'70 Grande Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 My first completed build for 2021. Some of you may have seen some of my previous posts of this build in the WIP Nascar section awhile ago. It was intended to be a fictitious, circa 1965 USAC Race car, but my USAC decals fell-apart in the application-process, so I used Nascar decals instead. Here's the back-story: "A moderate-sized Chevrolet dealership in the Midwest had two mechanics, (Bert & Frank), on-staff that owned and raced a dirt track jalopy on the regional, 1/4-mile dirt tracks, with some reasonable success. Knowing of their local racing successes, and wanting to take the dealership into a more racing/performance image, the dealership owner offered a car for them to transform into a race car and take out on the Nascar race circuit for a few races each year. In the early-summer of 1961, this Chevrolet Impala was pulled-off the dealer lot, and went into the Service/Repair Dept. to be torn-down and transformed into a Nascar race car. Bert & Frank, (working late-nights after the dealership had closed), did most of the work, with help from others in that Service/Repair Dept. By mid-August, 1961, the car was ready to attempt to qualify for the Grand National, (Nascar) 200-lap, 1/4-mile dirt track race held Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, S. Carolina, with Bert behind the wheel. Bert qualified the car to start 20th on the grid, and he worked his way all the way up to 7th place before falling back in finish 14th at the checkered flag. The car took a few dents and dings, but held-up well throughout the event. The car was patched-up and ran three more short-track, Grand National races to finish its 1961 season. When the 1962 Grand National, (Nascar) season started, hopes were high and the dealership owner found more funding to support this newfound, but limited racing effort. Bert drove the car in 18 Grand National races in 1962, with a best finish of 9th place and 5 DNF's. There wasn't a lot of money won, but the dealership owner was willing to run a limited 1963 season with this same car and Bert behind the wheel. Bert drove the car in 20 Grand National races in 1963, with a best finish of 7th place and 6 DNF's. The plans were to continue on with virtually the same effort for the 1964 season, but when the first two races ended in DNF's and the best finish of the first 10 races run that year was a 17th, the dealership owner's hopes began to quickly fade. By mid-summer, the owner announced to Bert and Frank that this would be their last year of racing this now-old 1961 Impala in Grand National races. It finished 1964 running in 16 races, with 7 DNF's. There was no funding left for replacing bent-up fenders and freshening-up the paintwork; the car was to be run with just the necessary mechanical work completed, and little else." So I present to you the #31, 1961 Chevrolet Impala Grand National, (Nascar), Race Car at the end of the 1964 racing season, with a 58-race career under its belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 A couple of more pics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'70 Grande Posted February 9, 2021 Author Share Posted February 9, 2021 Last pics; comments and/or suggestions always welcomed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 Super cool Mark. So many variations of this model can be made.👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 Very nice.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kromolly Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 That's really cool. I love the body damage and weathering. Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyK Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 A great story and a great model. So tough to make a believable damaged and weathered model but you did it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catpack68 Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 Looks great! I like the damage you added👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PappyD340 Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Great looking stocker! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toys4Don2 Posted February 14, 2021 Share Posted February 14, 2021 Excellent job on the weathering and damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABNSPR Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 Real nice work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisR Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 Great job, Mark. One of the best weathered versions of any stock car I have ever seen done. I have no clue how to do one. Again, excellent job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott8950 Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 The weathering and body damage look realistic.. nice job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarheelRick Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 Very fine looking old warrior; about time to reskin her and put a few more years on it. As the others have said that is some excellent weathering and damage work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Rivard Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 What a wonderful inspiring build. I have tried weathering a race car before but your's really sets the bar for future efforts. Thank you for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1959scudetto Posted June 16, 2021 Share Posted June 16, 2021 Very impressive model, Mark - and a believable story behind it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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