Mark Gustavson I ain't!

[93Z34]

I picked this Jimmy Flintstone body up a few years ago at the NNL East, not knowing what I would do with it. I finally dug it out last night and started hacking into it.

I'm sorry I hacked the hood open on it now. I should have left it alone and made a curbside car out of it I think. There is a ton of excess resin on the body and it will need a TON of cleanup and even then I'm not sure how good it's going to look with the hood open on it.

I originally wanted to have a forward tilting hood on rollers like the Saab and BMW "6" Series have. I'm still trying to draft plans ono how to do this and have the hood open and close smoothly and fit good. So far I'm at a loss on how to do that.

Anyways, here are the pics of the car so far and what has, or should I say, hasn't been done.

[Rob Hall]

Looks interesting..what is it? Looks like a custom early '50s Buick..

[93Z34]

Ya know Rob, I'm not even sure what the heck it's supposed to be. I originally thought the front end looked like a Merc, but the rear really throws me. It could be a Buick I guess...If anyone knows what it's supposed to be that would be great. The old AMT 49 Merc kit is supposed to be the donor kit for the body but I think the chassis will need to be stretched to make it work, I dunno...

[Rob Hall]

Ya know Rob, I'm not even sure what the heck it's supposed to be. I originally thought the front end looked like a Merc, but the rear really throws me. It could be a Buick I guess...If anyone knows what it's supposed to be that would be great. The old AMT 49 Merc kit is supposed to be the donor kit for the body but I think the chassis will need to be stretched to make it work, I dunno...

The side contour, hood, and rear roofline slope vaguely remind me of an early '50s Buick, more than a Merc. The rear quarters/taillight area remind me of the Cadzilla custom.

[93Z34]

I can see the Cadzilla resemblance. At this point it's anyone's guess though. I've sure got my work cut out for me though, that much I know for a fact.

[Modelmartin]

If I remember correctly, Jimmy got a "Cease and desist" letter from ZZTop when he started out calling it Cadzilla. I forgot what he calls it now. I thought it was like Leadstone or some such thing.

How about a sideways opening hood like the real Buicks had?

[Tom Jackson]

That Is The Chopperhead I think Ted Lear did the master for it

[93Z34]

Thanks for help identifying the body guys, it helps alot. As for the side opening hood, I contemplated that. But, the way the hood was molded and subsequently cut out, I don't think a side-hinged hood will work as the hood needs to slide under the windshield pillar posts. I still have to figure out how I'm going to make the cowl look more realistic on this body too.

I'll tell ya, for a first custom job, I don't think I could have picked a harder subject to tackle.

[Chuck Most]

I've got one of these bodies, too- it's a 1951 Buick 'Chopper Head' custom.

I was going to open the hood on mine, but I wussed out and am going to do it as a curbside.

Right now, it's on a JoHan Olds promo chassis, and has a '57 Buick grille and tri-bar headlights. Still haven't figured out the glass or interior.

The body is supposed to use an AMT '51 Chevy as a donor kit... right! Nothing of the chev even comes close to fitting, and the chassis is way too short!

I really liked the quality of the body, though- even though it's as thick as a hippo's skull!