'40 Ford Coupe early issue in progress

[John Goschke]

A little part swapping on this one. Six carb manifold from AMT '36 Ford with carbs from Monogram Woody Wagon on the kit Buick "Nailhead", AMT 49 Merc steering wheel and Fiesta wheelcovers from Roth '56 Ford F-100...

[george 53]

WoW John, is THAT sharp, an you ain't even painted it yet! really like the seats! what issue is that ? I've never see it in white, cream or whatever that color is. It does look GOOD though, lets see that rascal all done up! Edited August 1, 2008 by george 53

[John Goschke]

WoW John, is THAT sharp, an you ain't even painted it yet! really like the seats! what issue is that ? I've never see it in white, cream or whatever that color is. It does look GOOD though, lets see that rascal all done up!

Thanks, George! RE what issue '40 this one is; it came in an original issue box, with all the bits unique to that issue, including the shorty side pipes, custom wheelcovers, skirts, and (YAY!) the stock-style Buick valve covers. As I understand it the ivory plastic seen here is kinda rare (and even more so after I get paint on this sucker!). The firing order of plastic colors, as it's been explained to me, for the early issue '40 kits was first black, then grey, followed briefly by ivory, and finally blue (which was the same shade of plastic for some '65 Craftsmen kits, such as the '65 Chevy II SS.)

[cruz]

MMMMMMM!!!!! Looks delicious already!!!

[MrObsessive]

Nice engine detailing John!

I'm leaning towards the Fiesta hubcaps..........they seem to suit the street rod aspect of the car a little better IMO.

On the steelies: Is that BMF around the outer portion of the wheel? I'm collecting parts for the '32 (Me considering a Street Rod?? ) and I'm thinking about doing wheels similar to those for a build sometime early next year.

[Eshaver]

By the way John , you are correct as to you're history lesson on A M T plastic colors. Probably only a real fanatic like Dennis Doty would know the answere to all the different plastic runs. Ed Shaver

[Mike Whatshisname]

Looks great John. Are you bringing it to the meeting tonight?

[John Goschke]

Looks great John. Are you bringing it to the meeting tonight?

Thanks, Mike! Yup, it'll be there. Just so you know it was your dio with '40 on the sign post that was part of the inspiration to build an AMT '40!

[John Goschke]

Nice engine detailing John!

I'm leaning towards the Fiesta hubcaps..........they seem to suit the street rod aspect of the car a little better IMO.

On the steelies: Is that BMF around the outer portion of the wheel? I'm collecting parts for the '32 (Me considering a Street Rod?? ) and I'm thinking about doing wheels similar to those for a build sometime early next year.

Thanks, Bill! I'm leaning towards the wheelcovers, too 'cause I think they might work better with the final exterior color (the same Tamiya Champagne Gold used on the top of the dash.)

For the moment though the steelies look cool and polling shows them the favorite. The trim rings are BMF, a technique I remember seeing on one of Lyle Willit's cars. I did 'em here originally because the Fiestas (which are a little undersize) revealed too much of the red wheel rim, and it worked so well (how often does THAT happen?) that I decided to take it a little further!

Regards,

John

[Harry P.]

My vote: ditch the hubcaps. They're so cliche...

[Robert81]

Street Rod??? That ain't no street rod, its a HOT ROD. A street rod would have a modern V8. Very nice, so far. I would go with the steelies, the Nailhead would send those caps flying.

[John Goschke]

My vote: ditch the hubcaps. They're so cliche...

I've probably got dueling cliches going here, Harry! Not like red steelies are all that original. I prefer to think of both looks as "classic" '50s treatments (however you'll never see fuzzy dice on my cars!)

[John Goschke]

Street Rod??? That ain't no street rod, its a HOT ROD. A street rod would have a modern V8. Very nice, so far. I would go with the steelies, the Nailhead would send those caps flying.

Yeah yer right on the Street Rod VS Hot Rod definition, Robert! As for the Nailhead poppin' the caps off this car, well, since it's still got the '40 tranny and driveline there'd probably be a few more things poppin' and droppin'!

[Harry P.]

I've probably got dueling cliches going here, Harry! Not like red steelies are all that original. I prefer to think of both looks as "classic" '50s treatments (however you'll never see fuzzy dice on my cars!)

Personally I never liked the look of those Fiesta caps. So if you have a duel of classics here, the steelies win big time in my world!!!

I know that red steelies with trim rings aren't exactly a brand new idea... but they look cool. How about making them body color instead of red??? That would be a little less of a common look.

[cruz]

By the way John, congratulations on making the Model Cars Mag. cover with your awesome Volkswagen, a well deserved accomplishment!!!!

[Slim Louis]

I love this car, you just can't go wrong with an old school build of a 40 Ford! I like the steelies and the nailhead, too! Gonna put that motor with the six carbs in a modified, one of these days!

[george 53]

Your the fella who built the green Volksie on this months MC cover? Man is THAT lil bug ever cool!!!! It really shows ALOT of thought and "off the wall" thinkin! Just a GREAT lil model! I LOVE it!!!

[62SS]

My vote goes to the steelies. The Fiestas look good but to me the steelies just say HOTROD.

Ed

[John Goschke]

By the way John, congratulations on making the Model Cars Mag. cover with your awesome Volkswagen, a well deserved accomplishment!!!!

Thanks, Marcos, but that WASN'T my Volkswagon! Way beyond anything I could do!

[John Goschke]

Your the fella who built the green Volksie on this months MC cover? Man is THAT lil bug ever cool!!!! It really shows ALOT of thought and "off the wall" thinkin! Just a GREAT lil model! I LOVE it!!!

No, my thinking may be off the wall, but that VW wasn't mine. At this point I'm strictly a traditional rod and custom kinda guy.

[my80malibu]

My vote goes to the steelies. The Fiestas look good but to me the steelies just say HOTROD.

Ed

I Agree Steelies are the way to Go.

[sdrodder]

I say the caps. Look great and like everything else it gives it that traditional style hot rod. Looks good. Cant wait to see it done.

[rickr442]

The steelies were often the 'base' for the Fiestas when a hot rod was entered in the stadium car shows that were common in SoCal in the late 50s when the truck was built by Roth. He even sold it at one of those shows.

I recently saw a pic of Ed Roth's shop truck, (the 56 Ford in the kit) and even it had steelies in every day use. The Fiestas were easily stolen if left on all the time. His shop was in Maywood, Ca., I believe, no 'garden spot' even then. Now, it defines 'hellhole'...

So there...

GREAT lookin'40!

[sdrodder]

ah just reread your post bout the caps. Thanks will try and get a set. Looks good. Any more updates.

[SoCalCarCulture]

I'd go with the Fiesta caps, I think they fit the look you're creating for this one better that the steelies.