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Posted (edited)

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Early 60's Side by Side Twin Chevy Dragster

(More Pictures Below)

When Round2 re-issued the classic AMT Double Dragster kit in an expanded "tin box" Collectors Edition a last year it included an extra chrome tree for the Dragster variations. It occurred to me that, combined with parts from other early 60's AMT Parts Packs, it would be possible to build 3, and perhaps even 4, cars from one "tin box". This is Tin Box Build No. 3 of what will be four cars in all. It's the twin Chevy side-by-side digger and follows a '25 T Altered based on the Competition Parts Pack '25 T transkit on the Fiat Altered frame, and a variation on the kit Fiat Altered using a custom frame and the kit Chrysler Hemi. On my workbench right now is a single engined Competition Coupe based on the kit single-engined dragster chassis and a resin '32 Bantam body (see http://www.modelcars...03 ).

This build documents the period of 1959 to 1961 when twin engined dragsters ruled the roost. It's largely out-of-the-box with the exception of the following changes:

Top mounted GMC 6-71 blowers and two-port Hilborn injectors from an AMT '53 Studebaker kit with scratch built manifold.

Resin "mail box" scoops and detailed Hilborn injector pumps from Altered States.

Blower chain drives from Competition Resins.

Front wheels: 1976 MPC Early Altered Class front wheels with Modelhaus T-100B tires.

Seat from my parts box.

Paint: Body - Tamiya TS-19 Mica Blue with Pactra gold accent tape. Chassis - Tamiya TS-12 Bright Orange.

The WIP for this project can be found here: http://www.modelcars...10

Thanx for lookin',

B.

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Edited by Bernard Kron
Posted

That's one cool dragster!

I would be interested in seeing a couple of shots of the bottom to get an idea of how the engines and transmission are put together.

David G.

Posted (edited)

Thanx everyone!

...I would be interested in seeing a couple of shots of the bottom to get an idea of how the engines and transmission are put together....

The engines are connected using a chain transfer case. Here's a picture I have of the setup:

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Edited by Bernard Kron
Posted

Thanx everyone!

The enghines are connected using a chain transfer case. Here's a picture I have of the setup:

Very cool, thank you.

David G.

Posted

connected with a chain saw! Wow, that's radical. B)

You just keep defining cool. Keep 'em coming. I'm loving every one you build. Neat concept; building four cars out of the tin box.

The little splash of gold on the cowl is a nice touch. Is that paint or decal?

Posted

Great dragster! These are my favorites. That Twin engine system looks wild! If one is good, then two has to be better! Nice job on the detailing and all of the painting looks very good too. Amazing job with it, this is very nice model.

Posted

Very cool, my friend!!

You're building yourself quite a collection of vintage dragsters!!

Make sure to pack them safely for the next show!!

Later,

Posted

Thanx again everyone. This old AMT kit has very strong "bones" and really goes a long way to creating that "vintage dragster" vibe. I've got one more build from the old AMT Collector's Edition " tin box" on the bench right now. I'll have to do a wrap-up post where I summarize what exactly are the extra parts that come in it and how they can be used to generate all those traditional builds. The AMT Double T kit is more limited, since it has only one hot rod frame and suspension set (vs. 2 1/2 in the Double Dragster set), only two bodies and only one hot rod engine, so in effect you can only build a stock roadster and a hot rod chopped coupe from the kit. I think ultimately you can get two hot rods out of it by scratching together a second frame and grabbing a different motor from the parts box.

I am curious, when exactly was the AMT Double Dragster kit first issued? My recollection is around 1960-1961, a period when things in drag racing world were literally changing by the month. My foggy old brain seems to tell me it was already Old School by the time it came out!

...The little splash of gold on the cowl is a nice touch. Is that paint or decal?...

Thanx Alyn, the gold stripes are Pactra trim tape.

Posted

Thanx again everyone. This old AMT kit has very strong "bones" and really goes a long way to creating that "vintage dragster" vibe. I've got one more build from the old AMT Collector's Edition " tin box" on the bench right now. I'll have to do a wrap-up post where I summarize what exactly are the extra parts that come in it and how they can be used to generate all those traditional builds. The AMT Double T kit is more limited, since it has only one hot rod frame and suspension set (vs. 2 1/2 in the Double Dragster set), only two bodies and only one hot rod engine, so in effect you can only build a stock roadster and a hot rod chopped coupe from the kit. I think ultimately you can get two hot rods out of it by scratching together a second frame and grabbing a different motor from the parts box.

I am curious, when exactly was the AMT Double Dragster kit first issued? My recollection is around 1960-1961, a period when things in drag racing world were literally changing by the month. My foggy old brain seems to tell me it was already Old School by the time it came out!

Thanx Alyn, the gold stripes are Pactra trim tape.

The kit was released in 1961 as I remember . It included the latest Rule Book from NHRA . Thanx ..

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