Phildaupho

I have been on a bit of a roll with this project and wanted to get a few modifications done before other things got in the way. In the last couple of days I have finalized the shape of the rear bulkhead, established the roll bar location, separated the rear body section from the rest of the body and mocked up the front and rear spoilers, which are made from baking, pan aluminum. In front I attached a mounting lip to the body while in back I cut a slot into the body.

More bodywork creating fuel filler location, rear fender vents and front body suspension adjusting holes. Even during 1966 the car ran in many different configurations of vents, ducting and even engine induction. My version is largely based on how the restored car looked in photos I took in 2010 although the model will have the correct early Weber carbureted Gurney Weslake Ford. The real car has numerous separate body panels but I have chosen for strength and integrity to eventually only separate the rear body work although the entire front section will be removable as a single assembly. In regard to the tub I have widened the side tanks to fit the body and enclosed the sides. I re-fabricated the front bulkhead and dash area. The rear bulkhead has been given some shape with the roll bar assembly coming next.

Body/Chassis/Engine progress Body – so far have enlarged the cockpit opening, molded in new front vent based on GT40 part, added inner material to rear fender top vents, added nose beak. Chassis – trimmed various parts of chassis structures to fit under body work, widened chassis floor to meet body, trimmed seats to leave only right seat, filled area under missing left seat, removed dash area from front bulkhead in preparation for new dash and bulkhead cross member Engine – now using MPC Eagle engine, correct Hewland transaxle, rear suspension and cross member

The great thing about this forum is that there are people out there who can give advice. It has been pointed out to me that the Lola T70 used a Hewland transaxle rather than the Coletti which is part of Harold's Ford GT40 engine kit and advised that I should look at the correct Hewland in the MPC Eagle Indy car which I fortunately have a couple in my closet.

Thanks everyone or the encouragement. I have started the project by removing cast in areas of the body that obviously need to be altered. Definitely a major part of the project will be the required body modifications.

After building nothing but hot rod [mainly 32 Fords] models for the last year and half I was looking for a change of pace, so decided to get back to another aspect of my car obsession – vintage race cars of the 1960’s. As a nice segue from the Dan Gurney Tribute Deuce 5-W I recently completed I decided to get back to work on the previously started model of the car that inspired the design of the Deuce which is Dan Gurney’s 1966 LolaT70, which was the only Ford powered car to win a Can-Am race [Bridgehampton]. The Lola T70 is maybe my all time favorite racecar. Back when used racecars were relatively cheap I thought a T70 would make a very cool road car. I have wanted to build a model of a T70 for a long time. Many years ago I broke down and paid the asking price for an old IMC Mecom Lola T70 Mark I. This is a nice little kit but the emphasis is on little as it is off scale somewhere between 1/24 and 1/32. Then I noticed Tamiya had re-released their 1/24 Lola T70 slot car body so I had a starting point for my project and one thing lead to another. I have assembled what I think will be the necessary parts - Tamiya 1/24 Lola T70 slot-car body [the body has the basic shape but will require a lot of modifications] - Fred Cady decals which I have had for a number of years in anticipation of this project - Fujimi Ford GT40 chassis, interior, suspension, tires [Both the Lola T70 and Ford GT40 evolved from the earlier Lola Mk6 Coupe] - White metal Mini-Exotic Lola wheels - MPC Eagle engine, transaxle and rear suspension - Gurney Weslake heads mastered by Stephen Roullier and cast by Stephen Miller [The HRM heads and intake manifold are cast with the block so will need to be removed] - Headers from the MPC Olsonite Eagle I also have lots of research material - Dave Freidman’s book Lola – Can-Am and Endurance Race Cars borrowed from a friend - Photos I took of the car at the 2010 Monterey Reunion - Articles on the Gurney Weslake engine - I have two Tamiya 1/12 Coupes; one bought built up, the other still in the box.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I am very pleased with how well received this custom has been. In regard to the shape of the rear wheel wells, the opening was unaltered but I added material to bottom of he central and rear rocker panels. I was very impressed with this Pontiac kit - it actually comes with the button/tuff interior option and those beautiful chrome wheels.

Your high bolstered seat is a strong component of the many vintage looking hot rods you see these days like those that compete at the Race of Gentleman which I find very appealing.

This model was definitely inspired by Richard Zoochi’s ‘62 Pontiac Grand Prix but it is not a replica. My AMT ’62 Pontiac Hardtop is not box stock but it does not use any parts from any other kit. The building experience brought back memories of building my first custom car model using only what came in the AMT Thunderbird Styline kit I got for Christmas 1961. - Chopped the top about 3½ scale inches. The window trim and vent windows were removed - Removed the trim in the side coves - Eliminated the door handles, fuel filler door and other body trim - Removed windshield wipers and filled cowl vent - Opened up area behind the grill - Frenched headlights and taillights - Extended trailing edge of rear fenders by way of taillights - Additional lowering of suspension - Extended and flared the side rocker panels to give a lower appearance - The paint job is Testor’s Alumina Yellow over Blue Angel Yellow fades - all over white primer and topped with 2-part urethane clear

Thanks everyone. Northwest Deuce Days were absolutely awesome. Of the five models, three of the full scale cars were at the event. I talked to the owners' of the black roadster and the blue coupe. Vic Edelbrock the owner of the red coupe signed hats and posters all day Sunday. Friends of the owner of the blue coupe talked me into selling the model to them to present to the owner as a gift for organizing their road trip from Colorado.

Northwest Deuce Days 2016 is happening and i will be adding photos all weekend. It started with a ferry load of hot rods arriving on Thursday, motel parking lots full of rods and a poker run this morning. The big outdoor show is Sunday with over almost 1200 cars, 550 of which are Deuces - maybe the largest gathering of all time. The most Vickies I have ever seen. And of course Deuce Days in Scale also takes place Sunday. http://public.fotki.com/phildaupho/deuce-days-/deuce-days-2016/

Hey Russ - Great to see you posting your fabulous Deuce Days in Scale Models. All deserve individual posts with more photos.

Deuce Days in Scale is only two days away. The cars started arriving in Victoria yesterday for the largest gathering ever of '32 Ford hot rods - approximately 550. One entire ferry load from the USA was almost all hot rods including this year's Americas Most Beautiful Roadster. See photos at http://public.fotki.com/phildaupho/deuce-days-/deuce-days-2016/ which I will continue update throughout the weekend. Since we started planning Deuce Days in Scale about 16 months ago I can hardly believe that I have built 13 models.

1967 - The only time a saw Dan race was the '67 Canadian Grand Prix. He was driving the beautiful Eagle Gurney Weslake V-12. I did get to meet him in person at his All American Racers facility in 2006. He certainly has had one of the most interesting and successful life for a car enthusiast.

Thanks Bill and my fellow Canadians. As requested - some more photos.

I wanted to try to build one more model for this weekend’s Deuce Days in Scale and do as much of the work as possible while on the annual camping trip with the grandsons. I decided that model would be a reasonable facsimile of the Canadian Hots Rods magazine logo Deuce Cab Pickup. Because the vehicle in the logo is a caricature, the model is my interpretation of a slammed, chopped hiboy cab pickup using parts I had on hand. Although the caricature truck is a Model A mine is based on the Lindberg ’34 Pickup. I built one of these when the kit was new and then it was my first chopped and channelled model. BODY – The top was chopped about 4 scale inches and the pickup bed was shortened about a foot and slightly channelled with a new floor of Evergreen styrene. The hood sides are from a Revell Deuce kit. CHASSIS – This the Deuce chassis and running gear from the Revell ’29 Roadster which has been Z’d front and rear. The hairpin radius rods are from the Revell ’32 5-W. ENGINE – The raised slightly nailhead Buick is also from the Revell ’29 Roadster. The carb trumpets are from the AMT Double T kit mounted on riser tubes. WHEELS & TIRES - The white walls tires and steelie wheels are found in various Revell Model A kits. The bullets were made from ’59 Cadillac taillights out of the AMT ’57 Ford kit. INTERIOR – Bucket seats were cut down from the ’34 PU kit. Dash and steering wheel from ’29 Roadster. PAINT – Tamiya satin black and bright red

Very authentic looking racing Tiger like you might see at a Vintage/Historic Car Race.

Thanks Bill. I always enjoy your observations.

Great looking Deuce. These kits are highly underrated and can produce beautiful hot rod models of which yours is a perfect example.

I am going to send photos to Dan Gurney to see what he thinks!

Thanks guys. Here are a couple more views.

Now Under Glass http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/115198-’32-ford-5-window-custom-–-dan-gurney-tribute/

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION -To satisfy being fast the engine is distinctively Gurney being a small block Ford with Gurney-Weslake heads. The induction system is from the MPC 1965 Eagle Indy Car and in reality could be an electronic version of the original mechanical fuel injection system. The valve covers and heads are also from the MPC kit while everything else comes from the Deuce kit. For most of his life Dan liked shifting gears but in recent years he has had knee problems so the transmission is a modern multi-speed paddle shifted automatic. SUSPENSION & BRAKING - The suspension, steering and braking systems have of course been enhanced with four-wheel disc brakes and rack and pinion steering. Up front the A-arm independent suspension and steering system are from the AMT Phantom Vickie. I raised the front spindles to get the desired ride height. In back I considered a number of suspension systems but ended up adapting the one from the AMT ’34 Ford Street Rod, which is a modified Corvette C3/4 assembly. FRAME – The frame is from the Phantom Vickie with a few modifications for the independent rear suspension. INTERIOR – The contoured/bolstered seat is from the Phantom Vickie. There is a roll-cage, four point safety belts for the driver and seatbelts for the passenger. The dash has the gauge panel from the Rat Roaster and there is a floor mounted switch panel.

When Dan Gurney arrived in California with his family in 1948 just after graduating high school he traded a ’40 Ford Sedan for a chopped Deuce 5-Window. I decided to build a custom Deuce 5-Window as a tribute to that car like one of the top hot-rod shops might do. If this were to be a car that Dan could jump in and enjoy it would have to meet a number high standards such as being fast as well as handling and stopping very well. It would also have to be comfortable, safe and very good looking. The look and design of the car sort of evolved during construction. BODY – The top was given a scale 4-inch chop. The roof insert was eliminated but rather than just filling it in, the roof it was slightly doomed to give more headroom for Dan as was done on his Le Mans winning Ford GT-40. All the window openings were opened up for flush “glass” which along with the doomed roof reduces the affect of the chopped top. The grill shell, which is slightly channelled, has an Eagle beak and the area between the front fender horns has been filled and molded to the spreader bar. The channelling of the grill shell required that the filled cowl receive a small pie sectioning. There is no headlight bar and the rain gutters, door hinges, door handles and raised trim around cowl and grill shell were also eliminated. The hood top was converted to a one-piece configuration and there are smooth hood sides. In back the gas tank was eliminated and a rolled pan from the Revell ’29 Pickup was molded to the body. Taillights were recessed into the body. The running boards have been smoothed with chrome treads added. The rear fenders were bobbed. The car has rear-view mirrors on both sides as well as windshield wipers. The nerf bars are from the 5-W kit. WHEELS & TIRES – The beautiful wheels are from the MPC 1965 Eagle Indy Car mounted on the Deuce kit supplied tires. PAINT - The paint is Testor’s Copenhagen Blue Metallic enamel, which is similarly very dark blue like the color of Dan’s mid-sixties racecars. No clear was applied. The scallops are also reminiscent of Dan’s racing cars of that era. Here some photos before the scallops were applied.