Free access to all Hot Rod Magazine issues 1948-2021 online!

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Some extra cool paint jobs:

Van artwork article from HRM January 1976

Customized Toyota pickup truck article from HRM March 1976

Jeep Honcho pickup ad. HRM March 1976

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Feature article on customizing the Chevy Monza. HRM June 1976

 

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Cool guide on some of the tire and rim choices from the 70's. HRM August 1976

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And finally, to round out the bicentennial, the Dave Crook '70 Firebird (the name and year are listed incorrectly in the article). HRM August 1976

A bit of googling later, and you discover that, WOW - - - this was one fly ride! And it turns out, the car was penned by none other than the same Harry Bradley who was doing design drawings for HRM.

 

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1977 started out with the arrival of the Trans Am, subtly advertised in "Smokey and the Bandit"  For those looking to build this icon, an article in HRM January 1977 covered it well with lots of photos.

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The Lukens and Shinholster Fiat 500 "Topolino" done to the nines as a dragster. HRM February 1977

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A highly customized '40 Chevy that would be a blast to build! HRM June 1977

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And who says a roadster can only be Ford? Here a beautiful '33 Dodge Cabriolet graced HRM July 1977

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Anyone ever build (or even see) these models? Not I, although I would love to have the AMT  Capri Cafe Racer, Mustang II Python, the Custom Matador, or the Custom Gremlin (I guess I should have said, "anything but the Pacer Wagon")  . 

HRM August 1977

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I am totally in love with this Opel GT dragster! I wonder whatever happened to it. I would swear I've seen in here in Las Vegas.

HRM October 1977

[Can-Con]

1 minute ago, ea0863 said:

Anyone ever build (or even see) these models? Not I, although I would love to have the AMT  Capri Cafe Racer, Mustang II Python, the Custom Matador, or the Custom Gremlin (I guess I should have said, "anything but the Pacer Wagon")  . 

HRM August 1977

I had the Gremlin, Matador and Mustang. Still have the Mat. 

[ea0863]

Just now, Can-Con said:

I had the Gremlin, Matador and Mustang. Still have the Mat. 

Are they as cool as they look in the tiny little ad?

[Can-Con]

4 minutes ago, ea0863 said:

Are they as cool as they look in the tiny little ad?

All car models are cool. 

 

But, It kinda depends what you're into. They did look pretty well how they're pictured. I was kinds disappointed that the engine and chassis were stock though.

Here's a better pic from the '78 catalogue. Not included on this page was the "Monza SS" which was kinda a companion kit to the Mustang.

Edited December 2, 2022 by Can-Con

[ea0863]

2 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

All car models are cool. 

 

But, It kinda depends what you're into. They did look pretty well how they're pictured. I was kinds disappointed that the engine and chassis were stock though.

You're right, I try not to be " a hater" myself. What one person likes, another may not - but as long as it moves on wheels, as far as I'm concerned it's cool! I just pulled these photos of the web, and doggone it - now I gotta go out and get me some of these (although they look pretty pricey these days).

And because I'm not going to be a hater, here's the Pacer...  

[Can-Con]

3 minutes ago, ea0863 said:

You're right, I try not to be " a hater" myself. What one person likes, another may not - but as long as it moves on wheels, as far as I'm concerned it's cool! I just pulled these photos of the web, and doggone it - now I gotta go out and get me some of these (although they look pretty pricey these days).

And because I'm not going to be a hater, here's the Pacer...  

The Pacer was reissued a few years ago. The rest were only offered in '78 and maybe '79 so they're pretty hard to come by now..

Edited December 2, 2022 by Can-Con

[ea0863]

5 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

The Pacer was reissued a few years ago. The rest were only offered in '78 and maybe '79.

The Monza SS you mentioned is also very tasty. It looks quite a bit like the Monza "Fever" featured on the cover of HRM June 1976.

Edited December 2, 2022 by ea0863

[Scott Colmer]

Thanks for posting these. I like the stroll.  

This article brought back a memory of my pop telling me he tried to chop the top on a 34 ford after looking at an article from Hot Rod. This must be the article. His attempt ended when the detached roof dropped inside the car. I think his grandmother, my great grandmother,  had it hauled to the dump after it sat for a while. 

On 11/15/2022 at 5:18 PM, ea0863 said:

A great tutorial on chopping the roof on a coupe 

 

[Can-Con]

5 minutes ago, ea0863 said:

The Monza SS you mentioned is also very tasty...

I still have the one I built back then. Redid it in the early '80s . Due for another re-do but I painted it with Centari auto enamel last time that might be hard to remove.

[ea0863]

Just now, Scott Colmer said:

Thanks for posting these. I like the stroll.  

This article brought back a memory of my pop telling me he tried to chop the top on a 34 ford after looking at an article from Hot Rod. This must be the article. His attempt ended when the detached roof dropped inside the car. I think his grandmother, my great grandmother,  had it hauled to the dump after it sat for a while. 

 

It's my pleasure Scott, as I too am enjoying that same stroll. And your story is hilarious! I bet it got told at least a thousand times at family dinners  

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Just now, Can-Con said:

I still have the one I built back then. Redid it in the early '80s . Due for another re-do but I painted it with Centari auto enamel last time that might be hard to remove.

Would love to see it on here sometime!

[Can-Con]

3 minutes ago, ea0863 said:

Would love to see it on here sometime!

I just looked for a pic, could have sworn I had a couple but no luck. 

It was brush painted in '76 Corvette red that I had left over after painting my first car that was truly mine, a '73 Buick Centurion coupe. [sprayed, not brushed. ?]

Edited December 2, 2022 by Can-Con

[Plowboy]

1 hour ago, Can-Con said:

All car models are cool. 

 

But, It kinda depends what you're into. They did look pretty well how they're pictured. I was kinds disappointed that the engine and chassis were stock though.

Here's a better pic from the '78 catalogue. Not included on this page was the "Monza SS" which was kinda a companion kit to the Mustang.

I have the AHC-100 Camaro in the stash. Always meant to build it. But, still haven't got around to it.

[Plowboy]

1 hour ago, ea0863 said:

The Monza SS you mentioned is also very tasty. It looks quite a bit like the Monza "Fever" featured on the cover of HRM June 1976.

I have one very similar to that in the stash. But, it has different decals. 

[Richard Bartrop]

Some model kits from the Dec '51 issue

Someone liked the Tucker Torpedo an awful lot.

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6 minutes ago, Richard Bartrop said:

Some model kits from the Dec '51 issue

Someone liked the Tucker Torpedo an awful lot.

Richard, I would really enjoy that Stutz Bearcat. But, what's 3/4" scale?