Truong Van Dao has attracted millions of interactions and billions of views across social platforms with his do it yourself videos documenting the creation of drivable wooden cars.
“At first, I only made a simple car to push for my young child to play with,” Dao said. “Later, I realised this was not only a hobby and a passion but could also generate income, so I upgraded and improved the cars to make them more beautiful and unique, and even capable of running on electric motors.”
The wooden cars are built at around 50 to 80 per cent of the size of real vehicles. For models based on existing designs, Dao carefully studies real cars to recreate their exteriors. Recently, he has also used AI to sketch one of a kind designs.
“There is no way a car can run using only wood,” he explained. “Each vehicle still needs a steel frame for stability. After shaping the body, I carve and assemble wooden pieces, fixing them with nails, screws or adhesive.”
To make the cars operational, Dao reuses engines, tires and gear components from old vehicles, while decorative details such as lights, mirrors and logos are purchased online. Interiors are mainly handcrafted from wood.
One of his most notable projects, a Lamborghini Revuelto made from about one million wooden pieces, has drawn 96 million views and 1.4 million likes on Facebook.
Leftover wood fragments are bonded with epoxy resin, with LED lights embedded between layers to create striking visual effects when the car is in motion.
Old pistons are repurposed to replicate scissor doors, a hallmark of Lamborghini models. A futuristic Lamborghini he built for his son uses no paint, instead showcasing amber brown tones from rosewood and ebony.
“I use different types of wood with natural colors for the exterior instead of paint,” Dao said. “For me, this is a way to honor the carpentry tradition of my hometown.”
Another popular creation is the BMW Lovos Concept, featuring a dragon scale inspired exterior that has attracted 4.4 million views on Facebook. Beyond adapting existing designs, Dao also creates original vehicles, including an ICar developed with AI consultation and an alien themed concept that has gained more than 124,000 views on YouTube.
His workshop has also produced wooden electric bikes, motorbikes, and even large scale models such as trains and tanks.
Looking ahead, Dao hopes to build an exhibition space for his creations, combined with hands on workshops where visitors can experience driving wooden cars or try traditional woodworking.
Many collectors have expressed interest in purchasing his vehicles for display. Dao said he once had the opportunity to work in Hanoi but chose to return home to preserve his family’s craft.
“Making and sharing these cars on social media helps me support my family, keep our local tradition alive, and still pursue my passion for cars,” he said.