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Posted (edited)

After looking at this kit sit on my shelf for the past 30 years or more.

I think it's time has come to do something with it.

 

I'm leaning heavily  towards a stock box build.   The more commonly called 'KISS'  method. (Keep it simple stupid.) 

But....i have the resin sixpack hood and a  rat roaster intake to go MP car.

Problem is I'm not sure i want to go  another more detailed build with better chassis etc etc etc. 

Might come down to how well the paint on the resin hood turns out

I'm plan to use aftermarket decals either way.

Odds the kits decals are any good...is unlikely 

 

An issue to deal with is, there is not a lot of info / pictures out there on this particular car 

 

So far I, pretty certain there were actually 2 SM birds

Both hemi 4spds,  white bucket seats interior no console in either.

The SS/E car had a blue painted roof , the MP car was stock black vinyl top 

Neither car had the Bird specific scoops on the fenders . WHY, I've no idea.

 

Decisions decisions 

 

 

 

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Edited by gtx6970
  • Like 2
Posted

It is my understanding that Buddy Martin always painted his engines Ford Blue. Do not know why but maybe in reference to his early Ford roots.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
43 minutes ago, afxawb2 said:

It is my understanding that Buddy Martin always painted his engines Ford Blue. Do not know why but maybe in reference to his early Ford roots.

Ronnie. Buddy and Jake  all had roots in Fords before their Chrysler association . 

Especially Jake King.

 

 

But I've read numerous stories why their engines were Ford blue. 

Unfortunately the only ones that might know are Buddy Martin and Herb McCandless 

Both of which will be at Chryslers at Carlisle next weekend 

Edited by gtx6970
Posted (edited)

I believe Sox & Martin had two different Superbird's, one ran in the Super Stock E class and the other in C Modified Production class, the difference is the blue metallic painted roof on the SS/E car and a Six Pack hood scoop and a black vinyl top on the C/MP car, none of them had the small rearward facing scoops on top of the front fenders.
The Super Stock car was one of only two built and they ran it for a very short period in just a few races as it wasn't exactly legal, Sox & Martin got one with a manual for SS/E and Jack Werst got the other and ran an automatic so it had SS/EA classfication, the clutch pedal was still in Jack's car tho' put all the way up against the firewall.

And it was the mechanic Jake King who painted the engines he built Ford engine blue and all engines used by Sox & Martin wasn't blue, just the engines Jake built.

Edited by Force
Posted
21 hours ago, afxawb2 said:

painted his engines Ford Blue. Do not know why

Ford blue would make them go faster😁.

  • Haha 4
Posted
On 7/5/2025 at 3:50 PM, gtx6970 said:

Ronnie. Buddy and Jake  all had roots in Fords before their Chrysler association . 

Especially Jake King.

 

 

But I've read numerous stories why their engines were Ford blue. 

Unfortunately the only ones that might know are Buddy Martin and Herb McCandless 

Both of which will be at Chryslers at Carlisle next weekend 

I’m gonna stick my 2cents in as to why S&M engines were painted with Ford paint (as were the race cars until 1970). The simple explanation is that S&M had a huge stockpile of Ford paint left over from their Mercury sponsorship. That said, I’m going to make it a priority to seek out Buddy and Herb at Carlisle this weekend and ask them!

  • Like 1
Posted
13 hours ago, 6bblbird said:

I’m gonna stick my 2cents in as to why S&M engines were painted with Ford paint (as were the race cars until 1970). The simple explanation is that S&M had a huge stockpile of Ford paint left over from their Mercury sponsorship. That said, I’m going to make it a priority to seek out Buddy and Herb at Carlisle this weekend and ask them!

Another question for them.

 

Were there just the one superbird.

OR , were there actually 2 of them 

 

Depending on who you ask - where you read , I get both answers 

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

In between working on tile work of a bathroom shower remodel

I got to spend some time today cleaning up mold flash , and fitting the resin 6pack hood 

Got all the side markers filled and sanded smooth 

Engine is almost done . Interior is painted in a satin white '

 

Current plan is keep it a box stock build, and paint the resin hood ( fingers crossed that goes well )  .  And I will  display it both ways

 

The only picture with the hood up that I can find shows the car still stock hood  and air cleaner . So I assume its still a SS/E car at the time

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Edited by gtx6970
  • Like 2
  • gtx6970 changed the title to Sox + Martin Superbird
Posted (edited)

I'm not sure the SS/E car and the C/MP car was the same car.
The SS/E car has a blue metallic painted roof and the body was most likely intended for NASCAR as the filler panel for the smaller rear window was smoothed out and the NASCAR Superbirds did not have vinyl tops nor side markers.
The C/MP car had a black vinyl top like all the Superbirds you could buy from the dealer and the vinyl top was there to hide the filler panel for the rear window.
The SS/E car was built specially for the SS/E class and was not entirely legal and there were only two built for the class, one for Sox & Martin and one for Jack Werst, the rear axle was moved forward, the whole wing was weighted down, one front wheel was moved forward slightly and the engine was moved back...all this wasn't allowed in the Super Stock class.
They might be the same car but as I said, I'm not sure...and there are two Superbirds in the shop picture.

Edited by Force
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