dragcarz

Drag Racing in the early years was full of characters, and I’m sure he wasn’t the only one funding his racing through illegal means. I’m not trying to idolize him with this build, I just thought it made a cool looking race car.

Thanks Bob!

Good looking pair! Can you tell us a little more about the 66 Valiant? Resin? Old plastic?

Thanks Terry, at this point I’ve made several of them. They get easier every time I make one, of course it’s mostly speculation on what the real BTK looked like.

Thanks Bob, I sure miss stopping by the garage!

Really great looking details Terry, and the bumper looks great!

Looking good, I liked those stretched wheel openings.

Looking cool Ron, that’s a nice update on an old kit!

Made some progress today, I added strip styrene to the firewall to fill the gap at the cowl. I notched the K member for the dry sump oil system. I was going to use the Hemi from the Dart Sport kit, but it really lacked detail, I then found an old Johan Sox & Martin Hemi, but there was a hole in the block for the front axle that I started to fill. Then I came across the optional Hemi from the AMT 70 Coronet kit, and decided to combine it with the S&M heads and intake. I then fabricated the front engine plate, Elephant Ears as they were called at times.

Sharp eye on that body line Bill, I’m inclined to agree with you, it appears crisper on the original kit.

It seemed so easy to get hooked on drag racing cars back then, they just looked so cool and anyone could build a car.It seems cool car names were the norm. InsaniTy was the cars name, I liked the emphasis on the T. I’m 15 or 16 years old in this photo, I remember I didn’t have my drivers license yet. NHRA didn’t treat AA/FA like a professional class. The funny cars were getting all the attention.

A small drag strip in Pevely Missouri called I-55 Raceway, they had an 1/8 mile drag strip and a roundy round dirt track. The strip closed a long time ago, but I think the dirt track still operates.

Thanks Steve, me too!

Thank you Francis. I’m sure the real builders of theses Hemi powered cars were glad to get rid of the torsion bars, and move the steering to the front as it really opens the engine compartment up.

Thank you David. I do enjoy the research as well, unfortunately over the years if had to get rid on my magazine collection due to numerous moves. I spent hours scouring through them for ideas.

I agree with you Michael, and this is an amazing time to build models. There is so much available limited to your wallet and time. I have a soft spot for altered’s. I spent most of my teen years crewing for AA/FA, and we match raced the car, and even attended the Fuel Altered Nationals in 1974. I look forward to your builds.I’m sitting on the right front tire.

Thanks Daniel

Thanks Terry, here’s what Herb McCandless had on the Sox & Martin built Demon, I’m going with a variant of this.

Looks good to me Bob, someone said you can’t look at both sides at the same time. I’m glad you finished it!

Sick! No words! Just amazing Francis……..

Looking great Ron!

Beautiful work Terry!

That is so COOL! Great work! It’s really looking like a funny car should!

I finally got some bench time and was able to get the engine compartment together. Lots of cutting and trimming, I tried to replicate what was common in 1972, the rule book states stock front suspension, but torsion bars were swapped out for coil over shocks with the upper shock mount braced by the front roll cage supports. I’m going to use the coil over shocks from the Johan Hornet funny car. I need to trim the K member for the dry sump oil system.

That is SO COOL!!! Terry, I’m loving it! Great interior and stance! Coming along nicely!