My Holy Grail What-If: Richard Petty's Ford

[Kmb0319]

Richard Petty did the unthinkable in 1969.  Having run his entire career in Chrysler-Plymouth products, he jumped to Ford for one season.  In doing so, his car's paint job stayed exactly the same.  To me, that always seemed a little odd.  His petty blue #43 was iconic even then, but I would have expected at least some small evolutionary changes to reflect such a major shift for the King.

I was out of town in July, and stopped in a Hobby Lobby in Jackson, MS.  Checking on what they had, I found a few things not available in our Birmingham stores... namely the Polar Lights Richard Petty Talledega.  It sat in my closet for 4 months, as I tried to figure out what to do with it.  Finally, I got an idea.  Before Richard was The King, his father was the winningest and one of the most popular drivers in the early NASCAR days.  As Richard was coming up on the circuit, he and his father drove identical cars with Lee running #42 and Richard #43.  The last full season of Lee's career, they ran 1960 Plymouth Furys that looked like this:

Unfortunately, Lee was in a terrible accident at Daytona in 1961, crashing through the guardrail and flying out into the parking lot with Johnny Beauchamp.  Lee nearly died, and spent nearly 6 months in the hospital.  He would eventually return, but only ran a few more races in his career.

SO...  I looked at the Talledega, and thought:  What if Richard wanted to alter his scheme a little with the manufacturer change, and decided to make his new Ford ride a tribute to his dad?  I didn't copy it directly by any means, but used the lines of the Ford body to make something that evoked his dad's last car.  Box stock build, the paint scheme was the big thing here.  I hope you like it, and it's not too blasphemous to alter The King's wheels!!

Edited December 22, 2015 by Kmb0319

[bbowser]

I like it.  But I would love to get my hands on one of those Plymouths!

[slusher]

Very cool builds..

[THarrison351]

Petty drove an alternate paint scheme Plymouth in 1968 that had white upper body, roof, and hood but the trunk lid was blue. I think your version of the Talladega would fit right in. Looks good.

[madhorseman]

I see it, but maybe it could use a bit of red somewhere on the hood, as well?

[disabled modeler]

I like it...nice work by the way.  

[Force]

Nice work!

I don't blame Richard for changing brands, he wanted to race a Dodge Daytona wing car in 1969 as he thought it would be unstoppable, but the Chrysler brass said "you are a Plymouth guy" and didn't give him one, so he ditched Plymouth and went to Ford who gave him the Torino Talladega for the 1969 season, Ford took the top 2 spots in the series and Petty finished 2nd after David Pearson.
1970 Plymouth came out with the Superbird and Petty was back.

[Truck parts]

That is a great looking build

[Kmb0319]

Madhorseman, I see your point.  Couldn't think of a good way to work the red into the hood.  I have an idea.... I might add and repost.

[Kmb0319]

Petty drove an alternate paint scheme Plymouth in 1968 that had white upper body, roof, and hood but the trunk lid was blue. I think your version of the Talladega would fit right in. Looks good.

the gold pinstripe is to evoke the Star City navy/gold car, and the blue/white here also evokes the Firecracker Road Runner  you mention.  It's all tied in there.

[426-Hemi]

-I just want a #43 Superbird NASCAR and I'll call it good LOL (I'm TRYING to stray away from the Nascar models), but this one. WELL look at my screen name and then wonder "why"............

[Kmb0319]

-I just want a #43 Superbird NASCAR and I'll call it good LOL (I'm TRYING to stray away from the Nascar models), but this one. WELL look at my screen name and then wonder "why"............

I hear you!  It should come back.  I heard a rumor that the Petty '71 Road Runner is being re-released, which I would LOVE.  Give me that and a Superbird, and I'm d-o-n-e.

[426-Hemi]

I hear you!  It should come back.  I heard a rumor that the Petty '71 Road Runner is being re-released, which I would LOVE.  Give me that and a Superbird, and I'm d-o-n-e.

....just give me a '70  'bird, with #43 on it and I'm all set! LOL -One WITH the 426 Hemi NASCAR headers that is!