Sweet Dreams Are Made of These – Scale Rat’s Customized Two-Tone Traxxas Factory Five ’33 & ’35 Hot Rods

Hot rods are like time machines that transport car enthusiasts to an era of classic Americana. When we think of hot rods we can’t help but visualize scenes from iconic movies such as “Rebel Without a Cause” and “American Graffiti.” There’s something undeniably nostalgic about a hot rod, and the allure of that bygone era continues to captivate us.

Traxxas’ collaboration with famed hot rod builder Factory Five brought us RC fans a couple of 1/10-scale RC hot rods based on real-world racers. These RC hot rods are available in two styles: a scaled replica of Factory Five’s ’33 Hot Rod Coupe as well as Factory Five’s ’35 Hot Rod Truck. As fun as they are to look at and drive, we thought they could be customized to look even more unique than they come out of the box.

This is where we partnered up with Robert “Scale Rat” Pezza to turn perfect showroom-floor examples into weathered rods that look as though they’ve been cruising the streets since the ’50s and ’60s. Before we dive into Scale Rat’s custom touches, let’s learn more about the Traxxas Factory Five hot rods.

Both the RC Hot Rod Coupe and Hot Rod Truck are built on Traxxas’ latest 4-Tec 3.0 on-road platform, which marks a significant leap forward from its predecessor, the 4-Tec 2.0. Let’s pop the hood and explore exactly what it is that makes these hot rods sizzle.

A MODERN TWIST
The pair of 1/10-scale hot rods may exude classic charm, but it all sits atop Traxxas’ cutting-edge 4-Tec 3.0 platform. This means it packs high-performance driving dynamics with modern sensibilities. The chassis boasts a long-wheelbase and wide-track layout, offering stability and a realistic scale look. The longer overall length ensures a more proportionate and scale-accurate appearance.

POWER AND PRECISION
A brushed Traxxas Titan 12T 550 motor, which features an integrated cooling fan for extended run times, powers both vehicles. The stock pinion gear on the Titan 12T allows for an out-of-the-box top speed of over 30 miles per hour. And if you’re looking for an extra dose of speed, there’s an optional high-speed pinion included to make gear mesh adjustments straightforward with 11 different gearing positions. The 4-Tec 3.0 boasts a full-time shaft-driven four-wheel drive system that guarantees confident and dynamic driving.

The staggered wheel and tire combination, with wider tires in the rear, not only ensures good grip but also adds an aggressive stance that’s visually striking. Plus, the 12mm wheel hexes come with replica cross-drilled brake discs at all four corners, complete with bright red brake calipers that can be mounted in forward or trailing positions.

ELECTRONIC WIZARDRY
The front and rear LEDs look incredibly realistic when the vehicles are in motion. The headlights feature brilliant white LEDs to light the way, and the red taillight lenses make sure everyone knows who’s in the lead. And just like other Traxxas electronic accessories, these lights are waterproof so your driving fun isn’t restricted by the weather.

The rods come equipped with Traxxas’ reliable TQ 2.4GHz radio system and the venerable XL-5 electronic speed controller (ESC). Thanks to an adjustable battery hold-down, the vehicles can accept either a 7-cell NiMH flat pack battery or a 2-cell LiPo battery without any modifications. The battery hold-down is swivel-friendly, accommodating batteries of different heights and securely locking in place without the need for pins or other easily lost parts.

A CUSTOM LOOK
As mentioned earlier, Scale Rat was approached to work his aesthetic magic on these two hot rods. He took the two factory red vehicles and applied his signature look to them, adding a two-tone coloration with black paint to the ’33 Hot Rod Coupe and carefully matching the ’35 Hot Rod Truck with touches of black gradient. This looked great, but he wasn’t done yet. Scale Rat followed up by coating both vehicles with a matte clear coat. The results speak for themselves; we think the pair of hot rods looks amazing.

FINAL WORD
While most of us dream of having full-sized hot rods in our garages, the reality, unfortunately, is a bit out of reach for most. But that’s where Traxxas steps in, offering us a scaled-down version of that dream. To make them even more cool than they already are straight out of the box, Scale Rat’s customized versions of the hot rods make the dream even sweeter.

Sources
Traxxas Factory Five 1933 Hot Rod Coupe
P/N: 93044-4
MSRP: $229.95

Traxxas Factory Five 1935 Hot Rod Truck
P/N: 93034-4
MSRP: $229.95
URL: traxxas.com
For more on Scale Rat,
check out his Instagram: @scalerat20

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Text and Images by Jerry Tsai