TarheelRick

Outstanding build and beautiful paint work. One to be proud of.

Really looking forward to what you do with this one. Modified Production was a very close runner-up right behind Gassers as my favorite drag class. One of the instructors in my trade-school class ran a 327 powered '56 Chevy in B/MP back in '68. I have an A/MP in plans, when I get back to my bench (got to find it first). Keep those updates coming. From what you have shown so far this is going to be a killer build.

They have already been busy at work. Whoever owned it before me has installed a set of the trio gauges everybody bought from J.C. Whitney and a column mounted tach. I have pulled about ten feet of speaker-type wire from under the dash. It is still attached to something, the car still has the Ford AM radio, so I am not sure what they were trying to do. I would greatly appreciate if you can find me a windshield. I have tried six different on-line companies and all have come back with a negative reply. The windshield must fit a '79-80 model, because when Ford restyled the Pinto from the Maverick look to the Fox body look they increased the width of the windshield somewhere between 1.5-2 inches.

The first new vehicle I ever bought was a 1972 Chevy C-10 (350, auto, AM radio, step rear bumper), cost me a whopping $3200. Got it the first time I reenlisted in the USAF, used part of my reenlistment bonus as a down payment. Moving on to 2010, bought a new Ford Ranger (4.0 V-6, auto, AM-FM Sirius capable radio, auto doorlocks, windows) set me back $18,000 and change. Recent purchase of a 2022 F-150 (5.0 V-8, auto, 4X4, too many bells and whistles) $48,000 and change. Just received an offer from the dealer I bought it from wanting me to buy a new F-150, prices are up around $65,000 and he is willing to offer me $28-34,000 trade-in. Guess I will probably keep my current F-150 until it or me falls apart.

Living a lesson learned. My Pinto is not quite as bad as this Cougar, but I am coming across more issues. Right now, other than a fuel issue, I am having some 'paranormal' problems with my headlights and underdash wiring. Largest problem is still trying to locate a good windshield. I believe it was cracked in transit, but the guy that delivered it said it was that way when he picked it up. Conversation with the auction company denies it - he said, they said; and I have to pay for it, if I can find one. Thoughts now are to set aside an amount of money to have someone go through it completely, refurbish the interior, refresh the drivetrain, update the braking/suspension and simply accept the fact I bought a lemon.

Extremely nice work. Great rebuild of a toy into a believable model. The scene tells a story very well.

Without a doubt this is IMHO the best representation of a lakester ever built. I can sit here for hours just marveling over the intricacy of the wiring.plumbing. That chassis work alone is a work of art. Any and all accolades you receive for this build will be well deserved. In one post you mentioned an Allison powered build coming; has that one been one done or is it in construction?

Some very innovative creations. Really enjoyed looking through them.

Makes them go faster!

Very nice looking street cruiser. Should be able to get the groceries in a hurry with those three deuces. Like that paint also.

Really enjoying watching this build come together. If this kit is anything like the "Flower Power" kit, you probably scraped off enough flash to cast another body. Anyway, your choice of colors and the way you added them is excellent. Not really too keen on the cambered look, but as you said that is pretty much the look of the day. Also really impressed with your 3D printing and lathe work. Keep those updates coming.

Indeed, a beautiful Beetle. Makes me think I may want to ditch my Pinto and see if I can find another Beetle to replace it.

Hope you can find the decals that is one wicked Demon (is that a redundant statement?).

The link appears in your signature block and it does go to a Japanese website.

Beautiful build, really like that color.

The 40 Ford is also my favorite real car. I am 75 and the first kit I ever built was a AMT Trophy Series 40 Ford Coupe and I have not built a 40 Ford since. Now to your build, to put it simply - amazing. That color just grabs you those 5 spokes just scream "street rod". Absolutely beautiful.

I just bought one this past Sunday. I don't really care for the body, no offense to Carl Casper, but the chassis will work nicely for an early gas/coupe I have in plans. The engine and front-drive blower are fairly lackluster. Fair price for a good chassis, wheels, and tires. Forgot to mention the included show floor base, vampire, headless ghoul, and flying bat.

When you are looking 75 years old in the face, then you peruse the basement wall of shelves full of unbuilt kits, you finally realize it is time to do something about it. So you diligently search the forums for upcoming swapmeet/shows in your area, you pack four or five boxes of models, reserve a table and head off to reduce your stock. After returning home you are so pleased that one and a half of the boxes are empty and your inventory has decreased. BUT, then you realize four kits in one of the boxes were not there when you left the house and are indeed purchases you made at the swapmeet. So much for scaling back. I am addicted to polystyrene and am not actively seeking rehabilitation.

I have been building since 1959 and have enjoyed the polystyrene addiction immensely. That being said I do have three resin bodies waiting to be placed on styrene chassis and I have s selection of Texas 3D parts for my Revell VW, plus another selection of 3d engines waiting their turn to be implanted into their respective styrene kits. I have discovered it is more cost-efficient to buy a quality 3d printed Ford SOHC than to purchase one of the many kits with that particular engine. Many of those are bleak at best, plus there is the leftover incomplete kit with no engine. As said earlier "parts are parts". If I can find a steel front roll-pan for my Pinto - great, but if not I will settle for a fiberglass replica.

Those are some excellent paintings, each one tells its own story.

Attended the Mid-Carolina Swapmeet today, besides selling off several oddball kits that I would never build I brought these home.

Beautiful collection of Wood Brothers cars. Really like Tiny Lund's '63, that especially is the era I became engrossed in NASCAR (not so much now). All are beautiful, also like the Virginia Tech machine, one of the few Woods cars that is not red and white.

As the others have said this is a most excellent build, really love your choice of color. That seat is what caught my attention most, what did you use to cover it with? It looks so much like a 1:1 custom interior. Many thanks for sharing this one.

Beautiful build, really crisp decal work. I just recently acquired the Heller 1/43 scale version of this car, appears to be at least 95% complete.

Mark I really enjoy your tenacity working on this seat. It may not look like you want, but to me it does look a bit more comfortable than the stock one. Keep up the great detail work you do on all your builds.