of teak wood.

Other wooden automotive creations of Jepara craftsmen, ie the teak wood-bodied 1964 Karmann Ghia replica. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2UpeI7M)

As quoted from Muria News, besides working as a wood craftsman, the man from Jepara is also an automotive enthusiast, especially the Volkswagen cars. So it is not surprising if he then gets a crazy idea to make a wooden-bodied car made of teak wood. Even before, in 2015 he has ever made a teak wood-bodied Volkswagen Safari.

A teak wood-bodied 1964 Karmann Ghia replica made by Jepara craftsmen carries a 1,600 cc Mexican VW Safari engine. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2tnp8cG)

And the wooden car that he made this time is the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia and was also deliberately prepared to attend the largest Volkswagen car festival in Indonesia in 2017. Sadad explained that he needs something more complex and challenging in the making of the wooden-bodied car, and as we know the Karmann Ghia one of scarce VW models has many curvatures all over its body.

The steering wheel and dashboard view of the teak wood-bodied 1964 Karmann Ghia replica. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2UpeI7M)

For this car, he claimed to have spent nearly Rp.150 million or (approx the US $10,000). It was used to buy an original VW engine, make the body from old teak wood and then decorate the interior and exterior of the car.

The Jepara's typical wooden-carved motifs with the VW logo on the front seats of the teak wood-bodied 1964 Karmann Ghia replica. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2UpeI7M)

As quoted from Tribunnews Jogja, all raw materials are obtained from wood waste that is around his house and workshop. Although easy to find raw materials, the car production process is not as easy as imagined. In addition, some spare parts must be imported from abroad, such as rear lights. According to Sadad, he encountered many difficulties during the process of making this wooden car.

Al Sadad (wearing an orange shirt) poses with a wooden-bodied 1964 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia replica of his-owned. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2OpsGCq)

Among these are when making frames for windshields that demand high precision works. Because, if it is not suitable, so the car's windshield can be slipped when the car in use. In addition, to make the front hood arches are also not easy because it also requires extra accuracy in order to get results that are very similar to the original.

Al Sadad-owned wooden-bodied Volkswagen Karmann Ghia replica while on display at the Jogja Volkswagen Festival (JVWF) contest event. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/36VOQ63)

Furthermore, Sadad revealed that in the production of this car the most expensive cost was the craftsman cost because to carve in certain parts must be done by people who are truly experts.
After 4 months of work to combine its wooden body with a chassis, legs and a hunk of Mexican VW Safari engine, plus the touches of the creative hands of woodcarvers, then a replica of the VW Karmann Ghia cabriolet had been finished with a light brown colored distinctive teak wood veins and curves, coupled with a number of carvings with Jepara's typical wooden-carved motif.

The Karmann Ghia replica with the plate number of 'K 4 YU' whose body is made of old teak wood is not just mere decoration. So, the car also can run like a car in general because under its wooden hood there is a capacity of 1,600 cc engine. This wooden car has been displayed for the first time at the 2017 Jogja Volkswagen Festival (JVWF). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MURIA NEWS | OTO DETIK | TRIBUNNEWS JOGJA]

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