Paulus Maximus' 2017 Mercedes Benz AMG GTS

In 1956, Earl Bruce shocked the sports car world by commissioning Von Dutch to flame his brand-new Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. Nearly 70 years later, Paulus Maximus of Melbourne, Australia, paid tribute to that notorious custom with this stunning reinterpretation. Wrapping his 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT by hand in a flamed livery inspired by the original, Paulus spent over 400 hours recreating the look in his garage using a mix of old-school techniques and modern tools. “I didn’t think anyone would be brave, or stupid, enough to try doing this. So I did it myself,” he told Kustomrama. Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

In 1956, Earl Bruce had his brand-new Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing sprayed in Candy Root Beer, a notoriously tricky color that soon began to blotch. To cover up the blemishes, he took the car to Von Dutch, who laid down one of the most controversial flame jobs of all time. With a few beers, some masking tape, and Dutch's signature touch, the Gullwing was transformed into a rolling statement that outraged purists and helped cement Von Dutch’s reputation. “People couldn’t accept a flamed 300 SL Gullwing back then,” Dutch later said. “They thought it was desecrating a shrine.”

Working alone in his garage in Melbourne, Paulus spent over 400 hours recreating the iconic flames from Earl Bruce’s Gullwing using hand-drawn templates, tracing film, and a French curve. Each flame was penciled directly onto the car before being scanned and refined in a CAD program. “It took about three weeks just to get something like the original,” Paulus told Kustomrama. This photo captures the tribute in progress, a blend of old-school craftsmanship and modern precision. Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Paulus wrapped his Mercedes in white and Candy Root Beer base layers. Every inch had to be smooth and flawless to make the flames pop. This step-by-step garage transformation involved heat guns, vinyl rolls, and endless patience, proving that true tribute builds aren’t born in shops, they’re forged in sweat, solitude, and vision. Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

For the extra-wide flames on the hood, Paulus went old-school: hand-cut templates and meticulous trimming done directly on the car. Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

he yellow flame tips, originally intended to be painted, were instead cut oversized and trimmed by hand for a seamless fit. Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

With its bold flames, carefully arched tips, and Candy Root Beer base wrap, Paulus Maximus’ AMG GT captures the wild spirit of Earl Bruce’s Gullwing, without copying it outright. The tribute channels the soul of the original while standing proudly on its own. From the California Sports Car Club badge to the meticulously replicated flame pattern, every detail was placed with purpose. “Most people wouldn’t dare,” Paulus told Kustomrama. “So I did.” Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Seen from above, the full artistry of Paulus Maximus’ tribute comes to life. The symmetrical flame layout, stretching across hood, roof, and quarters, mirrors the spirit of Von Dutch’s infamous brushwork while honoring the geometry of a modern AMG. The yellow tips were hand-cut in place after paint proved unworkable, a detail that underscores the obsessive craftsmanship behind this one-man garage masterpiece. Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

Since 2017, Paulus has wrapped his AMG GT in tributes to Mercedes-Benz’s rich motorsport heritage — from the W194 Mille Miglia cars to the iconic #722 of Stirling Moss. Each year brought a new livery, a new legend. But in 2025, he steered into more radical territory: a bold homage to Earl Bruce’s flamed 300SL Gullwing. The result is a full-circle tribute that honors not just racing history, but the rebellious spirit of custom car culture. Photo courtesy of Paulus Maximus.

In the 1950s, few custom paint jobs stirred up controversy quite like the flamed Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing owned by Earl Bruce. Painted in a deep Candy Root Beer hue, Bruce’s new Gullwing began to develop blotches in the lacquer not long after it was sprayed. To mask the imperfections, he turned to rising L.A. flame-and-stripe artist Von Dutch. What resulted was a white-flame job, completed with beer, wine, and 20-odd rolls of masking tape, that outraged the sports car purists of the day. “They thought it was desecrating a shrine,” Von Dutch later recalled.

A Tribute Born in a Garage Down Under

Fast forward nearly 70 years, and Bruce’s controversial Gullwing has inspired a new kind of custom icon, this time in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. There, enthusiast Paulus Maximus recreated the flamed look on his Mercedes-AMG GT as a tribute to Bruce’s infamous ride.

“I spent about 400 hours recreating this wrap,” Paulus told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama in May of 2025. “It was all done in my garage using nothing but determination and a few skills I’ve picked up over the years.” Referencing a handful of historic photos, he hand-traced the flame patterns onto the car using tracing film, a French curve, and pencil. It took three weeks just to get the shapes right.

After scanning his drawings, Paulus refined the flames using a CAD program and began cutting the vinyl on a cutting machine. For the extra-wide flames on the hood, he went old-school: hand-cut templates and meticulous trimming done directly on the car. The yellow flame tips, originally intended to be painted, were instead cut oversized and trimmed by hand for a seamless fit.

Period-Correct Touches and Design Dedication

Paulus didn’t stop at just the flames. He sourced two original California Sports Car Club badges from Europe. One in great shape, the other worn from decades of use. He even recreated the period-correct window stickers and carefully reimagined the front and rear pinstriping around the Mercedes-Benz logos. “That was redesigned by hand, scanned, then vinyl cut and placed on the car with great difficulty,” he noted.

From Ridicule to Respect

Unlike Bruce’s Gullwing, which drew scorn from much of the sports car elite in its day, Paulus' tribute has earned praise from onlookers and professionals alike. “I recently spoke with a wrap company and they wouldn’t even begin to attempt it,” he said. “I thought that was validation for my work.”

Normally, Paulus wraps his AMG GT in liveries inspired by Mercedes-Benz’s racing heritage. This time, he opted for something bolder, a tribute not just to a car, but to a moment in custom history where rebellion met refinement. “I didn’t think anyone would be brave or crazy enough to try doing this. So I did it myself.” The Earl Bruce version of the Mercedes was completed in 2025.