swede70

Thanks Harry and very pleased to note both your presence here and receptivity to questions posed... I've met David Barnes here in SE Michigan, have the book, and had both Herb Adams and him sign my copy - hence task accomplished! I too wished for more of a documentary tone to the tale articulated in Blood, Sweat & Gears, but then it wasn't my project. Barnes related recently that there has been interest evidenced in making such into a film, or that a film option had been purchased. We'll see then, while I too have the Dave Tom technical history of the cars and teams involved - thanks J.C./AFX for drawing my attention to such. Prior to the sale of the Gray Ghost to B. Hildebrand, I visited the car and the then-current owner in nearby Brighton, MI. where I met and conversed with Dave. I had in hand a somewhat crude iteration of the 1:18th scale model then, while I took maybe a hundred photos of the Gray Ghost which I burned on a disc and which likely were sent to Hildebrand as he mulled his potential purchase. It's a pretty rare thing for me to be introduced to people so-involved and so-invested, hence the experience from a few years ago rates as personally memorable. For thinking about your same-year Pontiac engine blue reference with regards to wheel and chassis finish on the later-season car, indeed - I think my choice of finish here is a bit too punchy and modern; i.e. it's almost fluorescent and not quite what is called for or needed. A lot of interior finish was flaking away when I visited the car, hence I discreetly gathered up some material evidence to illuminate a way forward. Further, I might well contact Eastwoods to inquire about '71 Pontiac engine enamel to find out what may be available. Thanks... - I've been scribbling questions down, hoping to keep them reasonably direct so as not to wholly tax your attentions for requiring lengthy answers. Others may well follow if such isn't too much to bear. In no particular order then... In early-season trim, would the Minilite wheels be finished in a semigloss high heat black less the machined outer lips? Other thoughts would be that brake dust may have altered or literally colored what is seen in period photographs, while a friend suggested maybe a Dow 7 coating or protective barrier was applied. Along with the application of blue on the undersides of the car, presumably debuted when the wheels were likewise refinished, I'd noted a differential cover painted orange. Was this a later update, or do you recall this as being correct? I didn't notice any evidence of either a transmission or differential cooler being run. Nor did I see any application of heat sensitive 'dots' that might relate what temperatures were being reached within in the style of some Mustang Trans Am entries I've seen. Are my impressions correct then? With regards to the glove compartment-mounted CDI unit, might you recall the original make or finish? I believe period Delco units were black with exposed metal fins, while Mallory units would be red with exposed fins as two options then. For comparing and contrasting materials I have in hand to period photos, was the front bumper subtly narrowed or 'veed'? In relation to the driver's seat, the original spec. seems to have been wholly fabricated from scratch. The abbreviated base and aluminum sides I can make out well enough, but was some structure reused or is disguised for the additions made? I thought it odd that the shoulder harness pick up points seemed located on the parcel shelf. In truth, I don't know if they'd actually be all that much longer if such were secured to the floor, but then again any insight shared would be appreciated. Before they were painted blue, do you recall if the panel work serving as inner fender liners up front was left natural as in being aluminum sheet trimmed and fitted for the purpose? - ...and just in passing, I was curious about the sophisticated effort to disguise the complexities of the oiling system; i.e. the discreetly hidden oil tank within the space of the firewall oriented towards the passenger's side footwell, the unusual pan design, the unique pump configuration and function, etc. With dry sump systems allowed for 1971 for pressure upon the SCCA by Penske in particular, is there something missing from the story that would reveal the basis for all the secrecy? I don't know the time line of when the effort was taken up by the team looking into the 1971 season, nor do I know when the SCCA revised it's rules regarding the use of anything but a wet sump system. Such admitted, I was hoping you might shed light on what was both decided on and designed. Again, thanks for all your fascinating insights. May those road racing types looking in profit from your contributions here. Mike K./Swede70

Really stunning and heart-stopping work seen here. Thanks for all you do... Mike K./Swede70

Very beautiful this - thanks for sharing. I really like the argent-finished Magnum 500's as they could be had in '69 on the BOSS 302, and I'm happy you opted to include this detail. Mike K./Swede70

Greetings and thanks for the past interest displayed, What follow are some images relating how new SC/Rambler kit material was integrated into this build, along with some small scratch built fill panels to smooth things out. Shocks, a Panhard bar/track rod, and sway bar installation for the rear still need to be added, but so far - so coherent. Note I've done away with the slightly crude panel overlay on the back half of the interior here, with everything seen being simply a single panel thick. Thanks for reviewing this update. ...most of the added stuff intended for the rear of '68 Javelin chassis is seen here. ...more visible from the topside, one will note the SC/Rambler floor implant if you will, as well as the pair of scratch built panels for the floor that flesh out the profile already present there. Looking further forward, one sees sliver of further SC/Rambler driveshaft material mated to a pair of rectangular stock extensions stretched out to the sides. Also note that the rear bulkhead lifted from the original Jo-Han Trans Am Javelin tool bears slight extension along the bottom so that it can be installed tightly in a free standing sense, while to blend smoothly with what is below and beneath it, the panel has been opened up a bit with the base filed on an angle where it would contact the SC/Rambler part. ...all of the above in place. ...seen top down. ...at home with the cage worked up from before. ...the small fill panel with side extensions better witnessed. ...looking fairly decent even as the front end awaits and expects (!) help. ...the topic again to put matters and the impression made here together. Thanks for reviewing this most recent update... Mike K./Swede70

Indeed - these are wonderful. Glad you got one and at a super reasonable price too. It is your namesake by golly! Mike K.

Thanks Harry for your most thorough review of the history of Gray Ghost both past and present. All that will read and review this thread doubtlessly envy your experience both on the team in-period, and in relation to the recently completed restoration and vintage race roll out of the topic... The most recent print treatment I'd known of was the M.M. 'Mike' Matune Jr. article published in Nov/Dec 2016/6 issue of Vintage Motorsports, while otherwise a single High Performance Pontiac article from the September 2012 issue constitute the best historical treatments as of late. The September 1971 issue of Motor Trend is vital, while these and scattered period stuff constitutes most of what I had to go on. I still wish there were more and better written treatments of the history of the series, and while photo reference tomes with brief blurbs help and are appreciated, better researched and more thorough records are most desired. I really appreciate your taking the time to flesh out what you could. I think of some recent Car Tech-published titles that at times seem a little raw and undisciplined, although I rather hear from unpracticed voices from the period across scenes than to never listen to what they can share for having been directly involved. By way of example, who wouldn't want to have the most recent history of Kar-Kraft by Charlie Henry on their shelves? On the other end of the spectrum, I really like the Chuck Cantwell (with Greg Kolasa) remembrance published by David Bull which is certainly a work of quality. If one is fascinated by factory-backed Shelby American/Shelby Racing Co. SCCA sedan racing across categories through the '68 season, the Cantwell publication titled simply Shelby Mustang GT350 is a must have. It would be a mistake to miss the period Trans Am content to be found within for simply assuming that material covered is restricted to the GT350/GT350R programs. As for the few period SCCA Trans Am titles available and/or slated to come, time passes, memories fade, and tales that might otherwise have been recorded may not be. At present I hardly want to look at updates of various FB vintage racing pages for fear of learning of who will have died next. A lot is being lost and just huge gaps will exist in relation to what once was. I've tried to collect all that I may, although a lot is scattered and demands of the enthusiast much persistence to build up a collection of primary materials. Sorry for the slip up in relation to the Rochester, MI. angle. I alternate between projects, hence focus is a challenge to maintain. Moving on, almost in an odd ceremonial sense, I tracked down the period home of Herb Adams to see if was still recognizable as per the September 1971 Motor Trend magazine treatment where the car is witnessed being serviced; i.e. the Gray Ghost with it's front clip off, kids bikes strewn about here and there, etc. Indeed - the house still stands and is about a mile or two from Waterford Hills Road Racing/Oakland County Sportsman's Club off of Dixie Hwy. which is relatively close by. Further, for tracking down the address of where inquiries should be mailed when the car was put up for sale with delivery after the M.I.S. race, I spied an indistinct apartment block near Somerset Mall (ahem - now the 'Collection'!) off Big Beaver/16 Mile Rd. Thank goodness the Camaro Research Group scans of Competition Press & Autoweek can make good the gaps in my own newsprint collection, otherwise I'd be toast. Jon Mello does so much for us across that fine online resource. For a comprehensive sweep of the '71 season that was rooted in period race reports, etc. do see: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=9705.0;all To read both the September 1971 Motor Trend article Ask Herb's Wife If We Can Take Her Car Racing as well as a team profile found within the pages of the Michigan International Speedway race program from that season, further see: http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=8227.msg77157#msg77157 ...the early season configuration then. The post coupe framework is still seen (soon to be cut out), as are the Minilite wheels with spokes finished in black. Notice too the transition from the smaller GOODYEAR tire lettering/i.d. seen here to the larger 'T.V tire' lettering on the sidewalls coming into use as the season progressed. Just in brief, my 1:25th effort will be finished to replicate a late-season car, while the 1:18th will very likely be done as a Mid-Ohio entry with the earlier wheel finish. I don't have enough material to strictly nail how the interior was finished but for record of the spray bomb finish (in blue then) witnessed across it pre-restoration, but will aim to strike a reasonable balance for how I proceed forward. I might opt to leave the interior and underside a touch rough given it was a car indicating 70K miles and driven around SE Michigan in all-seasons no less, while I'd guess the oblong fiberglass patch panel has been removed from the passenger's side floor by now! Scruffy perhaps, and most unusual for a vintage topic. Again, I really appreciate the detailed knowledge you possess and have taken the time to share here... Mike K./Swede70

Excellent - I'll review matters again and get back to you consistent with trying to help out. For long I couldn't find many photos to aid the process of determining what was run or strictly could be done. This said, time passes and material surfaces that hitherto couldn't be referenced, hence for all evidence to the contrary, some things do improve in this life. I'm pretty sure the 'Tempest by Trans/Action' seen on the flanks of the late-season photo reproduced above didn't make it, while the stylized 'Bob Tullius' i.d. sometimes appearing on the roof was slated here to be stolen from an old Fred Cady Group 44 Jaguar/British Leyland waterslide sheet which also affords a few Quaker State Oil options for clearer lettering, and alternate sizes too. Sorry I can't reverse the digits on '44' when I type such to be fully respectful! I suspect in-period Tullius just showed up to drive the car and carried a decal on this person for just the occasion. Also and while most builders might not strictly miss it, for long the car wore a Casper the Friendly Ghost motif on each respective C-pillar after it was sold and ran A-production. In truth I can't consider such vital, but maybe locals would? And in a toss away sense, black and white Goodyear 'diamond' logos again seen on the late-season image aren't all that common and would be appreciated. Moving along, the O.E.M. vinyl tape graphics simply reading GTO across the back right and done in black might come from a MPC '71 GTO rerelease trusting I've saved and isolated such. Continuing, an obscure decal from an obscure local firm known as Diamond Racing Pistons, typically placed on the hood corners as a pair and being mostly orange, would also be sought. This one is likely impossible given I can't come up with the graphics. Then-situated in Mt. Clemens, MI. and sometimes identified as 'Diamond Racing Engines', you'd think I could do better given the locale of where this firm conducted business is not more then six or seven miles away from where I sit! Nice work on the sheet, while especially impressed I am with the hood graphics you worked up for the late-season look given all photo reference available shows such at harsh angles. Thanks for all you do and did... - ...oh, and here would be a close-up of a license plate done up with what was likely a mix of period Trans Am and maybe GTO Judge art. The pit lane scene is from St. Jovite, while the clearer image is from the car before it was recently restored. Kind thanks again... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the notice regarding such as 'extra eyeballs' being alert to things that might appeal is always much appreciated. Kind regards... Mike K./Swede70

Very nice - I really like the choices you've made; i.e. the discreet weathering that rates as just enough and no more, the terrific dash and interior floor, etc. Anxious to chart your further progress then... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, I only have a few projects, although most exist as two-thirds finished mock-ups begging for slight sorting and of course - paint and final assembly. What follows would be a brief record of what are a pair of scale models of the oddball Herb Adams 'Gray Ghost' SCCA Trans Am '64 Tempest, the entry run with fleeting success in the 1971 series. At a glance something of a joke effort, nevertheless the project was undertaken by skilled Pontiac engineers in their spare time, embodying considerable thought even as it was packaged in a decidedly odd wrapper. Based in nearby Rochester, MI. (an error this - see below. M.K.), the team and the history of such has personal interest, while a rare opportunity afforded to me to make an inspection of the actual racer before it was restored recently prompted me to take on first a 1:25th scale project, and later a 1:18th diecast-based project even as a subpage on this board exists for such. I'll try to toss out things I did consistent with lending value to anyone attempting a like-project, although don't register shock if things go silent. More text will be afforded to the 1:25th project here, while if I do more with the 1:18th diecast effort, a new thread charting progress will emerge and take form there. Thanks... ...this would be the topic late-season in 1971. Obviously not your typical 5.0 liter svelte road racing sedan, as a positive it didn't have parallel leaf springs holding matters up in the rear. ...this would constitute my much-massaged 1:25th scale project. The body, bumpers, tail light lenses and decals are from a Scale Coachworks release of which maybe 50-70 examples were made. The shell is based on the old AMT annual release, while the model was sold with what would seems to have been a Modelhaus '64 Tempest hood which would be sans faux hood scoops otherwise witnessed on a like-year GTO. Should one compare this photo to other examples of the Scale Coachworks body online, one will note that I've filed off a lot of material consistent with reshaping the openings and softening the flares to come up with what is seen. On a happy note, it can be said that I didn't have to add anything here, with the as-delivered shell only requiring a lot of referral to period photos to largely make right. Other things discerned and in brief then. Tires are ancient MPC Goodyear Blue Streak NASCAR tires in the same size front to rear. Wheels are resin clones of Jo-Han Javelin-sourced Minilites with turned aluminum outer rims sporting a taper. Grilles are Lindberg items, while the interior panels and dash are sourced from the same '64 GTO tool. The chassis is from a recent vintage AMT '66 Oldsmobile 442 which at least tosses in a good B.O.P. rear end if nothing more. The engine is a mix of recent Pontiac kit releases consistent with coming up with better than the ancient MPC rendition of the 400 c.i.d. Pontiac. The actual car ran a 303, although this based upon the heavy tall deck block topped with Ram Air IV heads. The oiling system on the actual car is very interesting indeed. Although some discreet exterior lettering is missing on the as-supplied decal sheet, in the main the Scale Coachworks decal art is well thought out. If you happen to chance across a body or whole transkit on sale , harbor an interest in vintage SCCA Trans Am topics, etc., do consider gathering it up for it's an honest effort of something special. ...just in brief then, this is my much modified 1:18th scale Sun Star '64 GTO telegraphing as a '64 Tempest for a great deal of work. The cast-in metal faux hood scoops were filed down by hand and gone over with a sanding block for about a month to afford the profile seen here. The effort was nothing short of ghastly... This would be a much cleaner rendition of a July '71 Motor Trend race report under hood image taken at the Lime Rock event - the first of the season then. The picture was found on the new PP/SEMA online archive which I recommend to everyone like-inclined. The engine is quite basic from a glance at the exterior, with an old Edelbrock RD4 dual-plane intake, just a single 4 BBL as per the rules, etc. ...with mostly scratch built under hood paneling, plus scratch built intake and hand-sculpted flares. The left side grille was cast in resin and done twice over to avoid use of the standard model grille otherwise found on the right that bears the expected 'GTO' identification, while the headlamp block out plates are polished aluminum rod wafers cut to fit. Uber time-consuming all this, while the scribble noticed is that of one Herb Adams who I met briefly at an area book signing. Mr. Adams was able to inspect the model, and I hope bless it in a scale-model sense... ...rear three-quarter then, with lightly glued on renditions of decal art to come consistent with me getting a bearing on what I'm doing. O.K. - no more diecast stuff here then! Thanks for reviewing this post and thread. Mike K./Swede70

Indeed - I'll start a new thread, although consistent with something part of a theme with regards to Herb Adams and Co., here would be a single short succession of photos. Replies regarding this might be better attached to a separate thread. Indeed - a brace of H.L. Mencken books were spied behind one of my projects. Pleased you caught that! I have two projects of the old Gray Ghost Trans Am '64 Tempest going, one in 1:25th scale based upon the Scale Coachworks transkit, the other based on a 1:18th Sun Star diecast model given that modifying such is what I normally do. I started with the smaller plastic kit, while for access to the 1:1 topic prompted me to splurge and gather up the larger model. It's really rare for me to be allowed to inspect a period racer close-in, hence what would seem a duplication of effort. Anything spied in white is either a resin clone of something or scratch built. Short descriptions (big intake of breath here given I often overdo it) follow: ...the topic late-season in 1971. ...a 1:25th scale Scale Coachworks resin-bodied Gray Ghost with Lindberg interior panels, a AMT '66 Olds 442 chassis, and a bitsa Pontiac engine beneath an old Modelhaus hood. ...the Sun Star 'Ghost with much scratch built. The taped-on markings are preliminary decal art in-process. ...the topic underhood at Lime Rock '71. From the new PP/SEMA archive, and a clearer version of what showed up in Motor Trend in-period. This is the best period photo bar none, although if you'd like I'd be happy to send along other images of smaller assemblies taken close-in even as they reflect what the vehicle was like in 2011 or so. ...my model with revised 1:18th GMP '70 Judge 'power'. Underhood panelwork is scratch built then. ...rear three-quarter - and I'm done! No more dwelling on me then. Love the Herb Adams connection, while the scribble on the plaque is his when I briefly met him at a local book signing. He was able to see the model, and in a scale-sense, bless the effort. Thanks and I really like the NASCAR Grand Am effort Dr. Larry is working up here. Mike K./Swede70

I tried to edit my post seen above to pump up the content. I think I took about 150 Gray Ghost pictures when I was on the scene, hence other detail photographs are at my beck and call if only I sift through them carefully enough. As for the 1:1 car, for quite some time the G.G. was quietly resting in a garage in nearby Brighton, MI., and for some exchange of messages, I was invited out to record everything I could with my digital camera, calipers, etc. Gosh - the fellow even put the 1:1 car on jackstands so that I could further pour over it. A terrific and rare experience this was as I'm sure you'll agree. As to my projects, I worried that it would be tacky to dilute focus from your own work for posting my own stuff on what is your thread. Say 'please' and I could be persuaded to gingerly post some. Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, My Testor's-issue SC/Rambler parts car arrived, hence I was able to cut into the chassis and trunk castings to prepare something for implantation into my '68 RKE Javelin. Seen below is some experimentation in this direction. ...this is my late-'70 season chassis again, while note how the floor pan still utilizes the old kit material where mufflers might otherwise be expected on the standard production car. At the time I fitted the SC/Rambler parts seen, I didn't strictly make use of all the material availed so that the surface transition would be as smooth as was later judged possible. A better effort is seen below even as a few parts are absent... Regarding the late-'70 chassis again, note the now-priceless Rebel Machine front suspension fitted plus subframe rail 'implants' to clean up the damage for removing the axle location 'blocks'. Also note the angled radiator installation that appeared on the Penske-constructed AMC Trans Am Javelins, here utilizing an old 1:24th Monogram NASCAR core. Lastly, the white resin tire masters seen on the back which are slightly wider than standard MPC Goodyear Stock Car Specials, modified here to look a bit better on the '70 and later Trans Am Javelin. Same tread, same sidewall, just doubled up in resin to come up with the added width then... ...this a mock up on an existing SS/AMX chassis using the parts bin stuff that just arrived. Notice I've used all the material I could get from the SC/Rambler floor between the rear frame rails. A gap is seen given there just isn't enough material to bridge things, hence happy I am that I made a low-risk test of sorts here. I expect to leave things a bit longer and grind off the faint strengthening ribs seen on the standard Jo-Han race chassis to blend things effectively. Notice too that if one spends enough time filing down the top of the frame rails and carefully fitting the rear hump half to the forward half of said hump, matters can be tightened up considerably as contrasted to what is discerned on the late-'70 effort shown further up this post. ...and lastly, it's pretty common to see the neat flush American Motors exterior door handles drown under a layer of primer, a layer of paint, a subsequent layer of clear and finally foil. Trying to combat this dilemma, I thought that maybe if I trimmed some very clean handles from a junk shell and created a mold to cast duplicate apart and away from the build, perhaps hope would exist to finish them with greater delicacy and care. The idea is to seek to have these plated, then apply a wash of Testor's Model Master Magnesium Buffing, and then lastly, apply some semi-gloss clear with the intent of coming up with something good to simply drop onto the work. Filing out flush door handles on a shell isn't fun, but if something like these can be finished to a high standard before anything is strictly carved out of the body, then the effort might be worth it. Thanks for skimming this most recent update. Mike K./Swede70

Looks great - very agreeable progress right across the chassis. Looking forward to more then... Oh - and as usual and after the fact, here would be some close-in pictures of the remote filter mount sporting the pair of filters. Locally I was afforded the opportunity to pour over the Herb Adams Gray Ghost ''71 Trans Am '64 Tempest before it was restored, hence the both the photos and their implied relevance. I have a pair of projects going in relation to the 'Ghost in differing scales, although just in the moment, I thought I could plug in these images should they be of value to you. Mike K./Swede70

Looks pretty decent. It's nice to think that some of these parts store premiums are improving and that some intrepid searching can turn up good quality items for little. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Good - glad to help in some small way. For searching the same PP archive, a long series of '73 Daytona 500 images turn up, while one has the topic shown nearly face on whilst on the banking. It's in color, and while efforts to link you to a particular image via a URL haven't really translated to value, search '1973 NASCAR' or perhaps '1973 Daytona' and I'm confident you will find it. Thanks... Mike K./Swede70

Thanks for the kind displays of interest, Not knowing quite where to post this, I very recently stumbled onto the new Petersen Publishing SEMA Archive accessible online. Used to reviewing material on the David Friedman Collection/Benson Ford Research Center and well as the Rev's Collection/Stanford University, for carefully sifting photos on the PP archive, suddenly it seems my online capabilities have been improved by a third. Certainly a great many photos to support this project have been found, while if coverage for what you care about in turn is afforded, why not try? In particular, for restricting my search to something as simple as '1968 Trans Am', a half dozen underhood image of the Ronnie Kaplan Javelins taken at the Riverside Mission Bell 250 were uncovered that answer quite a few questions I'd harbored. Now I know that the cowl induction vents cut into the top of the firewall weren't covered for conversion to the late-season fresh air system and aluminum air intake 'box' run, that the oil blowby breathers were painted black and mounted at a certain angle, etc. Do consider giving the utility an inspection, although understand that the search term function is limited in it's power given the cataloging of the images isn't very deep or comprehensive. A fair amount is misfiled and misidentified, so if you in turn have the insight to share to help them relabel what requires such, then consider doing this too given we all can't be expert concerning everything. In short, the value you quietly lend to the scene today may be quietly rewarded to you tomorrow. See then: https://archive.petersen.org/pages/search.php Mike K./Swede70

Neat topic - I hope to follow along with your progress. Mike K./Swede70

This would be a brief update then... Mostly waiting for a Testor's branded reissue of the Jo-Han SC/Rambler kit to arrive, nevertheless some work has been done as other things are contemplated. I hope to cut out the egregious rear axle and 'hump' detail and replace such with the Rambler kit parts as I've depicted in photos below. It obviously helps if one has the old Jo-Han Funny Car kit-sourced Model 20 rear end as it's nice indeed and makes the effort worthwhile. Further, if one harbors ambitions to add a Panhard rod or a sway with linkage detail, then the space freed up is invaluable. A few photos then of recent work undertaken... ...note the stamped in bumper mount profile, hitherto missing on my model. ...likely to be redone and certainly reshaped for aggressive file work, nevertheless an improvement here. Whoops - I lost the thin length of strip plastic atop the rear valence panel license plate cut out along the top here. Such has since been fixed. Small things, but the scratch built bellhousing was removed and reshaped, while a thin mounting lip was cut and shaped so that it largely matches what photos I could find. Also and just in passing, the Borg-Warner T10 transmission was trimmed a bit at the end, while the tailshaft housing was also reshaped so that it would be round versus the odd rectangular profile the Jo-Han parts sport as-delivered. Discreet stuff is the removal of the undesired Gen. I AMC V8 oil filter mount on the block that here has been ground away. Yes - Jo-Han AMC engines come through with two oil filter mounts given they opted to do a light retool of the existing Gen. I engine for later releases versus tool a Gen. II V8 from scratch. ...practicing on a spare SS/AMX chassis, here can be spied the aforementioned AMC Model 20 rear end w/axle tubes. The cast-in driveshaft is no more given it was cut out, while a new tool Revell '69 Camaro Z/28 featuring much better U-joint detail has been substituted in. Also seen is a separate transmission cross member cut free to facilitate better paint application apart and away from the chassis. For casting duplicates of the Model 20 rear end, the rear cover too can be isolated and painted with greater ease. ...a different Javelin chassis here, the image communicates how cleanly the two-piece SC/Rambler floor back of the wheel housings can be integrated once the old-school cast-in axle is cut out. ...and viewed from the topside. Again, quite clean and affording open trunk detail if one is so inclined to add such. ...and lastly, how things will likely look on the '68 - at least towards the rear. SC/Rambler spring overlays, lower shock absorber mounts from the same, and early issue Funny Car Model 20 rear end parts from a glue bomb purchased long ago. The fuel cell housing is from before, while better Revell '69 Z/28 driveshaft detail will improve upon what is seen here. Thanks for reviewing this project update... Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, Looking around at my period magazines and searching for stuff to call out or identify, at the very least I can call your attention to a particular title and issue if you don't already have such in hand. The May 1973 issue of Stock Car Racing apparently caught the debut of the effort even if the race report of the Winston Western 500/Riverside contest is dominated by event winner Mark Donohue in the Penske Matador. Given reference to the Grand Am effort you are doing is short, I'll relate the paragraph to you here in full: ...A new team showed up and was warmly greeted by the road racing set. Jerry Thompson of Clawson, Michigan, often suspected of fielding a backdoor General Motors entry in the Trans-Am, showed up with a Pontiac Grand-Am and a couple of Pontiac engineer types. They had the usual trouble new teams experience getting through NASCAR's very tough technical inspection, qualified fastest on the second day, and motored around to finish 15th overall. Undoubtedly the crew's inexperience held Thompson back in his NASCAR debut. On its first pit stop the crew got the back wheels up before they stopped spinning, causing considerably delay. Later they had to put out a carburetor fire during a brake-changing and engine-tuning session in the pits... As race reports go, this is a long article and hence there was much else going on that drowned out whatever further attention might have been paid to the fledgling outfit. Hope this helps! Oh - also see this color image via the new Petersen Publishing Archive. Scan down a bit and you'll see it towards the left bottom: https://archive.petersen.org/pages/search.php?search=riverside+winston+western+500+1973&k=&modal=&display=xlthumbs&order_by=relevance&offset=0&per_page=48&archive=&sort=DESC&restypes=1%2C3&recentdaylimit=&foredit=&go=next&offset=48 Mike K./Swede70

Greetings, I've seen them up close, and indeed they are nice. Certainly each represent eclectic fodder for the Ford enthusiast and in a sense are overdue in scale. The cost of each is rather steep, while on the other hand, who would take the time to tool them again or in a larger scale at that? If you aren't already aware of the existence of such, do follow the link to be afforded a '69 Super 8 film taken during an open house at Kar Kraft in Brighton, MI. Some Mach II material is seen, along with a wide range of all that KK was doing during in-period. Believe me when I say that it's stunning: https://www.facebook.com/BrightonAreaHistoricalSociety/videos/kar-kraft-1969-by-larry-lawrence/2461333023315/ Mike K./Swede70

Very beautiful; i.e. terrific paint, precisely finish application and correct choices in evidence across the chassis, etc. Thanks for sharing... Mike K./Swede70

Oh, thank you so much. I really, really appreciate the interest and support! Mike K./Swede70

You'll likely be off to the hobby shop to gather some Plastruct half-round rod material or some such, while heating strips of the same in hot water to ensure that such is pliable prior to adding the same around each respective wheelhouse would be a good idea. I've not had much success with Plastruct glue per se, hence maybe reach for Tamiya cement (liquid in a small Octagon-shaped glass bottle with an orange cap). Discreet sanding stick work will likely clean up what you've added to suit. If you have a spare body (given you'll be new to all this), practice on it first given things will likely go amiss the first time out. Even if everything goes bogus, do not lose hope for only by taking measured chances do we improve our respective skill sets. Greetings from nearby Fraser, MI. Mike K./Swede 70

Thanks everyone for checking into my little hobby universe, A short while back I did succeed in having a pair of small decals made up to support what may in time be three Autodynamics Challenger 1:18th diecast models, with these constituting a pair of modified ACME factory releases, as well as the outstanding #76 late-season entry with flares that stands to be completed. I contacted someone by the name of Kenny Terry and did my best to work up what I needed, while he in turn did his best to afford us what we see here. Note that while he would surely have this work on file, I only had him reproduce three decal images in total, hence it would be misleading to suggest that one could wholly reproduce what is seen here for simply making a call to place an order. Above left is seen a cropped underhood image of the Autodynamics Challenger at Laguna Seca '70. sourced from a period copy of Car Life. The DODGE oval art employs font from the pre-'70 DODGE Fever advertising campaign, while from what little color period photos I've seen of the art, the lettering is black, while the field is grayish silver. A well meaning person online claims it was yellow and he'd seen an image confirming such, although this I've not (yet) discovered. Towards the rear of the valve cover is found a Keith Black Racing Engines disc decal less the sometimes seen 'Black Magic' reference, while finally, the photo to the right depicts the images stacked two deep for color and clarity on my converted ACME #77. A sharpened brass tube was used to punch out the KB decals given trimming something so small accurately otherwise proved impossible. ...and for scrambling a bit, I changed over all of the accessory markings after having first washed off the old. The reference photo is again from the Laguna Seca contest in 1970, the first of the season in fact. As would be expected, the appearance of the car altered slightly for decal placement, etc. all year long. Difficult to see, I did have the Dodge Scat Pack Club disc decal made up, while the Keith Black image is a duplicate of what is seen underhood on the rear of the valve cover face. Everything else was cobbled up from my limited store of waterslides saved for situations like this. The DSPC image was eventually cut out with a fortuitously sized hole punch, although I killed quite a few for not having the image on-center relative to the position of the punch. Notice again the GOODYEAR decals added to the hood on opposite sides of the scoop, as well as the black and white GOODYEAR diamond logo situated right forward of the #77 i.d. on the hood. The blue and yellow GOODYEAR diamond seen on the restored 1:1 vehicle is incorrect. And just in passing, the slightly muddy SCCA Trans-American Championship decal was sourced from a 1:25th AMT Warren Tope Mustang plastic kit reissue. Thanks for reviewing this update... Mike K./Swede70