Phildaupho

Great looking model of a very cool looking hot rod. That new A Coupe just has so much potential.

With the transaxle located I turned my attention to the engine. As mentioned previously the Gurney-Weslake heads were mastered by Stephen Roullier and cast by Stephen Miller. Mine are early test shots. I had planned to use the MPC Indy Eagle engine but realised it would need a bunch of modifications such as a spacer to locate it further forward and mounts for a starter and oil supply. I considered a few other small block Ford engine blocks but settled on one from a Revell Deuce kit mainly because I had a number of them in the parts box. With the transmission removed and some trimming, the bell housing gave the required spacing to the transaxle. I made up a new oil pan from sheet styrene matching period photos. A valley cover between the heads was also fabricated. I did use the front cover from the MPC engine as it has the cooling pipes to the GW heads. I used the Harold Bradford Webers that came with his GT-40 engine for which I fabricated carb to manifold flanges and added venturi tubes. I used Model Factory Hero tubing for the breathers with fittings cut off of items from my parts box. It added the inner cooling tubes and a block to oil cooler fitting. The valve covers are painted Metallizer Buffing Gun Metal, which makes the script stand out [looking better in reality than photos]. The pre-drilled distributor is from R&M with Detail Master wire and looms. I fabed up the front pulleys and belts to sort of look like the period photos. The real car did not use a generator/alternator for sprint races. A lot of these details will not be seen once the engine is mounted. Next I will attach the engine to the transaxle to locate the headers and establish the final shape of the engine cover cutout.

Very attractive A-V8 Coupe. All the components work well together and I especially like the look of the subtle contrast between the scallops and the body color. Your build really captures the look that is currently very popular with 1/1 hot rods.

Thanks. I really enjoyed your excellent review and agree that it will make a great looking display model. Will definitely be getting one of these.

Excellent to see the two gullwings together. Both beautiful builds.

The Hewland transaxle, rear suspension and most of rear bulkhead/cross member are from the MPC Indy Eagle, which is pretty, close overall to the Lola configuration. The brakes are from the Fujimi GT40. I also used the top of the rear bulkhead/cross member from the GT40 to give a better mating location for the Hewland transaxle. On the Lola the rear sway bar transverses ahead of the rear bulkhead so I had to make a new one from brass tubing. I used metal axle for strength with universal joints from Revell Deuce axles. The upper struts required shortening to meet the fabricated forward end brackets. I wrapped the shocks with wire to simulate the springs. The parts box Goodyear tires proved to be too wide so they had to be narrowed by 4mm. Everything is painted with a variety of metallizer paints. It was necessary to build the transaxle/rear suspension as a complete assembly to determine where and how it would be mounted to the chassis tub. The assembly still needs extra details like oil cooler and filter, shift linkage, brake lines, etc. Now onto the engine Below is a great photo of the rear end of the real car with Dan Gurney contemplating work being done before the 66 Laguna Seca Can-Am race.

It is good to see Revell continuing to be a supporter of Corvette racing with the announcement of their new tool C7R racecar. I was so interested in the reports of Corvette's new factory racing program back in 1999 that I built a C5R from a stock kit and Trans-Am Camaro parts. I still have a bunch of C5R aftermarket parts to build a full detail C5R someday. I found the C6R somewhat simplified so will be interested to learn what this new kit is like. It looks pretty nice in the release photos.

Thanks Steve for the link as I had not looked at my Autoweek email. How timely!!

Since the last update I have made numerous modifications to the rear of the Lola after studying many Internet images. The area of the tub/chassis surrounding the engine has received additional structure and detail, which is evident by comparing it to the box-stock GT40 tub/chassis. The engine cover/rear bodywork now has a NACA scoop behind the cut out for the carburetors and I added slight flares to the tops of the wheel wheels. The area under the engine has been opened up and slots have been established in the bottom of the tub for the lower suspension struts. Changes made to the front body since the previous update are not as apparent. The tops of both doors have been extended inwards and the left side door now has inner structure. On the bottom side I filled some of the areas left open on the slot-car body. The model is now getting to the stage that I can start focusing more on the engine and suspension.

Thanks for doing this. The Ala Kart has always been on my list to build someday. Hope you can find the time to pursue this between all your other projects. I was just getting into cars and modelling when the interview with Barris and Roth appeared in Rod & Custom. I could never decide which was cooler the Ala Kart or the Beatnik Bandit. They seemed so different but had so many similarities - pearl white paint, scallops, chrome wheels, custom body work.

Very attractively built model of a truly iconic race-car. I know these Accurate Miniature kits are considered very challenging but you have certainly done it justice. It is regrettable AM went out of business as I think they had a FIA 289 Cobra in the planning stage which I am sure would have been very popular.

Harry - I would like to thank you for keeping the building of classic/vintage/historic model cars alive as an inspiration to other modellers to tackle such project. I have a few in my stash I hope to get to one of these days.

Thanks Steve - I am now at a point where I realise I am going to have to virtually complete the engine-transaxle-rear suspension assembly as virtually a complete and separate model to establish its location and attachment within the tub as well as the shape of the cut-outs above on the engine cover and the NACA duct behind it and the opening under the engine in the tub.

Thanks for the great slide show. Fantastic the salt conditions allowed speed trials this year. Have always wanted to attend. Got to a smaller event later in year but did not make it past the entrance as it was not insured for spectators. I would like to see who people thoroughly clean their cars after being on the salt.

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/