86 Corvette Pace Car

[Sonorandog]

In 1986 there was an ad with Chuck Yeager, a jet and a yellow Corvette pace car.  That image burned itself in my memory.  Sometime last year I came across the pace car model used in a hobby shop.  I could not resist.  My plans started pretty high but as I started building I realized the kit was missing a few pieces.  Therefore I decided just to make a pretty shelf model.

 

First the original picture. 

 

This is as close as I could replicate, I do not have any airplane models.

 

[happy grumpy]

I really like corvettes of that decade. Curved lines mixed with sharp angles, Camaro's and firebird's also had this in their design . Really miss my 87 firebird right now. Great looking Vette, that yellow really makes it pop.

[Jim B]

Very nice job on your Corvette.   Finding a 1/25 scale F-20 would be almost impossible.

[STU111]

10 hours ago, Jim B said:

Very nice job on your Corvette.   Finding a 1/25 scale F-20 would be almost impossible.

You may find that F-20 jet in 1/32 perhaps, would be the closest. Nice job on the Corvette though, looks spot on. ??

[ncbuckeye67]

Great looking build! I love the Vettes from back then (so much, that I picked that kit up at a museum gift shop last year).

[Sonorandog]

Thank you everyone for the comments.  This was a fun kit to build I have two more C4’s in the stash.  A snap kit and a ZR1.  The only issues with this kit, in my opinion is that the ride height seems a little high and the rear axle assemble is a little odd and needs extra attention to get it right.

After this one I may move the snap kit to front of the line, I want to build another one.

[ChrisR]

Nice.

[spencer1984]

Nicely done, I still like the C4

[espo]

Great looking recreation of the pace car. I wonder if the picture is of Yagers car that Chevrolet would lease to astronauts for $1.00?

[Sonorandog]

Chuck’s car was sold a few years ago.  

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1986-CHEVROLET-CORVETTE-CONVERTIBLE---CHUCK-YEAGER-PACE-CAR-245519

[Sonorandog]

1 hour ago, spencer1984 said:

Nicely done, I still like the C4

I really liked the look of the C4 after the slight refresh in the 90’s.  They just sort of refined the lines a little.  When I see one of these today I am still struck by how good they look.

[DJMar]

Oh yeah, Gen.Yeager and the F-20, that ad brings back memories. Nice job on the C4!

7 hours ago, Sonorandog said:

The only issues with this kit, in my opinion is that the ride height seems a little high and the rear axle assemble is a little odd and needs extra attention to get it right.

I'm with you on this. I still have one of these in the stash from '86 or '87, and as much as I dig these kits, the suspension can be a bit fiddly.

[XYHARRY]

Very nice pace car, and back story. Well done Steve.

Cheers, 

David. ??

[kelson]

Great looking build?, i seem to remember a news story back then about the yellow paint either darkening or fading when being exposed to the sun.

[mrm]

6 hours ago, kelson said:

Great looking build?, i seem to remember a news story back then about the yellow paint either darkening or fading when being exposed to the sun.

That would not surprise me at all. The C4 was probably the worst built quality Vette ever. I almost died in mine. 

[PappyD340]

Very nice Corvette!

[slusher]

Very beautiful Corvette!

[Sonorandog]

Thank you everyone.  I am now excited for Corvettes and want finish the C7 I started(waiting parts), do another C4 to improve on the things that did not go as hoped on this one and maybe work up the courage to tackle that Accurate Miniatures Grand Sport in the stash.   For some reason I always stop myself and think I have to build something different. Can’t turnout 3 or 4 of the same thing in a row.  Guess I am just silly about some things.

[Chinacar]

A Chuck Jordan classic. I met the designer of this car, Tom Peters. Really nice guy and very talented to be able to update the C5. Well done model. 

[Sonorandog]

If you like Corvette history and info this is a great book.(just in case you are not familiar with it)

 

[mrm]

The C4 Corvette holds a very special place in my heart. I've owned a couple of them and have some amazing memories, including almost dying in one of them, after wrapping it around a pole with about 120mph. That does not change the fact that the C4 is probably the worst built Corvette ever. 

They do make for great models tho and it looks like you did great with that yellow convertible. Difficult color to paint and not one you see on a C4 often.