'61 Rambler Re-do

[Chuck Most]

About a year or so ago, I built a '61 Rambler drop top using a snap kit body, '66 Nova pro street chassis, and some choice bits from a Johan Pro Street Rambler. (Read all about it here:http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=25375&st=0&p=236289&hl='61%20Rambler&fromsearch=1&entry236289)

I was never too happy with the wheels and tires, the side exit exhaust, or the mile-high bucket seats, and a recent accident while takig it to a show allowed me to make a few changes...

The new big-inch Torq Thrust Ds and brake rotor/calipers are from the Revell '65 Chevy C-10 kit- the C4 Corvette suspension still supports them up front, but I replaced the rear suspension with a Mustang rear axle supported by a 'truck arm' style suspension. I used a different set of Super Bee pro street mufflers (one of the originals was lost in the accident), moved them to the back, and used solder to create pipes from them to the headers. The low back buckets came from, of all things, a Jeep CJ-7, and not only do they keep the seats from jutting over the beltline way too much like the old Acura seats, they keep the Rambler all American (Motors, that is)! I also lowered the car a bit, but it was offset a little bit by the taller wheels.

All in all, I think the car looks way better than it did with the dated old Center Lines. Now, that purple paint doesn't look so good anymore, and I'm really not as big on the '66 Pro Street Nova engine compartment as I was when I first built it. Oh, well... maybe there will be a 'Version 3.0' in a few more years...

[old-hermit]

I like the car Chuck but I think you should ditch the wheels and go with steelies and caps.

Also it needs some sun visors flipped up for the Malibu Beach look. IMHO !!!!

[sigmaman]

Looks alright to me.

[Guest Johnny]

So that is what happened to the rest of the Nova!

Sweet car! Glad to see someone do something with the less desirable little cars!

[philo426]

Paint it red and white like on 3rd rock from the sun!

[John Teresi]

Chuck....I`m really diggin this one!!!!......you got a good eye for nice clean designs .....very well done.

[Chuck Most]

So that is what happened to the rest of the Nova!

Sweet car! Glad to see someone do something with the less desirable little cars!

Nope... this was a totally different Nova kit (the body you now have was the stock version)! I'm the kind of guy who buys a kit just for a few 'key ingredients'...

[Wayne Buck]

That looks pretty sweet, man!

I like it!!!

[dimaxion]

Well , it is a Modern Rendition of a classic . I do like the purple . i sure am glad to see you didn't use the very special (cheap !) single leaf springs GM slapped under their cars . Nice build ..

[Guest Johnny]

Nope... this was a totally different Nova kit (the body you now have was the stock version)! I'm the kind of guy who buys a kit just for a few 'key ingredients'...

I'm guilty of doing that a few times my self!