Shutdown - Corvette Stingray vs. Super Stock Dodge

[SpeedShift]

Most you have probably heard the Beach Boys song, "Shutdown" released back in 1963 (or the Jan and Dean cover).

I've often wondered about the details of these two cars, and how realistic was the implied victory of the Corvette Stingray vs the Dodge 413.

Looking into the history I thought it might make an interesting build or diorama as well.

But what kits in 1/25th scale are out there -  if you were to build it?

THE KITS:

What we can derive from the 1963 song lyrics is we are looking at a time period of 1963 for a Dodge and Corvette Stingray- or possibly an earlier version of each car.

The Fuel Injected Stingray

I believe the Corvette Stingray first came on market in 1963 - probably the split window version. Guess it was the latest and greatest stock bad ass when the song came out.

No details on the car, except the song lyrics mention it has fuel injection (I got a fuel injected engine sitting under my hood) with manual transmission (To get the traction I'm riding the clutch)

And slicks (My Stingray is light the slicks are starting to spin).

Looking for suggestions on what '63 Corvette Stingray kit is out there and recommended. 

 

The Super Stock Dodge 413 

The Dodge is most likely the 1962 Dodge Dart - as to my knowledge - the 1963 year Dodge trim packages didn't have the famous 413  engine as addressed in the song lyrics.

So, I just happen to have a Jo-Han Dodge Dart hardtop kit, kit C-4162.

That takes care of half the kit search, unless there is something better out there.

Fortunately, Jo-Han kits have a fan base, I've read builders like the Jo-Han kit representation of many stock cars.

The kit I have has some age on it....I have no idea how or when I acquired it. The instruction sheet is a yellowed one page 8 1/2 by 11- both sides.

Kinda primitive and clunky as far as kits go........the underside has the differential, rear axle and exhaust molded in (ick!!). Major surgery required there if we want detailed chassis. 

The kit has a single carb engine - not the dual quad 413 Ram Induction as the song lyrics reference (Pedal's to the floor, hear the dual quads drink) (He's hot with Ram Induction).

An accurate representation of the 413 will require some searching/kit bashing  - or some scratch building.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So on with the search for parts/kit and reference material.

I know I have some old Super Stock magazines periodicals to peruse.

In the meantime:

Tack it up, tack it up
Buddy, gonna shut you down

It happened on the strip where the road is wide (tack it up now)
Two cool shorts standin' side by side (tack it up now) (tack it up now)
Yeah, my fuel injected Stingray and a four-thirteen (tack it up now)
A revvin' up our engines, and it sounds real mean (tack it up now)

Tack it up, tack it up
Buddy, gonna shut you down

Declinin' numbers at an even rate (tack it up now)
At the count of one we both accelerate (tack it up now)
My stingray is light, the slicks are startin' to spin (tack it up now)
But the four-thirteen's really diggin' in (tack it up now)
Gotta be cool now, power shift, here we go

Superstock dodge is windin' out in low
But my fuel injected Stingray's really startin' to go
To get the traction, I'm ridin' the clutch
My pressure plate's burnin', that machine's too much

Pedal's to the floor, hear the dual quads drink (tack it up now)
And now the four-thirteen's lead is startin' to shrink (tack it up now)
He's hot with ram induction, but it's understood (tack it up now)
I got a fuel-injected engine sittin' under my hood

Shut it off, shut it off
Buddy, now I shut you down

 

Edited April 23 by SpeedShift

[Ace-Garageguy]

Only '63 split-window I'm aware of is the AMT version, which does include the OEM fuel injection.

As far as I remember, there are some proportion and line issues with the body, so if that kind of stuff bothers you, I know for a fact there are builders on this forum who can recommend a better starting point...though you may have to swap roofs or the rear window "split" at least.

 

[SpeedShift]

19 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Only '63 split-window I'm aware of is the AMT version, which does include the OEM fuel injection.

As far as I remember, there are some proportion and line issues with the body, so if that kind of stuff bothers you, I know for a fact there are builders on this forum who can recommend a better starting point...though you may have to swap roofs or the rear window "split" at least.

 

Thanks Bill, I've seen that kit before.

If not in my stash somewhere, it might be in my brother's stash...he's the sports car fan.

And thanks for the insight on the kit.

 

[SpeedShift]

So a check of my ancient Hot Rod and other 62/63 era magazines turned up some pictures and info on the 413.

That's one honking engine in that picture.

I have no idea if there is a kit or an aftermarket resin offering of the 413.

The 426 of Ramchargers fame is probably more well known.

Not sure a Lindberg kit with a 426 might offer a reasonable starting point for the block.

The cross-ram induction and headers would need to be crafted.

 

 

Edited April 17 by SpeedShift

[SpeedShift]

 

Nice website for 1962 Mopar Max Wedge :       //1963_dodge.fortunecity.ws/wedge2.htm

https://1963_dodge.fortunecity.ws/wedge2.htm

Edited April 17 by SpeedShift

[SpeedShift]

This project was started back in 2019 on this forum - maybe he can chime in.

Same Jo-Han kit.

 

Edited April 17 by SpeedShift

[SpeedShift]

Dug up this ancient 1962 magazine that previewed the 1963 Corvette Stingray:

[SpeedShift]

Well, -  looks like there were some resin 413 engines in 1/25th scale at one time : Ross Gibson and an outfit called BNL as well.

Edited April 17 by SpeedShift

[Sledsel]

Cool concept, the AMT Vette and Johan Dart are both vintage and of the same type of build. Just do it and not worry a lot about chassis ect.

Doesn't the AMT 49 Mercury kit have a cross ram dual quad 413?  

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 minutes ago, Sledsel said:

Doesn't the AMT 49 Mercury kit have a cross ram dual quad 413?  

Yup. I was just about to post that. Similar upswept headers too.

[SpeedShift]

8 minutes ago, Sledsel said:

Cool concept, the AMT Vette and Johan Dart are both vintage and of the same type of build. Just do it and not worry a lot about chassis ect.

Doesn't the AMT 49 Mercury kit have a cross ram dual quad 413?  

I'm pretty sure the 413 is a 1963 engine, although there may be dual quad manifolds with Holley 4 bbls in many kits.

Looks like Bill confirms the 49 Mercury kit - check the side box panel - right there- thanks guys.

 

Edited April 17 by SpeedShift

[Ace-Garageguy]

12 minutes ago, SpeedShift said:

I'm pretty sure the 413 is a 1963 engine, although there may be dual quad manifolds with Holley 4 bbls in many kits.

Looks like Bill confirms the 49 Mercury kit - check the side box panel - right there- thanks guys.

 

'62 was 413. '63 went to 426.

At least one set of Merc instructions calls it out as a 426, but the engines would be visually identical in 1/25.

Edited April 17 by Ace-Garageguy

[SpeedShift]

I'm intrigued...I have several AMT 49 merc kits, one (black car on cover, more recent release) and it has the two engine choices.

Appears this one particular AMT kit has a dual quad 440, according to the side panel.

 

[SpeedShift]

12 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

'62 was 413. '63 went to 426.

At least one set of Merc instructions calls it out as a 426, but the engines would be visually identical in 1/25.

Well, nonetheless, the 426 is in the lineage...'62 413, vs the '63 426.

I have some history on the 426 as well, enough to sort out the differences if the 426 kit engine can be a starting point for a 413.

Internal displacements would not be noticeable in a scale engine, header routing and induction system details between the two might be.

[Ace-Garageguy]

8 hours ago, SpeedShift said:

Well, nonetheless, the 426 is in the lineage...'62 413, vs the '63 426.

I have some history on the 426 as well, enough to sort out the differences if the 426 kit engine can be a starting point for a 413.

Internal displacements would not be noticeable in a scale engine, header routing and induction system details between the two might be.

The 413 wedge and 426 wedge under discussion here are BOTH "RB" engines, along with the 383(RB) and the 440, and in 1/25 scale you can't tell the difference other than external manifolding, and accessories.

Nobody but the most hardcore Mopar guy is going to be able to tell the '49 Merc optional "426-440" with the short cross-ram intake and the cast iron upswept headers from a 413 with the short cross-ram intake and cast iron upswept headers...and even then, it's not likely there would be any visible and reliable tipoffs in 1/25 scale.

EDIT: Hardcore Mopar guys, feel free to correct me.

NOTE: The 426 Hemi is a different animal.

Far as the '49 Merc kit engines go...believe me, the tooling wasn't changed from the kit that says the optional engine is a 426 and the one that says it's a 440. All they did was change what they called it, because they look alike.

EDIT 2: This is rather like guys who'll sweat getting "correct" 383-stroker smallblock Chevy engines...when in fact every basic smallblock Chevy engine can pass for every other one in 1/25 scale, other than the one difference in the very early (265) blocks lacking the oil filter mounting.

EDIT 3: Here's the Wiki page regarding the 413/426 Max Wedge engines. I most certainly do not believe everything Wikipee says, but this seems right IIRC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Wedge

Edited April 17 by Ace-Garageguy

[FoMoCo66]

Love this song looking forward to your build of these 2 cars. Just wondering, are you going to go for 6 tail lights since it was the popular thing to do with those c2 corvettes?

[dwc43]

38 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

The 413 wedge and 426 wedge under discussion here are BOTH "RB" engines, along with the 383(RB) and the 440, and in 1/25 scale you can't tell the difference other than external manifolding, and accessories.

Nobody but the most hardcore Mopar guy is going to be able to tell the '49 Merc optional "426-440" with the short cross-ram intake and the cast iron upswept headers from a 413 with the short cross-ram intake and cast iron upswept headers...and even then, it's not likely there would be any visible and reliable tipoffs in 1/25 scale.

EDIT: Hardcore Mopar guys, feel free to correct me.

NOTE: The 426 Hemi is a different animal.

Far as the '49 Merc kit engines go...believe me, the tooling wasn't changed from the kit that says the optional engine is a 426 and the one that says it's a 440. All they did was change what they called it, because they look alike.

EDIT 2: This is rather like guys who'll sweat getting "correct" 383-stroker smallblock Chevy engines...when in fact every basic smallblock Chevy engine can pass for every other one in 1/25 scale, other than the one difference in the very early (265) blocks lacking the oil filter mounting.

EDIT 3: Here's the Wiki page regarding the 413/426 Max Wedge engines. I most certainly do not believe everything Wikipee says, but this seems right IIRC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Wedge

B-Series: The B-series engine is Chrysler’s first official big-block engine. Released in 1958, they existed until 1978. Available in 350 cubic-inch and 361 cubic-inch variants at first, there were also 383 cubic-inch and 400 cubic-inch B-series engines. They shared most of their architecture with the RB-series, but with a shorter 3.375-inch stroke. Both the B and RB-series engines featured wedge-style combustion chambers.

RB-Series:  The RB-series engines came about a year after the B-series, and featured a longer 3.75-inch stroke for increased displacements of 413 cubic inches, 426 cubic inches and 440 cubic inches. The 426 Wedge was Chrysler’s main performance engine until the 426 Hemi came on scene.

426 Hemi: The 426 Hemi was actually the second generation of hemispherical-headed engines. It was released in 1964 and lasted until 1971. The iconic Mopar performance engine only existed in a 426 cubic-inch displacement in production vehicles and is probably the rarest of any on this list.

 

By the way, 350's have two freeze plugs on the side of the block and 400's have three. So, just any small block wont do.

[Ace-Garageguy]

12 minutes ago, dwc43 said:

By the way, 350's have two freeze plugs on the side of the block and 400's have three. So, just any small block wont do.

OK, but I've yet to see anyone pick up a model with a smallblock Chevy in it to count the freeze plugs.

EDIT: There is also a 383 RB built in 1959 and 1960 that your reference leaves out. It's different from the 383 B.

Edited April 17 by Ace-Garageguy

[dwc43]

1 minute ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

OK, but I've yet to see anyone pick up a model with a smallblock Chevy in it to count the freeze plugs.

lol ...   

[SpeedShift]

Had an opportunity to dig into my kit stash and found a couple of Lindberg Color Me Gone - 1964 Dodge 330 Super Sport  kits.

The 426 engine is pictured on the side panel.

When I pull the AMT 49 Merc kit I'll be able to compare the two kit engines and see which might be a good candidate for the 413.

I think the AMT kit engine has the upturned exhaust headers.

Edited April 17 by SpeedShift

[styromaniac]

Bro...looks like your idea is generating some interest. I will check my Stingray kit collection and send you a run down.

[SpeedShift]

1 hour ago, styromaniac said:

Bro...looks like your idea is generating some interest. I will check my Stingray kit collection and send you a run down.

Thanks - I checked my inventory list..I DO have the '63 split window stingray (as posted by bill here). Somewhere .....LOL.

 

[Mr. Metallic]

My understanding is the Revell 63 non-glue kit (snap 🤫) is the most accurate. Then a few builders have put the chassis from the Revell 67 underneath to make it full detail. Not sure how involved you want to get, just throwing it out there. 

[SpeedShift]

On 4/19/2024 at 10:47 AM, Mr. Metallic said:

My understanding is the Revell 63 non-glue kit (snap 🤫) is the most accurate. Then a few builders have put the chassis from the Revell 67 underneath to make it full detail. Not sure how involved you want to get, just throwing it out there. 

Thanks...Ill check that one.

[SpeedShift]

And for anyone that wonders if the fuel injected 63 Vette ever really shutdown the Max Wedge Dodge Dart .....................

Shut Down: Revised Correct Mopar Version of Song (ornocar.com)

And the real world evidence: Mopar Action magazine featured a 1962 Dodge besting the Sting Ray in its 1990 issue:

 

  Copyright 1990, Harris Publications, Inc. Used with Permssion. All rights reserved.

High Performance Mopar magazine featured a Max Wedge again stomping the Corvette:

Max Wedge Mania: SHUT EM UP AND SHUT EM DOWN

Donnie Chapmans 1962 413 Max Wedge Dart whipped the Sting Rays in straight sets.

by Jim Campisano

Tom Sloe made everyone a promise. "Im gonna beat that Dodge," said the owner of a damn-quick 1964 fuel-injected Corvette roadster.

He made this proclamation after the National Muscle Car Associations event at Milan Dragway in Michigan, where he lost three close races to Donnie Chapmans 1962 Max Wedge Dart. It followed a precedent that was set by Edison, N.J.s Ron Papaleo, whose 1963 fuelie got snuffed by the 413-powered Dart a month earlier in Darlington, S.C.

But while Papaleo never came close to beating Chapman, Sloe did. 

 

Papaleos split-window coupe was more of a show car, while Sloes 1964 was tuned to the cutting edge. 

Still, Chapman beat him in five straight races, running a best of 12.64 to Sloes 13.37. 

Strong for a stock small-block Chevy, but not nearly enough to top Mother Mopar.

What brought these warriors together was the NMCAs intention to breathe some life into the Beach Boys song "Shut Down." 

Everyone knows the story: Corvette meets Dodge, Corvette races Dodge, Corvette beats Dodge.

Whoa. Were talking about a 13.5:1 compression ratio engine, dual- quad-fortified machine with a race-prepped TorqueFlite transmission. 

Does such a stout Corvette exist on this planet? We did a little homework before the first round of the event.

In an old issue of _Hot Rod_ Magazine, we found a 1962 Vette that was running 12.63 in HGRA A/Sports. 

Modifications were limited to engine blueprinting, slicks and headers. 

In the same issue, we noted that the Super Stock ET record was held by Dick Ladeen of Portland, Ore., at 12.71. We figured we had some kind of horse race on our hands.

Sloes machine was fitted with the most powerful incarnation of Chevrolets small-block, the 375-horsepower 327, and a Muncie 4-speed. 

Though his 1964 is not the showpiece that Papaleos Vette is, its still plenty nice.

Chapmans 413 actually started life as a 361-equipped Tennessee state police vehicle. 

He had all the necessary parts available to make the car a 413 and figured, "Why not?" He built his Dart specifically for the NMCAs Shut Down series.

Marshall Jeffers put the Ramcharger V8 together using stock factory goodies. 

Donnie maintains the only deviations from stock are an .030-inch overbore and a Racer Brown cam.

The 727 TorqueFlite was also freshened up by Jeffers, and for good measure he added a TCI converter with a 3000-rpm stall speed.

 The 8 3/4-inch rear houses 4.30 gears.

Body and paint chores were handled by Steve Elkens, who also refurbished the interior. The entire car, an undeniable show-stopper, was completed in two months time.

Down in Memphis, home of Elvis Presley, barbecue cooking and mosquitoes with the tenacity of pit bulls, Sloe made good on his promise--sort of. 

In the first round, neither gentleman ran a particularly good race, but Sloe cut the better light and emerged the winner with a 14.211 at 101.63 to Chapmans 14.193 at 91.05.

The Corvettes finally got on the scoreboard. 

Unfortunately for them, it would be the last time they would do so. In the next round, Donnie ran an unreal 12.27 at 109.38 to Sloes 13.15 at 104.48.

"I put in a set of those Japanese spark plugs," said Chapman, explaining how he managed to knock .5 second off his previous low ET.

From that point on, it was Dodge all the way, though Sloe did a commendable job driving the plastic Chevy. 

His last three races netted him ET slips that read 13.36, 12.96 and 13.41. Impressive but hardly up to the task, since Donnies times were 12.41, 12.51 and 12.69.

As for Ron Papaleo and his 1963 split-window Vette, he was content to watch the action from the sidelines and take the events Best of Show award.

Now the Beach Boys know why there was nobody meaner than the Little Old Lady from Pasadena.

Source: Campisano, Jim. , Shut Em Up and Shut Em Down. High Performance Mopar magazine -- March 1991, pp. 14-15.
 

Did you know?

That Gary Usher, the writer of 409 by the Beach Boys never owned a 409, but DID own a new 426 Plymouth Hemi Superstock, which he conceded was much faster than a 409 anyway. 🙂 (Source; The Illustrated Discography of Hot Rod Music 1961-1965 by John Blair and Stephen J. McParland, 1990, forward section)

High Performance Mopa

 

 

Edited April 20 by SpeedShift