# Engine Block-Made Guitars The Plateis Guitars Use Discarded Engine Heads to Make Guitars By Amy Duong | Published 2026-07-06 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plateis-guitars References: [plateis-guitars](https://plateis-guitars.com/)  The Plateis Guitars series was created by Slovenian craftsman Vlado Plateis using discarded automotive engine heads as the bodies of [fully playable electric guitars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/futura-series). 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-guitar-pickups), 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/master-artisan-collection) 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 ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 8.5/10 - Popularity: 87% | Activity: 85% | Freshness: 84% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) ## Key Themes ### 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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Ambient Sound Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mur-mur.md) - [K-POP Fandom Moodboard Collabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pinterest-x-sm-entertainment.md) - [Transparent Glass Speakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sonicglass-a1.md) - [Pre-Alcohol Resort Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pre-alcohol.md) - [Inner Beauty Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sephora-uk-x-sanctum.md) - [AI Music Downloader Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/suno-ai.md) - [Riverfront Music Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-cappella.md) - [Rent Reward Music Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rent-day.md) - [Creamy Root Beer Flavors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mug-root-beer-floats.md)