Phil Castronovo's Custom Body Mini Charger - complete!

[Chris in Berwyn]

I grew up in Rome, NY, the next town over from Utica, where Phil was from, and he was my boyhood idol.  When he passed away at 69 a few years back, I decided it was time to honor him with a model of the car he won the 1971 NHRA AAFC championship in. The model uses a Revell body over a slightly stretched Johan chassis.  It's the Revell engine with Bantam Blast rear wheels (stripped and sprayed with Alclad Brushed Aluminum), MPC hard plastic slicks from the 70s, and a fuel tank made from a gas can in the AMT Boss Nova.  Paint is Duplicolor White with Testors Hot Pink, all of which was airbrushed.  I designed the decals ,and Chuck Boerner printed them (he also did the "Custom Body" words on the decal.)   It took almost 5 years start and stop to get this done, and I am proud to honor my boyhood idol with this build!

[Roadracer]

It Looks great Chris!

[cobraman]

It sure does ! Very nice work.

[ChrisR]

Looks great!

[blackbeard]

sweet looking build that sure is a pretty car

[6bblbird]

Terrific!  Nothing against your work bench, but, a car that nice deserves a professional photo shoot! 

WF

[Dragline]

That's a beautiful build in honor of such a great racer.

[gtx6970]

I like  this a bunch. He always had some pretty cool looking floppers

 

[AZ Boy]

Wonderful build, Chris!  Love the fact that you didn't put the body over a stock Revell chassis, but opted instead for the more accurate Johan chassis. Nice touch, and great attention to the details.

[Tedly]

beautiful job!!!

[GoatGuy]

Chris, great job. I grew up about 40 minutes south of Utica and went to the Utica-Rome Speedway a few times to see the drags. The first time I experienced a fuel car was seeing Phil in the earlier Charger go down that 1/8 mile track. I was hooked.

[Burnout]

Looks great.  I'm sure Phil would have dug it.

Nice work on the graphics too!

[iBorg]

I remember this car well.....you did a great model of a great car.

[vintagercr]

Nicely done!

[Pro Tech]

Chris, looks great and nice work on the decals. This car I saw run many times as a kid and one I still want to build for my collection.

Charlie

Pro Tech

[tim boyd]

Chris...that car was always one of my favorites and you did a great job with your replica.  Wouldn't mind seeing some more pix...particularly of the chassis/engine....Cheers...TIM 

[Chris in Berwyn]

Thanks everyone for all the comments.  I will take some more pictures.  I seem to get my best shots outside, and it has been raining in SF almost all every day.  I may also fiddle with lighting inside and see if I can get some better pix.   Chris

[Hammerdown]

Great looking replica! Cool Subject!

[Speedfreak]

Great looking model Chris, I too would love to see more pixs of the engine/chassis. 

[GoatGuy]

http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/56ChevKRy/media/photos_BU/scale auto art/CustomBodyMinicharger1a_zpswsuihjmt.jpg.html

Here is a shot I took of his earlier Charger at Utica-Rome Speedway. Sorry it's so dark. I couldn't find my original prints, scanned the negs but time has damaged the negs. I hope the person that borrowed my prints will eventually return them.