If you happen to come across a late-model BMW parked beside a wooden sedan whose sides are covered with meticulously-carved patterns, which is more likely to attract your attention? The latter may be the answer, as it piqued the curiosity of passers-by on a street in the Tan Truong villa residence in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 7 a few days ago. “What a unique and original car,” “How marvelous the carvings are,” some of the curious observers immediately exclaimed upon seeing the 4.6m-long and 1.8m-wide vehicle whose body is completely made from high-quality logs. Some young men even asked to pose for a picture with the bizarre car, and its owner, Le Nguyen Khang, happily accepted. “It took me 16 months to complete this car,” said Khang, director of Binh Duong-based wood processing firm Le Lumber.Entirely wooden body The owner asserted that the entire vehicle was made from imported wood such as xylia xylocarpa, ash, and walnut, except for the BMW engine that was sourced from Germany. “I named the car after Achilles, one of the greatest warriors in Greek mythology, whose entire body, except for his heel, is invulnerable. I know that my vehicle is not perfect,” he shared. The largest drawback of the sedan is its weight, which is nearly 1.5 tons, he admitted. “Only the BMW engine is able to withstand the heavy wooden body of the car,” he explained. Khang said the idea of making a wooden BMW began when a British friend of his, who works in the resort sector, jokingly said one day, “Working in the wood processing industry, can you make me a wooden car?” “I then started to think seriously about it,” he recalled. The owner of a wood processing firm with more than 300 workers, Khang had the adequate personnel to assist him with the car, from drawing the first draft to carving the first pattern. The sketch was completed on April 2011, and the car was only finished last month, thanks to the huge effort of a group consisting of the 11 best workers at Le Lumber, he said. The company logo is carved on the front of the car, on the background of a dragon, while the two front sides are covered with the patterns of a dragon, unicorn, turtle, and phoenix, the four traditional sacred animals which represent power, beauty, and nobility, he explained. The Achilles also bears a unique license plate with a long string of figures, which is in fact Khang’s mobile phone number, he said. “It’s to help those who want to contact me easily,” he explained.Sell for charity Pictures of the wooden car have also been circulated on the internet, and Khang has received many comments. “There are positive as well as negative responses, but I respect all of them,” he said. But he emphasized that some people do not fully understand his concept of the wooden BMW, as they criticized that the car lacks equipment such as a speedometer and even electric and lighting systems. “It’s simple to install such systems into the car, but what’s important is I don’t want to have those ‘modern’ things in my traditional car,” he explained. “My purpose while making this car was to prove the talent of wood processing workers in Vietnam in general, and Binh Duong in particular. So except for the essential engine, I don’t want to have any other materials but wood on the Achilles.” Khang said four customers, including foreigners, have asked to buy the vehicle for around US$24,000. “But I will work with each of them in person to see if they truly want to buy the car for an adequate purpose, as the money will be donated for charity work,” he said.

Below are some photos featuring the wooden BMW of Le Nguyen Khang:

Khang is pictured driving his wooden BMW sedan. Photo: Truong Son

The vehicle’s name, Achilles, is seen on the front boot. Photo: Truong Son

The rear mirror is covered in a wooden frame. Photo: Truong Son

The steering wheel is seen in the wooden frame connected with the BMW engine. Photo: Truong Son

The company logo is seen on the car door. Photo: Truong Son

The unique license plate is the owner’s mobile phone number. Photo: Truong Son

Khang talks about his car when curious passers-by stop to examine and take photos of the vehicle. Photo: Truong Son