Monogram Long John Streamlined Dragster

[regular guy]

Model Car Fans

This is a must have.

Don Garlits and Mickey Thompson invented this kind of dragster.

;He took off the body, moved the engine back and located the seat behind the drive axle, a design invented that same year by Mickey Thompson.'-Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Garlits

Thanks!

http://galaxielimited.com/products/galaxie-limited-long-john-dragster

[unclescott58]

I built one of the old Monogram/Galaxie Long Jong dragsters a couple of years. A very simple kit that I liked a lot. Sometimes it's fun to kind of go back in time, and build some of those early kits. A cool kit of a very cool old style dragster. 

Scott

 

[bobthehobbyguy]

I built one of the Galaxie issues of that kit. It was an enjoyable build.

[Earl Marischal]

Wouldn't say to one of them!

steve

[regular guy]

 

Guys

Good posts!

I think getting one of these would 'anchor' somebody's collection.

This was the first 'purpose built' drag racing car as far as I know.

Before that they were modified production cars.

It anchors a collection in that you can say 'Is this a drag racing car?'.

If it's not okay 'What kind of racing is it?'. Altered, Road racing or what.

Some model of Cobra could be connected to this for example.

Enough of this, it's a rare kit:)

Thanks!

 

Edited February 6, 2017 by regular guy

[Casey]

On 2/6/2017 at 4:23 PM, regular guy said:

 

This was the first 'purpose built' drag racing car as far as I know.

I think The Bug is accepted by most as the first "dragster", purpose built from scratch, strictly for quarter mile use:

I think Monogram's Long John dragster was preceded by Hawk's "The Stinger" dragster by a few years, too. Looks like the original issue(?) of the Long John kit was motorized, like many other early Monogram automotive kits:

Edited September 5, 2018 by Casey

[Pete L.]

Fellas,

 Judging from the box art, once the battery INSIDE the model died there was no way to replace it as the kit was molded  with the body in two pieces. I could be wrong but, once you trapped the battery inside there seems to have been no way to replace it ?

[regular guy]

Pete

Rubber band it closed.

Kits like this sometime met a grisly fate.

Playing 'crash', getting set on fire or blown up with firecrackers.

A glob of Testors glue burns pretty good. Puts out dense black smoke if I remember right.

Might be able to motorize this one except for the drive seems a little hard to figure out.

Bob

Edited February 8, 2017 by regular guy

[unclescott58]

Fellas,

 Judging from the box art, once the battery INSIDE the model died there was no way to replace it as the kit was molded  with the body in two pieces. I could be wrong but, once you trapped the battery inside there seems to have been no way to replace it ?

I got the impression there were screws in the motorized version that held the upper and lower halves of the kit together. So you could replace the battery as needed. 

Scott

 

[samdiego]

I liked this kit a lot, dead simple but nice. The redone tires and wheels make the reissue. With some judicial masking you can mold the body into 1 piece before painting

Edited February 9, 2017 by samdiego

[Pete L.]

Pete

Rubber band it closed.

Kits like this sometime met a grisly fate.

Playing 'crash', getting set on fire or blown up with firecrackers.

A glob of Testors glue burns pretty good. Puts out dense black smoke if I remember right.

Might be able to motorize this one except for the drive seems a little hard to figure out.

Bob

Bob,

 Rubber band, excellent !  How's that for "back in the day technology ? I like it ! 

[regular guy]

Pete

"Rubber band, excellent !  How's that for "back in the day technology ? I like it ! "

Use 'lady finger' to blow it up, It will leave cool 'wreckage'.

Firecracker will probably leave a couple pieces.

Cherry bomb not too good. Just here it go off and 'all gone'.

That's a very nice job building the bluish Long John Dragster above here.