Turning trash into treasure is not typically a practice found in automobilia. There are, however, some exceptions, such as the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas or Dustin Shuler’s now-demolished Spindle art sculpture featuring eight vehicles literally impaled on a spike outside of Chicago. But rusted classics are a tough nut to crack. Do we spend the hours, even years, restoring a once-beautiful piece of machinery to its glory days or do we just crush it for scrap metal?
Well, one Los Angeles-based glass artist used his own particular set of skills to “resurrect” an old Porsche 911 chassis in an unusual way.
Taking You to Church
Taking inspiration from stained glass windows found in churches, Ben Tuna — also known as Glasscowboyy on Instagram — has combined religious theming and the idea of resurrection to integrate hand-cut 100-year-old stained glass windows into the frame of the Porsche where the windows once were. The project is fittingly dubbed “The Resurrection” and was carried out via Tuna’s own Glass Visions Studio in LA.
As opposed to the faceless stained glass used for his typical projects, The Resurrection features classic personages from religious iconography. St. Michael the Archangel appears in the front window, while the rear glass has an assortment of haloed saints and/or angels and a babe-like cherub is seen through the driver’s side window, as if operating the vehicle himself.
A True Passion Project
“A project born from the combination of my art and my passion for cars,” says Tuna, who seems to be handling the art piece under his own auspices rather than a commission like many of his other assignments, from lamps to archways to side tables. He’s also known for restoring vintage stained glass window in old cathedrals and churches as well.
But here, the rusted body of the Porsche makes for a surprisingly elegant pairing with the colorful nature of vintage stained glass, which is also being repurposed here. White is also the right choice for the car’s body, as yellow or blue, for example, simply wouldn’t have fit.
It’s unclear where and how Tuna acquired the vehicle, and even which generation 911 this hails from. The artist also has yet to fit wheels or headlights on the Porsche, but we honestly think it looks better that way. After all, The Resurrection isn’t intended for driving.
Spec Sheet
Model: Porsche 911 “The Resurrection”
Model Year: Unspecified
Artist: Ben Tuna of Glass Visions Studio
Location: Los Angeles
Availability: One-off art piece
Pricing & Availability
Obviously, The Resurrection Porsche 911 is just a one-off art piece likely for Tuna’s personal collection, but those interested in having one done for their own rusted vehicle might want to reach out to Glass Visions Studio themselves for commission prices.
Recap
Glass Visions Studio Porsche 911 “The Resurrection”
LA-based stained glass designer Ben Tuna turned this rusted old Porsche 911 into an art piece, fitting 100-year-old church window into the frame of the vehicle.
