Tuksedo Studio is handcrafting aluminum recreations of automotive icons so realistic they rival the originals
7 hours ago
- Tuksedo Studio crafts six models including replicas of the DB5, 300 SL, and 507.
- Each car is built using digitized original drawings and hand-formed body panels.
- Every component, from wheels to gauges, is handmade in-house except engines.
Replicas have long been treated as the understudies of the automotive world, often dismissed before the curtain even rises. Yet every so often, one appears that challenges that perception entirely.
That’s the case with the remarkable classic creations coming out of a modest workshop in Bali, Indonesia. These hand-built machines from Tuksedo Studio may carry six-figure price tags, but for those who understand what goes into them, every dollar is accounted for.
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Tuksedo Studio was founded by a former architect whose passion for classic cars and craftsmanship naturally evolved into something more ambitious.
How Are The Cars Built?
Launched almost a decade ago, the company currently offers six models, each inspired by iconic European and Japanese models, all built from the ground-up by a team of young craftsmen.
As you can see in the video from Hagerty, which paid a visit to the workshop, using the word replica in this case doesn’t really do these cars justice as they look every bit as good as the originals.
Among the cars currently offered are faithful reinterpretations of the Porsche 550 Spyder, Porsche 356, Toyota 2000GT, Aston Martin DB5, Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, and BMW 507.
In Indonesia, it’s illegal to import any of the originals, which is why Tuksedo Studio builds them itself. All are based around the mechanics of on existing models that are easy to find locally.
For example, the 2000GT uses the engine of a Toyota Crown, while the 300SL’s powertrain is sourced from a Mercedes W124 sedan.
To ensure each model is absolutely perfect, the company uses original drawings, digitizes them, and then its team slowly creates every piece of the body from aluminum. There are no fancy tools here and traditional English wheels are used to shape the panels.
All Parts Are Made In-House
The attention to detail is extraordinary. Given how difficult it is to find original parts locally or to import them from overseas, Tuksedo Studio creates every single piece of each of its vehicles in-house, except for the windshield and the powertrain.
This includes everything from major components like the rims to smaller, intricate parts such as the steering wheels, gauges, lights, headlights, reflectors, and door locks.
Every element, inside and out, is crafted entirely by hand. We’re talking thousands of individually made pieces, each shaped and finished with the same care as the last.
The production process is so complex that despite having a large team, Tuksedo Studio currently only has the capacity to manufacturer around five vehicles per year.
With that level of craftsmanship, it’s hardly surprising that prices begin around $200,000 and can climb beyond $300,000, reflecting the time, skill, and precision invested in each build.