The Plateis Guitars series was created by Slovenian craftsman Vlado Plateis using discarded automotive engine heads as the bodies of fully playable electric guitars. Rather than reshaping or concealing the cast metal, each instrument preserves its original bolt holes, machined surfaces, and combustion chamber cavities. Standard guitar components, including pickups, strings, and tuning hardware, are integrated into the existing engine casting, allowing the original industrial form to define each instrument's appearance.
Every guitar made has a unique silhouette because its shape is determined by the donor engine head. Differences in casting geometry, cooling fins, and mounting points produce one-of-a-kind instruments that retain the character of their source material. The heavy metal construction contrasts with conventional wooden guitar bodies while emphasizing the project's focus on material reuse.
Image Credit: Vlado Plateis
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Upcycled Instruments
- Discarded mechanical components become distinctive performance objects, signaling a market for musical products that combine sustainability with unconventional material identity.
- Industrial Aesthetic Design
- Raw cast metal surfaces, bolt holes, and engine geometries create a visual language where manufacturing remnants become premium design features.
- One-of-a-kind Craftsmanship
- Source-material variability gives each product a singular form, supporting collectible models that blend artisanal production with circular material reuse.
Where This Applies
- Musical Instruments
- Electric guitar makers gain new differentiation pathways through nontraditional bodies that alter appearance, story, and perceived exclusivity.
- Automotive Recycling
- Engine heads and other discarded parts gain higher-value afterlives when repositioned as cultural, artistic, or functional consumer goods.
- Sustainable Design
- Material reuse moves beyond concealment into expressive design, creating opportunities for products that showcase their reclaimed origins as a core feature.
