Dennis Lacy

Here's an AMT based '34 Coupe I finished a couple of years ago. It has been channeled, '32 grill with custom insert and re-worked hood with '36 Ford louvers. Also has a rear rolled pan created from the gas tank cover portion of the fenders. Painted Testors 1-coat Rootbeer. I was going for an early 60's Rod & Custom Magazine look.

Like you, I work on all of this old junk for a living so I can't help but notice every little detail, I'm programmed to. haha

Excellent work putting together the quick change rear and other necessary mods. All the mixing and matching feels like doing the real thing, doesn't it.... I went back and found mention of where the rear spring came from so I could make a mental note because it is actually a Model T spring and the nicest one in scale I've ever seen!

I've never had an interest in building an Ala Kart, but the modern tool kit is a fantastic parts source for kit-bashing. The front axle is very nice and can easilly have a conventional spring attached to the top of it for a more traditional dropped axle front end. (The spring from the stock axle in AMT's '29 Roadster kit is a great fit.) The wheels and tires are an excellent set of big & little hot rod tires. The wheels look even better stripped, painted and with hubcaps. (The hubcaps in the AMT '53 Ford Pickup fit really well!) The front and rear wheels also have nicely done brake plates. The engine is a bust because of its scale issues but... In the later 70's AMT stripped down their '29 Roadster kit by eliminating the Ala Kart parts (the Ala Kart was actually changed into what they called a Mod-Rod by replacing the nose and hood with a '32 grill and eliminating the truck bed and putting a platform with gas tank on the last couple of issues.) AMT kept the Dodge engine as the alternate "street rod" engine option for the Roadster but replaced the Hilborn injector and front accessories with a race-only super charger setup. By race only this means there was no water pump or generator, just the super charger belt & pulleys. Now, while the engine in the modern Ala Kart may be undersized, it's water pump/front cover, fan belt/pulleys and generator ARE sized pretty well. By using these parts from the modern Ala Kart the Dodge in the '29 Roadster can be nicely converted into a street motor making it a perfect addition to any early hot rod model. The starter motor that is molded to the oilpan on the Dodge engine can also be cut away and the seperate starter motor from the modern Ala Kart engine put in place for better detail. Add a 2x6 carb setup and log manifold from an AMT '36 Ford kit and the over-the-frame headers from AMT's '32 Phantom Vicky and you have a great looking engine. The Hemi in the '53 Pickup kit is a Desoto and while I have never compared it to a real one dimensionally, it seems to be scaled correctly. They are about the same physical size as a Dodge, and the '53 Pickup Desoto is right about the same size as the Dodge in the '29 Roadster / Old Ala Kart kit.

Absolutely cool from front to back, top to bottom. Color is awesome! My favorite part, though, is the combination of tires, wheels and caps you came up with. Those Ford caps are a bit on the large size and they look just right on the Merc wheels. Gonna have to file that for a future project.

This is my favorite "weathered" build by you so far. Not only is the weathering realistic and well done, it's the most restrained theme I've seen you do. I usually don't go for the over-the-top theme stuff and watch parts glued all over the body but this is right up my alley. A straight-up "patina'd" hot rod looking like it was locked away for 40 years, discovered, rinsed off and put right back on the road. Love it!

I remember seeing this as a project some time ago. It has been worth the wait. Very cool hot rod! Love the whole selection of parts and the shade of blue you chose is awesome!

There were some street rods in the 60's that had home made 4-link front suspensions but it wasn't until the latter 70's that it was available in kit form. Like Ace-Garageguy said, Pete & Jakes was most likely the first to offer it. The 4-link most likely trickled down from race car use. It wasn't so much a handling issue with the tube axles as it was the stress placed on them as split wishbones or hairpin radius rods can not fully articulate without binding (because of their single chassis mounting point) which puts a twisting load on the axle. I-beam axles by nature can "give" to compensate for this, tube axles can not. The original tube axles were 1-piece across and bent to shape. The verticle ends were welded to them as were typically the spring hangers. One of the first to offer these was Bell Auto Parts. Later, Super Bell Axle Co. (Of which the proprieter was a former Bell Auto employee) introduced the tube axles we know today (like what is represented in the Revell '32 series) which have a tube center and solid forged ends which are welded to the center tube.

The transmission molded to the flathead engine in the '32 Sedan kit is a Ford C4 Automatic which did not become available until the 1960's and only in the last 20 or so years has it become a mainstream thing to mate one to a flathead with several over-the-counter adaptor kits readilly available for guys too lazy to use their left leg. All of the flathead engine hot rod parts in the Sedan kit were available in the mid-late 1940's in the full-scale world. A 40's or 50's era hot rod would have an engine-driven fan, though, or in some cases not run one at all and hope they didn't get caught in slow-moving traffic, haha.

Or, just maybe, the person who built the box art model simply did not install the vent windows...

The weathering is totally killer, wow! I love that a fully detailed chassis is hiding underneath and those Halibrand wheels look mean as hell.

This is honestly too nice of a car to be considered a ratrod. I'd call it a beater. I really dig the finish on the body, the dirty red chassis and the rodded Chevy 6. Awesome work!

Thanks for the comments, everyone! Thanks and yes, I do need to paint the taillights. I would have but when I went to dip my brush in the red I use for this it didn't seem to want to submerge into the paint. I'll grab a fresh bottle one of these days and touch them up.

This project had been started in the late Summer of last year, worked on periodically then stalled out in February. In the last week and a half I challenged myself to finish it. Not only because I wanted to see it finished, but also because at the end of this week I will be moving and it's unknown what kind of down-time I will have as a result. I started this because it's very rare, practically never in fact, to see a '29 closed cab pickup mounted to a '32 frame. It has been done 100's of times with '29 roadster pickups but for some reason just gets over looked with a closed cab. I also wanted the truck to look useable so it was decided early on to leave the body in primer. I guess one could say that this would be perfect for a "shop truck". Chassis: Revell '32 5-Window, front and rear suspension modified to sit considerably lower. Wheels & Tires: Steel disc wheels / caps / rings from Revell '32 5-Window. Modelhaus T110 & T180 tires. Engine: Chrysler style Hemi from Revell '32 5-Window. Intake modified to use 3 Rochester 2 bbl carbs, flame arrestor air scoops from 70's AMT '34 3-Window, pieced together over the frame headers, Parts By Parks pre-wired distributor, scratch-built coil and fuel log, leftover ignition wire for fuel hoses and fittings from Detail Master. Body: Revell '29 Pickup radiator/shell, cab & bed. Cab chopped 3/16", bed shortened, scratch built bed filler panels with custom rolled pan from '29 pickup kit molded in. Revell '32 series headlights, Monogram '40 Pickup taillights. Interior: Revell '29 Pickup dashboard, gauge panel & stock seat, AMT '41 Woody steering wheel on home made column, front floor panel & shifter from Revell '32 5-Window. Paint: Duplicolor Red-Oxide primer, Duplicolor Semi-Gloss and Gloss Black, Tamiya Racing White.

I've been in a vintage drag-race state of mind lately and this is one of those builds I just had to do the second I started thinking about it. It was an easy project taking only a week and a half which is unheard of for me! Nothing really fancy going on here. Combined the chassis from the Double Dragster kit Fiat and an AMT Parts Pack '23 T altered body kit. The cowl top and dashboard come as seperate pieces so I molded them into the main body shell. Stripped the chrome off of the blower assembly and the wheels and detailed them out with paint & wash. Changed out the tires to Modelhaus T120 up front and the Parts Pack exclusive red pinstripe slicks out back. Ditched the painted front shell in favor of the plated version from the '25 Double T kit. The Sinclair decals come from Lindberg's '34 Pickup kit, the other decals from the Double Dragster sheet. Paint is Testors 1-coat Mystic Emerald with Tamiya Gold on the engine. To get the dow-7 coating look on the wheels I used Model Master "Jet Exhaust" with some semi-gloss clear. Added some plug wires using the kit magneto. And a parting shot with its big brother twin-engine rail from the Double Dragster set that I completed last year.

This project was inspired by an illustration found on the backside of the original AMT Trophy Series instructions for the 1934 Ford Pickup. On this back page is a section of model customizing hints by George Barris. I wanted the model to have a 60's retro "Box Art" feel to it so a minimalistic approach was taken and it is not necessarilly accurate to any particular racing class or period in time. Like the illustration, the top is not chopped, the bed is not shortened and the chassis is simply right out of the box. The blown Pontiac engine is a combination of the block/trans from an AMT '36 Coupe and the heads, intake, front cover, blower assembly, valve covers and headers from AMT's Competition Parts Pack Pontiac engine. For a little extra detail a Parts by Parks pre-wired distributor was used with a scratched coil. The front and rear wheels came from a 60's issue AMT '32 Vicky, the front tires are new AMT pad-printed wide whites and the M&H slicks are from AMT's new Slicks Parts Pack. Several of the '34 Pickups custom accesories were used including the grill, firewall, bucket seats and bed cover. The molded lump of a taillight was also sawed off and replaced with a seperate chrome housing from a Revell '37 Pickup and a custom lense from the Ala Kart. The body & frame are finished in Testors 1-coat Mythical Maroon, the engine in Tamiya Gold with aluminum metallizer & black wash, the suspension in good old shiny black and the windshield & rear window were tinted with a red Sharpie marker. And lastly a fun parting shot. My newly finished '34 Drag Truck with the '32 Vicky I finished late last year.

I've been working on this little roadster off and on since June of last year and I have to say I am particularly proud of it. Definitely raised my personal bar a notch or two with this one. And, now people can't tell me in their comments "It would look even cooler with engine wiring" because it's got a set of plug wires AND fuel hoses. So there! So, basically what I wanted to do with this project is something no one does, put an earlier than '26 T on top of a pair of '32 frame rails. I had done it a year ago with the chopped '25 T Coupe body and now here's the '25 T Roadster version. Body: AMT '25 Roadster cab, custom short bed, radiator/shell, headlights and chopped windshield. Interior: AMT '25 Roadster custom interior unit and dashboard. Firewall set back and '40 Deluxe steering wheel on a home made column & drop. Frame: Revell '32 frame side rails with home made front cross members, engine mounts, spring perch and Z'd rear section. Cut-down Revell '40 Ford X-member. Front Suspension: Revell '29 Pickup dropped axle, brake plates, steering arms, tierod and gear box. Home made drag link & pitman arm. Revell '32 5-Window hairpins. Rear Suspension: Revell '32 Ford axle with fake quickchange cover, modified coil-overs and shortened trailing arms. Wheels & Tires: AMT '36 Ford wheels & caps with Modelhaus T110 and T180 tires. Engine: Revell '40 Ford engine block, front cover, distributor, water hoses and Stromberg carbs. Revell '48 Ford Convertible "Motor City Flathead" heads & air filter. Model Car Garage resin 3x2 intake & risers. Revell '37 Pickup stock exhaust manifolds. Home made exhaust pipes with AMT '36 Ford custom mufflers and turn-outs. Paint: Tamiya "British Green", "Olive Drab #2", Craft Smart "Espresso" (interior/bed cover) and various shades of Testors Metallizers and home made blackwash.

That's a really cool build! Very representative of one of the segments of hot rodding where a guys 1st priority is getting it running. I like how the body is textured. What did you use as a paint stripper that resulted in this? Those Hemi valve covers look a lot better painted than plated.

Thank you for the nice comments, everyone! While not a detailed build, these old AMT kits are still a blast to put together - especially in a retro box-art style like this. This one was a nice offset from the several quite involved projects I have going. I'm gonna have to do another in the near future.

1932 FORD VICTORIA VINTAGE RACER My mission with this project was a basic clean & simple build with a 60’s box art vibe. This is the first time I have built one of these old AMT kits in this style and I have to admit it was fun! This was actually an 80’s re-issue that I back-dated with the race headers and log manifold / 6x2 carburetor setup. The chassis uses a combination of the stock front suspension and optional rear Oldsmobile? axle with trailing arms. The chrome wheels and white stripe front tires were taken from the AMT “Double T” re-issue and the whitewall slicks are from AMT’s new parts pack. Paint is all Tamiya - Gold on the body, Mica Silver on the suspension and Mica Red on the engine. Decals come from the AMT “Double T” and “Double Dragster”. Hope y’all enjoy!

Looks like you are off to a good start! Should look good in those colors you're planning. What kind of engine are you thinking it will have? Oh, and one more question: Are you sure you got it low enough? LOL!

Everyone, thank you for your generous replies! I had a lot of fun building this model as it gets down to what a hot rodder really needs - a big motor in a light little car. The 1:1 roadster that inspired this project has been a staple at traditional hot rod events in Southern California for many years and was even the owners daily driver for over a year - rain or shine! This is not the first model where I have recieved (many) suggestions to add aditional detailing and I appreciate that people feel that I am at a point where I should head in that direction. I plan to at some point and it will happen when I feel it but I'm just having fun. I'm 31 and back in my teens I burned myself out trying to do too much. I've been back building for a couple of years and I'm trying to keep it fun this time around. But, again, I do appreciate the suggestions! Lastly, it was a real treat to have Tim Boyd comment on this build! I have been a major fan of Tim's hot rod builds for many years and used to eagerly await the arrival of my Dad's Street Rodder Magazine issues so that I could check out Tim's "Modelers Corner" column. Thank you, Tim! Thanks again, guys!

Thank you for all of the replies, everyone, they are very much appreciated! One of my goals with this build was to actually USE the kit provided small block Ford engine as I normally discard it for something vintage. With that in mind, I wanted to not only use the engine but give it a convincing vintage appearance. From the sound of all of your wonderful replies I have accomplished that. I also wanted to be a little different when it came to color. I think I've only seen one other Revell '32 5W painted dark green and it was full fendered. Also, no one mentioned it but I was aware when I applied the 231 B/A decals that they are not correct for this car, I just like the look of them! One way I could always sell them is that this is a modern rebuild of an old hotrod that once was drag raced as a B/A and the numbers and class were re-applied to remember the cars past. Thanks again!

And a few more....

1932 FORD 5W COUPE 231 B/A: GREEN IS MEAN! This Revell-based coupe was built as part of community build challenge on another forum where the subject consisted of 4 kit choices, one of them being the Revell ‘32 5W. This car is largely box stock and enhanced by stripping many of the chrome components and paint-detailing them. Originally I was not going to chop the top for the sake of a quick & easy build but the urge overwhelmed me and I’m glad I did! I also dared to be different with a modified and supercharged take on the kits often rejected small block Ford engine. Tried to get interior shots but it’s a no-go with the chopped top. Chassis: Kit stock with additional lowering of front and rear axles. All chrome stripped and paint detailed in silver and various shades of black. Kit American Mag wheels stripped and paint detailed with Armstrong bias-ply front tires from Lindberg ‘34 Pickup and AMT Goodyear slicks out back. Optional MOON auxiliary front fuel tank stripped and painted. Engine: Kit small block Ford engine. Modified intake manifold with AMT ‘57 Chevy supercharger and 4-bbl carburetor. Modified kit pulleys/belt with parts box supercharger pulleys/belt. COBRA valve covers from Revell ‘26 T Sedan / Touring. Kit headers stripped and painted white. Engine painted Tamiya Light Gunmetal with various shades of metallizers on intake, supercharger, carburetor and pulleys topped with black wash. Body: Kit body chopped 3/16” with an additional 1/32” cut at A-pillars. Optional kit solid grill panel, multi-row louvered hood sides and deck lid, nerf bar bumpers at front with additional pair from second kit at rear. Painted Tamiya British Green with Tamiya Racing White grill panel and firewall. Kit supplied 231 B/A decals with grill and firewall decals from Revell ‘32 Sedan. Interior: Optional ‘40 dash, ‘40 steering wheel and floor mount shifter. Dash painted Tamiya Gloss Black, seat and side panels painted Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black and Tamiya Racing White with semi-gloss clear coat.