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

[ea0863]

Ad for a 1:12 scale Lamborghini Countach from "Model Expo"(?)

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I'm calling this one a legit resto-mod; a '39 LaSalle up top, and all modern underneath. 

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I'm digging both drawings in "Sketchpad", but the Larry Wood '34 Ford Coupe with transverse mounted engine over the rear axle is particularly interesting.

Edited December 12, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

It was a small article with this little picture, but the car in the background is what got my attention! I never did find out what it was, the article only said it was built for a TV pilot of the time. But, looking up the name Dean Jeffries was incredible! Wow, this guy was every bit as creative, prolific, and colorful as George Barris. I can literally collect another dozen scale models just of his creations...  

Edited December 12, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

On the heels of my Jeffries revelation (forgive me, I'm new to the hot rod scene ), I noticed this really clean '64 Nova called "Novette". Even though it had been built in 1985, it absolutely looked like it would be at home in any car show in 2022. I thought the two-tone colors, stance, lack of chrome, smoothed out panels, and clean engine compartment were really speaking to the future. Then I read that it was built by Chris Buttera - the son of Li'l John Buttera. If you ever Google "Li'l John Buttera", be prepared to get drawn into at least a few hours of fascinating reading! Suffice it to say, I learned more about the hot rodding community, all the famous designers and fabricators who trace their roots back to Li'l John, and the fact that his son Chris can build a mean car all his own. The "Novette" will definitely be a car I will build in scale.

[ea0863]

The cover of HRM July 1985 had yet another name that was apparently there when God created man, woman, and hot rod . This name was Pete Chapouris (as in the creator of the "California Kid" and numerous other seminal builds). The article related to the cover suggested Chapouris saw a stagnancy in the hot rod scene, and decided to reinvigorate a long ignored segment of the hot rod world - that of the fat-fendered 20's and 30's cars. I was particularly smitten with the blue car in the foreground.

[Richard Bartrop]

So, what's this I hear about I.F.S. on a Deuce not being "traditional"?

[keyser]

https://fuelcurve.com/ak-miller/

[ea0863]

HRM May 1985 had the distinction what I believe was the first Japanese car on their cover (and one of only a couple foreign cars period). It showed a Datsun 240z getting an American V8 engine swap.

After a few months of updates, HRM September 1985 showed the finished product. Very tastefully done!

[ea0863]

23 hours ago, Scott Colmer said:

You hit my favorite time period for HOT ROD. Includes the Pat G. years.

 

Keep going and you will find the HOT ROD model car contest. Great stuff

Oh, and as @Scott Colmer forecast, HRM October 1985 had this announcement:

The natural question of course is, "what was the list of cars in this series?". Others on this forum broached this topic in years past, and it would appear there is no definitive list to be found. This is one rabbit-hole I am NOT going down, because I get the distinct impression, I will never come out!  For some prior discussions, check out;

 

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Announcing the Hot Rod National Model Car Contest! HRM January 1986

Apparently, they started out with 18 cars in the series...

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One sexy chopped '79 El Camino. HRM February 1986

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What is it with them Aussies and their way cool UTEs? This one started life as a '46 Ford coupe!

Edited December 13, 2022 by ea0863

[ea0863]

By March 1986, there seemed to be this full-on battle over "Pro Street" cars and "real racing cars", etc. in Hot Rod Magazine. The arguments kind of went over my head, and it was more than a little surprising to find animus toward one segment in a magazine that seemed to always embrace all comers. But, in any case, in the midst of all that, I saw this small blurb about an artist named Stanley Wanlass who was doing bronze sculptures of hot rods. 

A little bit of searching, and it turns out he did some really beautiful work. Not only that, but his incorporation of outside elements into his art gave me some ideas for my future builds.

This one was called "First Love".

[ea0863]

HRM April 1986 did an article showcasing the new cars that were hitting the market. So many of them brought back memories for me, and reminded me of the cool stuff that was coming from overseas.

The Porsche 944 may have looked like just a 924 update, but an all aluminum one-piece body, together with 50/50 weight distribution made it a track star. Still a beautiful car in my humble opinion, and worthy of building in scale. Mine would have to be aluminum colored...

Funky even then, Subaru brought the XT Turbo coupe to the US. Its claim to fame of course was AWD fun.

Totally flying under the radar, Ford of Europe brought their German Sierra to the US as the Merkur XR4Ti and sold it through their Mercury dealers (which turned out to be a total misfire). I remember driving one of these and being very impressed by its handling, if not its styling. Done up as a rally racer, this car would still be fun one to commemorate in plastic.

If the XR4Ti flew under the radar, one literally needed sonar to pick up the signature of the Isuzu Impulse . It was actually designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro to be the successor to his first generation Scirocco, but when VW decided to do a redesign in-house, his rendition went to Isuzu (and its cozy American relative - General Motors). For those who like JDM builds (myself included), this one is a fun bit of history. The only question is; does anyone make it in scale?

Another JDM that didn't get a ton of airtime was the Mitsubishi Starion. It was actually a wonderfully emotion-inducing car - from its widebody stance, to its engine and suspension, and even its "bad boy" reputation. What it seemed to suffer from, as with many imports of that era, was an identity crisis that came with attempting to market foreign cars in makeshift dealer networks. In this case, Chrysler shoppers did not want to buy a Mitsubishi, and Mitsubishi enthusiasts did not like going to a Chrysler dealership. All that having been said, it was an awesome looking car!

And speaking of cool stuff coming from overseas, the Ford Mustang SVO! Lest you think I'm totally crazy, you have to know that this bad boy may have been all American on the outside, but it was all Teutonic techno-wizardry under the hood. When most of us were chasing after the rock band character of the 5.0, it turns out there was also a symphony orchestra to be had in the SVO. 

[Richard Bartrop]

Looks like Fujimi and Bandai made kits of the Impulse.  It was also sold as the Isuzu Piazza, so you might have better luck searching for kits under that name.

[ea0863]

14 minutes ago, Richard Bartrop said:

Looks like Fujimi and Bandai made kits of the Impulse.  It was also sold as the Isuzu Piazza, so you might have better luck searching for kits under that name.

Thanks Richard! I had found the Fujimi model rather uninspiring with no engine or undercarriage detail, however the Bandai Piazza in 1:20 scale will definitely do the trick!

[ea0863]

8 hours ago, ea0863 said:

Oh, and as @Scott Colmer forecast, HRM October 1985 had this announcement:

The natural question of course is, "what was the list of cars in this series?". Others on this forum broached this topic in years past, and it would appear there is no definitive list to be found. This is one rabbit-hole I am NOT going down, because I get the distinct impression, I will never come out!  For some prior discussions, check out;

 

Okay, I lied - - -I went down the rabbit hole  Here is what I'm assuming is only a partial coverage of the Hot Rod Magazine Series of scale models. There seems to have been various scales, three-packs, re-issues, and maybe even an MPC model besides the Revells (?)

[Plowboy]

On 12/12/2022 at 12:14 AM, ea0863 said:

 

On 12/12/2022 at 12:36 AM, ea0863 said:

I had my subscription to Hot Rod during this time and remember these cars! Some years ago, I started my version of the Novette. Only I used a '66 as there weren't any good first gen Nova's to be had. Now, I have the Trumpeter Nova. So, I may revisit that idea. 

I remember Fat Jack's '48 too. Sadly, it got crashed when the driver hit a shift and a dip in the track at the same time. Jerry Moreland also had a wicked '40 Ford Sedan. Hot Rod used it and an Olds Calais built by Matt Hay to test the pro streeters. It kinda proved that if you had a car that would run pro times at the track, it wouldn't survive on the street and if you had a car that could survive the street, it couldn't turn a pro time. Personally, I didn't care if they could turn a pro time. I just loved how they looked!

[ea0863]

HRM June 1986 did a spread on kit cars, and one blurb was about a company called Kougar America

The car on the left was obviously cool, but check out the one on the right!

[ea0863]

An article on the changing shape of the Hot Rod landscape had lots of great lead sleds, including what we would probably refer to as a "tribute" to the Hirohata '51 Mercury. HRM June 1986

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And as promised, HRM kicked off the scale model series with a wonderful article from Pat Ganahl.

I did not know Mr. Ganahl, however it is obvious from the posts regarding his recent passing that he was beloved by Hot Rodders, scale modelers, and writers alike. For those of you who have felt his passing, my sincerest condolences. A good place to share seems to have developed with the following thread (among others):

 

 

Edited December 14, 2022 by ea0863

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Yellow '66 Olds Cutlass. HRM July 1986

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Oh to be back in August 1986, and reading the new issue of HRM! On the cover, the new breed of 4 cylinder engines putting out V8 kind of horsepower - and looking good in their own right.

Edited December 14, 2022 by ea0863

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And checking out "Chrisman's Comet" 1965 Cyclone Funny Car like a centerfold photoshoot. 

Edited December 14, 2022 by ea0863