Shambles Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 (edited) I'm thinking of doing this one as the '49 Ford that Louise Smith drove. Louise Smith (July 31, 1916 in Barnesville, Georgia – April 15, 2006) was tied for the second woman to race in NASCAR at the top level. She was known as "the first lady of racing."[1] She went as a spectator to her first NASCAR race at the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1949. She could not stand watching the races, so she entered her family's shiny new Ford coupe in the race and rolled it. Her hometown Greenville, South Carolina paper featured photos of the wreck, and the town knew about it before she got home.[2] The race was the first race to feature three female drivers (Ethel Mobley and Sara Christian). The trio also competed later that season at the Langley Speedway. She raced from 1949 to 1956. She won 38 races in her career in numerous formats: late models, modifieds (28 victories), midgets, and sportsman. Edited September 2, 2019 by Shambles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyc Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 That would be a cool piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jantrix Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Very cool idea. Keep her going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james460 Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Didn't I read somewhere that the Flocks had a sister that was a racer. I think the article said she may have been the best of the bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarheelRick Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Going to be a fun build to watch.. Gotta love that refueling setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim N Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 You have a great project started on a historically significant race car and racer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Louis Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 I'm following this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webestang Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 Looks like a fun build. I saw her in an interview back in the 90's. When asked how the guys treated her she replied "They didn't beat me up to bad but if they knock me out I'd get them back in the next race". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowsportwagon Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 This will be cool stay with it man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 Thanks for the photo. I have never seen her in this car before. This will be a great project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambles Posted September 13, 2019 Author Share Posted September 13, 2019 (edited) Well, I screwed this one up. I wanted to sand off the lower side trim and scribe the doors but it went awry. The original door lines were just too shallow for my old, shaky hands and watery eyes, and I got off track in a few places. When I tried sanding out my mistakes, it just made it worse. I primed and painted it to see if I could cover up my screw ups, then just said the hell with it. Stripped the paint and decided to build a wrecked version. I'm going to start this project over with that kit in the bag there, an old Tournament of Thrills model. Edited September 13, 2019 by Shambles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyc Posted September 13, 2019 Share Posted September 13, 2019 It woulda been ok. Because racecar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambles Posted September 14, 2019 Author Share Posted September 14, 2019 Maybe I'll do a before and after... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambles Posted September 17, 2019 Author Share Posted September 17, 2019 OK, I'm going ahead with a wrecked version. The only photo I have is a B&W. It looks like a two tone paint job, but I don't know what colors. Anybody know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 (edited) The cars 3 movie includes Louise Smiths 49 ford. So if they got the colors right you could base your model on this picture. Doesn't seem like its right though. I guess the lower color could be pink or tan. Look at a color chart for 49 ford there might be a clue there you could pick up on Edited September 18, 2019 by MarkJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 (edited) Here's the 49 ford color chart. No guarantee that they kept the original factory color, but back then they usually did. You could do the bottom in Miami cream. And the top in white. Maybe somebody can find that color picture you need. Edited September 18, 2019 by MarkJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyc Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 I'm guessing gray/white. Could be a lighter blue or green? Ugh. Red/white letting. Maybe yellow numbers? Blue or red outline? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 I'm thinking the bottom of the car was the factory color and the white was added on the upper portions of the car since there was no white offered from the factory that year. If I was going to do it ,I would use Miami cream at the bottom , white at the top and pink numbers with black outlines . The sponsor would be black with white outlines. Looks like they put Greenville at the top of the quarter panels even though its also under the sponsor. Just my guess. If we can keep this thread going maybe someone with a color picture will see it and solve the mystery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyc Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 4 minutes ago, MarkJ said: I'm thinking the bottom of the car was the factory color and the white was added on the upper portions of the car since there was no white offered from the factory that year. If I was going to do it ,I would use Miami cream at the bottom , white at the top and pink numbers with black outlines . The sponsor would be black with white outlines. Looks like they put Greenville at the top of the quarter panels even though its also under the sponsor. Just my guess. If we can keep this thread going maybe someone with a color picture will see it and solve the mystery. Good guesses as well. And yes I hope someone comes up with a color photo. Like you, I keep looking an replying to keep it current and hopefully moving to a correct color. Can't wait to see it finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 (edited) Ok, if slot car fever is correct, they have already made a decal sheet for this car and they are saying the car is blue and white with yellow numbers. I''d venture to say they are probably right. So there you go , John, just find you one of those sheets and the color looks like petty blue. Should be a pretty good looking model. Edited September 19, 2019 by MarkJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambles Posted September 19, 2019 Author Share Posted September 19, 2019 Wow thanks for all the input yall. You've got me fired up to pursue this project! I'll google slot car fever and get some Petty blue for the lower half. I may still do the before and after with that Tournament of Thrills kit as the "before". Thanks again, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 You're welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambles Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 (edited) On 9/19/2019 at 7:17 PM, MarkJ said: You're welcome. I guess Louise drove several different cars but in the only photos I've seen, she has the same #94. I ordered a few sets of decals from Slot Car Fever (thanks for the source!) including some for Louise's Nash. I also ordered Cars 3 DVD from Netflix. I enjoyed the first two. Her car character looks like a Nash, which makes sense since she drove a Nash Ambassador in some races. In the photo of her '49 Ford, it looks like they did a quick cover up paint job on the door to change sponsors. Pretty rough looking car by today's glitzy stock car standards! I'm going to wait for the decals before deciding on the paint scheme. Meanwhile, if any of yall find more photos, please post 'em. John Edited September 21, 2019 by Shambles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shambles Posted September 26, 2019 Author Share Posted September 26, 2019 I'm gonna go with white top, gray from there down. Getting ready to make the decals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyc Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 Interesting to see the differences in the kit body and the photo car. That picture shows several. Do you have other period photos for reference on taillight covers or removal? I would assume headlights were taped or removed? blanked panels? I'm stretching here, but looks like the tops of both seat backs are visible in photo. Keep going, this one just gets better and better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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