Richard Bartrop

www.scalemates.com says the T-rantula first came out in 1968, and the Digger Trike came out in 1971.

Sounds like the problem is not using the descreening on the original scan.

How much actual difference is there between that, and the front half of a '23 roadster body?

At least try to come up with something halfway plausible.

I'd even say go to 600 if you can.

I didn't see anything about clearance sales on my last visit to the LHS, so I'm guessing sales to Canada are still happening.

The car in 1955, and I think this is my favourite version. The frame photos on the HAMB look pretty scary. Not something you'd want to replicate on a real car, but that would be an interesting exercise to model, rough welds and all.

Oh, I like that. It's over the top, but it's still a coherent design, and it references the original without being a slavish im1tation. If the kitmakers are looking for something to model, they could do far worse.

Of course, real wood station wagons took a lot of work to keep them looking good, so the fake stuff gives you the look without the hassle. Maybe this is one piece of fakery that isn't so dumb after all.

Oh, tastes do change, and I can see how in the days when your typical car show had stuff like this vying for the public's attention, I can see why you might want to jazz up what is seen as just another old hot rod. Now, maybe people will start appreciating that over the top period of hot rod style. If some of the articles in Hemmings are any indication, it looks like it might already be happening. However, there is more to this than just aesthetics. We've had a few people here offer their opinions on how they'd improve the "Kookie" version of the car, which itself is not the original version. The Grabowski roadster is a big deal because it redefined what a hot rod should look like, and I suppose the TV version is the one everyone knows. One of the great things about modeling is that you can recreate any incarnation of any famous vehicle.

You did get some interest in the 4 cylinder era during the 60s, but interest in old hot rods didn't seem to really take off until the '70s as part of a general wave of '50s nostalgia.

Definitely an improvement. A kit would be nice, for fortunately, all the individual parts have been kitted at one point or another.

I can only image it's because fake wood has already been covered extensively in other4 threads. One that doesn't get covered are the fake allen head bolts that decorated the interior of the thrid generation Camaro and Firebird

So true. I remember patiently gluing pieces of wire on the heads of a stock AMT '40 Ford V8 to try and make a set of finned heads. On the other hand, the '27 T came with a Frotenac head, and of course the first version of the '29 A roadster had some vintage speed parts, so it you wanted to hop up an ancient 4 banger, you were good.

Hey , look at me, I'm a Mercedes! No, seriously, I am a sophisticated European import... Of course, Studebaker was partnered with Mercedes Benz at the time, so the connection is kinda sorta legit. However, Ford's attempt to make the same kind of connection definitely counts as a particularly dumb piece of fakery.

Some great finds!

Some vintage fakery. An air cooled 1929 Franklin with a stylish, but fake radiator.

This was an oldie even when this cartoon was made.

"Iconic" is just bling that people have gotten used to. Go look up "The Insolent Chariots" for a 1958 view of those '50s classics. One piece of automotive fakery with a long history is the fake convertible, or "faux cabriolet" for the sophisticates. The look of a convertible without all that troublesome...converting. Some carmakers would go al the way with simulated cloth, blind rear quarters, and landau irons. Pretty stylish, but also kind of dumb when you think about the massive blind spot you end up with in the rear.

https://www.thedrive.com/tech/30431/electric-v-8-crate-motor-from-electric-gt-is-sema-swap-ready The concept itself is great. Kudos for trying to make it easier for people who want to play around with electrification, and working with what you have is what hot rodding is all about. However, the package is just stupid. It's like those attempts to stick a horse head on early gas buggies so as not to alarm real horses. You're not going to fool anyone. Just own the fact that it's an electric motor.

You're probably right. Even Volkswagen realized tha rear engines and air cooling were a dead end. No argument at all about how styling went, though even then there were a few bright spots. Personally, I think the Chevy Monza turned out pretty nice.

Now you've got me wondering how the Corvair would look if it survived into the '70s, with '70s style bumpers and '70s pimpmobile styiling. Perhaps it's just as well it died when it did.

European style was a big influence during the Mitchell years. Personally, I always saw more than a little Ferrari Lusso in the 2nd Gen Camaro. I suppose I can see some Jag XJ in the 70-73 Camaro front, but both cars are drop dead gorgeous, so this is not a problem.

Put me down for Y724.

Great pics! Thanks for sharing!