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gtx6970

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  1. My primary interests lies in the Amblewagon built hardtops Not the privateer / Owner built cars, Be it hardtops or sedans As far as I know , The only sedan built at Amblewagon was the PeeWee Wallace Virginian Plymouth.
  2. I found this So it sounds like the 2 Golden Commandos cars were in fact 2 separate cars. Which would make sense for the 2 different interior colors So, it opens up the question What happened to the 1st one? As I believe only one exists today. OR is that car actually a recreation / copy The term AFX stands for "Altered Factory Experimental" Chrysler was already dominating with their Hemi powered lightweights and they carried this over into 1965. The NHRA had a Factory Experimental class (A/FX) with less restrictive rules, so Chrysler took the opportunity to build an outrageous factory race car. Unfortunately, the NHRA found these cars to be unacceptable for this class, The A/FX cars debuted in the AHRA in Phoenix Arizona and were an instant success with the fans! 12 factory A/FX cars were built: Plymouth * A/FX White Test Mule * Al Eckstrang and Forest Pitcock, Colden Commando Club Car * Butch Leal, California Flash * Lee Smith Plymouth * Ronnie Sox, Sox and Martin * Tom Grove and Cecil Yother, Melrose Missile Dodge * Bobby Harrop, The Flying Carpet * Bub Faubel, Hemi Honker * Dave Strickler * Dick Landy * Jim Thornton and Mike Buckel, Ramchargers * Roger Lindamood, Color Me Gone Other racers made an unknown number of copies, the sedan AFX cars were not factory built. The bare bodies were constructed at Chrysler's Los Angeles assembly plant, and shipped to an outside vendor for acid dripping. This process allowed the body weight to be reduced by 200 pounds. The A/FX modifications were pretty extensive, so they could not be done on the regular assembly line. The bodies were then shipped to Amblewagon --- a Troy, Michigan contractor specializing in ambulance conversions. Obviously the forward relocation of the front and rear axles caused considerable sheet metal work (uni-body construction). The front wheels were moved forward by installing special lower sub frame rails and sectioning the inner fender panels. The upper control arm pivot and shock mount were moved 10" forward. A lightweight stainless steel K-member also bolts on the new frame rails 10" farther forward. The steering linkage was extended and longer torsion bars installed to compensate for the relocation. To move the rear axle forward, the floor pan was sectioned and a 15" section removed. The floor pan "kick pan" was moved forward to the area formerly housing the rear seat. The quarter panels were sectioned and the stock wheel openings moved forward. Sheet metal filler panels were added to the sectioned areas and everything was welded back together. A cross braced four point roll bar was installed for chassis stiffening. Finally, fiberglass doors on lightweight hinges were added to the already light body. A fiberglass deck lid with an OEM latch and fiberglass hood with a slightly taller version of the A990 type scoop were installed. The fixed windows were thin "Chemcor Plexiglas". The front bumper was also fiberglass, with molded in mounting brackets. The rear bumper remained steel to maintain rear end weight. Inside the car was the roll cage, a fiberglass dashboard replica, lightweight Bostrom bucket seats on aluminum mounts and carpeting. The radio, heater, arm rests, sun visors, dome light, rear seat, carpet padding and sound deadeners were all removed. The cars weighed 2800 pounds when delivered. Weight distribution was excellent, with 56% on the rear. The power for these A/FX cars was the same engine as the 1965 A990 Super Stockers (the A990 426 Hemi). An actual A990 S/S car was cannibalized for the engine, drive line and interior for each A/FX car. The A990 426 Hemi cranked out over 500 horsepower. During the 1965 season, Chrysler engineered a fuel injection system using Hillborn injection with reworked mid-range and high-speed circuits. The Injector stacks varied depending on the transmission type. 13-1/4" stacks on Torque Flite cars and 7-1/4" stacks on 4-speed cars. Performance was increased with this system over the dual Holley carbs. High 9s at 140-mph were not uncommon near the end of 1965. 1966 brought on total madness as these cars were changing rapidly with all sorts of chassis, suspension and motor changes and some cars could not be classed, so a new "MATCH BASH" class was created for these new "FUNNY CARS" and the rest is Drag Racing history ! Drag Racing is the original "EXTREME" sport. Nothing was more extreme than the original Drag Racers of A/FXer's, Fuel Altered's, Front Motor Slingshot Dragsters, Fuel Coups, Gassers, Funny-Cars or any combination of these monsters of mayhem that lit up a Friday night at your local Drag Strip. They were Part engineer, mad scientist, artist, dare devil, test pilot and gladiator. These diabolical, designers of deaths construction were ride'n shot gun with the devil himself in these home built Hell-wagons. These powder kegs soaked in Nitromethane hardly resembled Automobiles...... Nor did the pilots seem human. The ominous image of these brave competitors continue to inspire, intrigue, frighten and excite new and old generations. Thanks to those who have had the courage to actually get in; adjust their goggles; grab the wheel; stomp on the gas and go screaming down the track to get the win light.... They are truly inspirational !
  3. I've heard this before I'm not necessarily trying to truly determine how they were built...More so how they were campaigned at the time
  4. Thought this might be the best place to ask this. I'm trying to put together a general list of the original cars. Which ones were auto and which were 4spd ? All were originally produced with steel block hemi. Aluminum heads. Magnesium crossram intakes and 2 holly carbs They were built by AmbleWagon in the Detroit area Then converted to Enderle injection in the field. Brings up the question--- Which were short stack...which were tall stack ? Best i remember. There were 12 cars produced. And I think I have numbers correct( part of me wants to remember there were 13 total .) But I may be confusing the 2 different versions of the Golden Commandos car , white with red inter versus 2 tone bronze/white with gold interior car. But seems odd with the 2 cars having two different color interiors so was there actually 2 cars??? 6 Plymouths and 6 Dodges I think I'm having a brain fart moment right now in an attempt to remember them all. Plymouths were - Golden Commandos ( the 1st one aka Test Mule ) 4spd ? or auto? Maybe both depending on time frame Melrose Missile - auto Sox -Martin - 4spd - Became the Buckeye + Vernon car Butch Leal - 4spd Lee Smith - 4spd A 6th is ??? Dodges were- Dave Strickler - 4spd Dick Landy - auto Ramchargers - auto Bud Faubel Lindamood - Color Me Gone ( this one became the Mr Norms car ) Auto Bobby Harrops Flying Carpet Dodge
  5. Thanks. THATS a good looking car I'm thinking to replicate this particular car . Only with the wire wheels and whitewall tires from the 62 Thunderbird kit like my Sunliner build has 1960 Mercury Parklane Convertible For Sale At Auction - Mecum Auctions
  6. Very..very nice
  7. Thanks sir I know of a 1960 Ford Sunliner with wires. But no idea if they were factory or not Ill be doing a 1960 Mercury convertible next. And am thinking wire wheels from the 62 Tbird kit would look good on it.
  8. Can anyone confirm if the Park Lane conv was avail with the wire wheels same as on the Thunderbird ? Ive seen wires on the 1960 Ford Sunliner but cant find if they were avail on the Mercury ,, or not !
  9. Nice, But gotta ask. Why all the right hand drive conversions ?
  10. Thanks I want maybe one or 2 more. But the Leal specific kits are expensive most cases But I think I can get by with just modify the Belv kit or just wait until another run of the SS car maybe under a different driver / team The Revell Hemi fits in the car like a glove So,, with some tires and aftermath decals. I think Im good Its not like I dont have other kits to build anyway
  11. Imo. The engine in that kit is undersized compared to the actual car. They were a tight fit
  12. Thanks This kit build was all my idea anyway, he doesn't even know about it ,,,,yet As for exact correct trans - transfer case, owner will not care. I'll just add a floor shifter, and he will be ecstatic with it on his office desk We have probably close to another 4- 6 months' worth of work before its done . So I have time BUT,,, We have to paint the tail gate next week or so. So plan is get the kit / parts requiring same color on hand before then . I'll drop some in the airbrush and paint it all same day
  13. I think cheapest / easiest way for me is this kit, and just come up with the 4wd and small hubcap pieces Just heard back from owner
  14. Update BFG tires but the RWL is turned in I will not go so far as to get the dead nuts correct tires so some kind of stock kit tires will be fine The truck. With tires - wheels mounted The truck is slightly lifted so I will alter kits suspension anyway In this pic it still needs cut and buffed before any trim goes back on Lifelong southern AZ truck Been in this man's family since late 70s . His dad bought it off original owner he thinks around 1978 or 79
  15. This is pretty much the look it will have . these same wheels and hubcaps just has BFG all terrain RWL tires that are already painted and mounted
  16. The trim thats going on the truck. Its been repaired and polished so I need to paint in the depressed areas a low gloss black thinner is upper body line trim wide is lower rocker trim I dont think the truck is an XLT , To be honest Im not 100% sure what trim level it is I do know the tail gate has an anodized trim panel on it . Dash cluster bezel does not have the woodgrain on it like some I see
  17. Thanks, Looks like short bed to me so thats a plus BUT , I see the lower trim is missing behind the rear wheel opening like the 1/1 truck Im working on has
  18. This is basically owners ultimate goal ( wrong color obviously) and no camper cap Stock light blue. short bed with white wheels and small beenie hubcaps
  19. Is this kit a short or long bed truck ?
  20. So there is a 1972 Shortbed truck made ? if thats the case it would save me buying the two 1970 Kits above then buying a seperate or 3d printed grill
  21. You have my interest These old SS cars are my primary interest ( even though this is not an 'OLD ' SS car)
  22. Thanks for the pics I know who owns the Butterscotch 71 RR Ive been to that show many times , even had a car in it years ago . My current car received an award in class there maybe 10-12 years ago
  23. Be curious to know who is making the decals for this car
  24. The car ran both ways
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