Unique in the world: this is the only wooden Mercedes 300 SL with a working engine in existence. It was created by art carpenter Remy Le Forestier and will be auctioned on November 16.
There are several highly accurate replicas of the famous Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, some of which feature functional elements such as the iconic gullwing doors or movable mechanical parts like the steering system. However, there is only one fully functional version — complete with an engine — that could actually be driven on the road, though it is not certified for public road use.
This magnificent Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing is hand-carved and sanded from teak wood by art carpenter Remy Le Forestier (born in 1985), who became famous for creating a replica of dictator Bokassa’s throne and, most notably, for crafting the desk delivered to Donald Trump at the White House.
This time, however, the work was more complex, as Le Forestier had to combine artistry with mechanics. Beneath the teak wooden body of this Mercedes 300 SL lies the platform of a 1989 Mercedes E 300. The car is powered by an engine paired with a 4-speed manual transmission, capable of reaching a top speed of 80 kphh, with the mechanical work handled by mechanic Pierre Chabrier.
Measuring 5 meters long, 1.80 meters wide, and 1.45 meters high, the wooden replica is 48 cm longer, 1 cm wider, and 15 cm taller than the original. The seats are upholstered in brown leather, and the steering wheel is on the right-hand side.
The 300 SL Gullwing’s wooden body was crafted entirely by hand, totaling 8,000 hours of work, with Le Forestier assisted by five people. The gullwing doors, trunk lid, and hood are all fully functional. Named “Belle Castelle,” this unique creation continues the tradition of wooden automobiles, following in the footsteps of the Hispano-Suiza H6 B Nieuport Tulipwood (1924), commissioned by André Dubonnet, and Michel Robillard’s 2CV, sold at Château d’Artigny on June 4, 2023.
Interestingly, Le Forestier initially planned to create a replica of a James Bond–series Aston Martin, but after a visit to the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart, his daughter convinced him to choose the 300 SL instead.
The wooden replica of the Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing will be auctioned on November 16 on the website www.rouillac.com, with an estimated price of €15,000 — far less than the original model, which costs at least €1.5 million.
