Killer Firebirds- Brutus & KS Pittman FC's

[Wild Child]

Two  of my favorite  1969 era Pontiac Funny Cars in my collection include these two custom builds, Lew Arington's Brutus '69 Firebird and KS Pittman's '68 Firebird (Pittman's car was actually raced as a '69 but really had a '68 body).  Both cars feature modified standard kit bodies including modified hoods (which use the street machine open center hood with a section of the 400 hood molded in), modified spoilers, modified wheelwells, cut windshield, filled grille areas and more.  Paint finishes were very similar in color, with the Pittman car being slightly more orange, and both have hand rubbed finishes.  Extensive modifications to the interior panels was also required. The chassis are both Polar Lights units which have been shortened to fit the bodies.  Correct wheels with valve stems and accurate graphics were used.

The motors are fully wired, plumbed, and have linkage.  While most Firebird's ran Canadian Pontiac motors (aka big block Chevy) in 1969, these two used Chrysler Hemi's. Pittman used one of their modified gasser 392 Hemi's while Arington used a 426 Hemi.

Side Note - In the early '60's, Mickey Thompson made Pontiac aluminum Hemi heads for the 421 Super Duty engines.  Around 1964, Lew Arington purchased the leftover heads from Mickey, and ran Hemi headed Pontiac motors for a few years very competitively.  When these were finally used up, and no replacements available due to GM's anti racing ban, Lew switched to Chrysler Hemi's.

[Charger Funny Car]

Outstanding! Big fan of your work 

[Wild Child]

11 minutes ago, Charger Funny Car said:

Outstanding! Big fan of your work 

Thanks Scott.  I appreciate you taking the time to say that.  Some of these custom builds are a bit tuff, so it is especially gratifying to know people like the finished results.

[Jack L]

great builds , late 60s f/c are the best !!!!!

[bondo bill]

very kool

[dragcarz]

Beautiful builds! Very well done!

[PappyD340]

Super nice pair of Firebirds, well done!

[ChrisR]

Very nice!

[Mike 1017]

I LUV Both Of Them. Did you scratch build the T-Fitting on the fuel pumps?

[Nacho Z]

Fantastic floppers, Bill!

[Wild Child]

2 hours ago, Mike 1017 said:

I LUV Both Of Them. Did you scratch build the T-Fitting on the fuel pumps?

Thanks guys.

Mike, while I have scratch built some pumps, this pump is the pump in the Polar Lights kit.  Some need 3 lines, some 2 depending on the car and tanks.  Also, different injection setups use different lines....some basic like these, some multiple.  What I usually do is cut the tips off the pump, drill a tiny hole, insert .015 or .018 piano wire in, then slide braided line over followed by the fitting (which presses on), both with a dab of super glue gel.  Works great, though a little time consuming sometimes.

[deuces wild]

😎👍

[Old Buckaroo]

Very Impressive and even more bonus points since they are not resin bodies , I love the colors.  😎

[Nitro330]

Great job on both Bill!  Really cool to see these old Firebird funny cars.  I appreciate and respect the extra work and details you put into your builds.

[Wild Child]

On 4/29/2025 at 11:02 AM, Old Buckaroo said:

Very Impressive and even more bonus points since they are not resin bodies , I love the colors.  😎

Thanks guys. 

Sean, I enjoy doing standard kit bodies.  While a resin funny car body is slightly longer, I really like doing the body mods myself.  Plus, resin bodies are costly and you still need a kit to get the glass and trim.  It takes a bit of work, but the overall results make it ok for me.  I have 2 other Birds I hope to get to this year, including Jess Tyree's cool '69.  Making the Firebird hoods are tuff since no one makes standard flat hoods, and typically you need to have decals made, which can get a bit pricey sometimes.

This pic is of the future Tyree bird, and loosely resembles what the 2 Firebird's above looked like early on. .  It was a previously built kit I came across , and am now converting it to a funny car.  The hood was made from an open street machine hood with a center section molded in from a 400 hood.  Once a body is done, all the inside tin work has to be modified to fit, and the chassis has to be carefully measured and shortened to fit the kit body.  Lots of fun, but lots of work. 

Thanks again.

[Zippi]

Great looking builds man.  

[TransAmMike]

All look really good Bill!!   

[Hmann68]

Very nice! 👍👍