Great Britain / English
T‑Bucket Perfection at 1:5 scale
Hot rod classicScale redefined
After an intensive development phase, production of the ScaleMonkey T23 Bucket at 1:5 scale is getting underway—engineered from the original plans by California Custom Roadsters.
In close collaboration with California Custom Roadsters in Los Angeles, the model was realized at 1:5 scale based on these original plans.
When it comes to materials and manufacturing, the build also consistently follows the engineering of the full-size original: the frame is made from steel profile tubes, axle carriers and wheel suspensions are welded. The body is produced using classic GRP construction.
This means the design, material selection, and manufacturing are consistently aligned with the T-bucket’s technical execution.
| Model: | SM15 T-Bucket |
|---|---|
| Price: | Coming Soon |
| Length: | 685 mm |
| Width: | 405 mm |
| Height: | 290 mm |
| Engine: | V8 small-block OHV 44 cc (not included) |
| Transmission: | 3-speed manual transmission (not included) |
| Weight: | Coming Soon |
The Build Process
The creation of the ScaleMonkey T23 Bucket is documented in an ongoing build report. In several sections, we show the individual manufacturing steps—from producing the steel frame and chassis components through to assembly and finishing the body.
The focus is on design, manufacturing, and technical details. The build report makes it easy to follow how the original engineering documents become a fully built 1:5-scale rolling chassis.
The individual build sections are continuously expanded and document the progress of production.
The Frame
The T-bucket build starts with the frame. It is made from square tubes that are cut to 1:5 scale from the original California Custom Roadsters plans, prepared, and then welded.
For the delicate weld joints, we rely on a PUK U5 from Lampert Werktechnik. The process enables precise work on the small components and controlled execution of the weld seams.
After welding, the frame is coated with Cerakote in Gloss Black. The low film thickness preserves the fine contours and details of the design, while providing strong protection against corrosion and mechanical stress.
This keeps the frame’s technical execution visible, while the surface remains permanently protected for the subsequent build.
The Engine
The ScaleMonkey T-bucket was developed for the Cison V8 OHV engine. The compact 8-cylinder 4-stroke engine has a displacement of 44 cm³ and an output of around 4.8 hp. Its design is based on classic American V8 engines.
For installation in the T-bucket, various bolt-on parts were specially developed and manufactured. This includes a dedicated gasser-style air cleaner with an integrated filter element.
The cooling system was also developed for the model. The water radiator is made of brass and features 26 tubes with a total length of around 1.8 m. In combination with the cooling system mounted on the engine, it enables operation for about ten minutes at average RPM.
The side-pipe exhaust system is also a custom design. The eight header pipes are nearly equal in length and feed into a common side pipe. The layout is based on classic V8 exhaust systems and contributes to the engine’s characteristic sound.
To be continued...
Because true perfection is created detail by detail.
* All mentioned brands and product names are the property of their respective owners. Their mention is solely for the purpose of describing the respective originals.
There is no connection to or license from the trademark owners.
