AJ Foyt's Last Nascar Attempt - 1996 Brickyard 400

[ibj40]

History will show that AJ Foyt showed up at the 1997 Brickyard 400, however that car was withdrawn without ever seeing the track.

For 1996, Foyt tried to redeem himself from a failure to qualify in 1995, due to rain on the second day of qualifying (back when Nascar had more cars show up than they started in field).

The 1996 Ford Thunderbird was sponsored by Kennametal.

Here is an interview with Foyt, showing the car in the background.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Psa8nV7vU

This was a "simple" repaint and redecal.

Taking an Ertl American Muscle Mark Martin Valvoline Thunderbird and stripping off that livery, I sent the body and decal set to my buddy Lee Rilea to perform his magic.



Have to admit that the decal sheet was pretty primitive, but Lee pulled it off.





Didn't do anything to the rolling chassis, and the Ertl versions of this era are pretty basic.

[kilrathy10]

Cool... Love AJ Foyt... He still lives around here, near Houston too, from what I understand...This is really cool....

[Gramps46]

Nice conversion indeed.

[randyc]

Great idea!  

[James2]

AJ, all smiles before qualifying. Wonder what he was like after?

Nicely done conversion...