Phildaupho

Another fantastic model. I always like to see your work.

I'm digging this. Great review. I remember coming across a Hot Rod mag back in '71 that had an article on the new California phenomena of fixed up vans. I joined the trend but went the VW split window route while my best buddy bought a brand new GMC 350 4-barrel, dual exhaust van. It was a fun era. Looking forward to seeing more vans at model shows.

Awesome paint on a great looking car. It is pretty amazing some of the limited production cars that AMT did kits of once upon a time.

It is always great to see a model of a classic. I have a few I want to build someday. Do you have any photos of the V16?

Great to see these two very well built Mercs. I really like how this forum has become so international - the United Nations of Model Cars.

I love this. I had a 65 sunroof non-micro split window that I actually went on a surfing trip in with surfboards on the roof. I considered applying wood-grain mac-tac behind the side windows but sold it to buy a 510 station wagon to tow a Hobie Cat.

Just spotted this. You beat me to it and are doing a fabulous job Looking forward to seeing it under glass

Another great historic Ford Steve

This is fabulous news. After reading all the comments I realize this may not be the 29 kit I would have designed but I look forward to having the opportunity to purchase it for what it is and probably more just for parts.

So are the photos of the 1/1 or 1/25? Either way I love this hot rod!! I am definitely going to have to buy the book.

At first I thought the Jalopy Journal photo of the blue 29 was a very well done model. I read the article on HAMB The car really reminds me of Skip Hudson's 29 which was on the first color cover of Hot Rod mag and in which Dan Gurney drove his first sanctioned competition event - Bonneville. I have been wanting to build a model of this car so hope a new kit becomes available in near future. http://public.fotki.com/phildaupho/dan-gurney-scale-ra/bonneville-express/0709sr-04-z-dan.html#media

Fabulous photos of an amazing variety of incredible models. I skill of today's model builders blows me away.

I like this a lot and the photos have an almost sepia look to them.

Great project Steve. I forgot about the "Durability Run" Comets. I have been wanting to build a replica of the East Africa Safari '64 Comets, one of which I have seen vintage racing after a life time as a daily driver.

Nice conversion. I have one in works too

One of all time favorite cars and you have done a superb job building and presenting a model of it. I had a red 1980 Canadian version GTI which had the looks but not the performance up grades of European versions but still a great car.

Fantastic replica

Thanks everyone for your comments, it was a very interesting build. Here are a couple more photos. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki

Never before have there been stock engines with as much horsepower. I became intrigued with the idea of taking a traditional Deuce roadster and installing a stock Corvette C6 ZR1 LS9 engine [376 cu.in, 638HP, supercharged], multi-speed transmission and the requisite safety equipment to see how fast a stock engined street roadster could go at Bonneville. It likely would not be a record breaker [b/BSTR record = 241.37] but I bet it would break the 200mph barrier. This probably makes no sense from a dollar point of view since for the cost of a LS9 crate motor, an engine with much more HP could be bought on-line or built-up by a speed shop but very few hot rod builds really make dollar sense. A stock looking Lingenfelter LS9 crate motor puts out 750HP and they have more radical LS9 versions dynoing at 900HP. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki BODY - Revell 32 Ford Roadster – The street roadster class is probably the least aerodynamic of all the Bonneville classes in that the body must essentially be of stock dimensions, have rear fenders and headlights and retain the windshield brow. The rules also state “the windshield post mounting brackets (stanchion) must be retained”. Although I have seen Bonneville street roadsters racing without these brackets they are mounted on my model. There are only limited ways to improve aerodynamics such as smooth hood sides and top. The lips on the radiator shell and cowl were removed. I retained the splash panel under the radiator shell that might function as a spoiler. The headlights were mounted to the radiator shell. The rear fenders were bobbed. The tonneau cover was made from sheet brass. Hosted on Fotki INTERIOR - Revell 32 Ford Roadster – door panels smoothed and dash filled. Roll-cage, gauges and fire extinguisher are from a Revell Funny-Car kit. The resin racing seat is from M3 Hobbies with Acu-Stion seat belts. The passenger side is taken up with a battery and electronic panel from a Corvette C5-R. CHASSIS - Revell 32 Ford Roadster - As with many Bonneville street roadsters I bobbed the front frame horns. The stock fuel tank was modified being smoothed on top and flattened on the bottom. I considered fashioning a rear diffuser but reckoned it would not be very effective. SUSPENSION - Revell 32 Ford Roadster – I lowered the front as much as I could and eliminated the air bags in the rear. WHEELS & TIRES – Wheel discs are from the AMT Avanti. Front tires are Revell Funny-Car items. Front wheels have inner disc cut from sheet styrene. Rears tires are from parts box with tread and side wall rib sanded off. The tire lettering was done with a gel pen in front and decals in the rear. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki ENGINE – The Revell Corvette C6 ZR1 provided the LS9 engine. Getting everything to fit in a ’32 Ford engine compartment was an interesting challenge. The air conditioning compressor and power steering pump were removed and the alternator was repositioned. [Note - the alternator is misidentified on instruction sheet] Ignition and fuel lines were added. The Rat Roaster supplied the Tremec transmission. A radiator was fabricated that could cool both the engine and intercooler with a scratch-built air intake drawing air from the top of the radiator shell. I made up a dry-sump oil reservoir tank reminiscent of an old school beehive filter mounted on the firewall. PAINT – I chose yellow as the color as a nod to Corvette Racing [Testor’s Bright Yellow Enamel] as is skull decal DECALS – Computer generated I have been fascinated with Bonneville since I first heard the word when Pontiac started naming its performance versions Bonneville. As a kid I often got a Hot Rod magazine in my Christmas stocking and that issue always had a feature on Bonneville Speed Week. I finally got to Bonneville in the fall of 1995 but I was unable to watch the speed trials because it was a smaller event and not insured for spectators. Even the Bonneville Speedway Museum in nearby Wendover was closed. I could only peek through the windows. Attending Speed Week some year is definitely on my bucket list. Lots more photos at http://public.fotki.com/phildaupho/1/salt-flats-bbstr-ls/

Extremely attractive rendition of an unusual subject

Great to see a '51 4-door Merc which was one of the first hot rodded cars I saw in the early 1960's after moving to the west coast. It was purple and had a Thunderbird engine. I have often thought of building a model of it but never checked out the availability of a resin body

Definitely a winner in the curbside class

There is some info on MKIII in Haynes book but probably could find plenty by just googling

May have already been mentioned but I saw this in a book store yesterday. Lots of great photos and detail. I have the book on the Red Bull F1 which helped building the model. Hosted on Fotki