Late 50's slingshot dragster

[Bernard Kron]

Late 50's Era Slingshot Dragster Based On The Chassis From Carl Casper's Undertaker

This is the Carl Casper's Undertaker kit from Polar Lights, Show rods aren't something I do but I bought the kit for its very nice Chrysler Hemi Potvin Manifold I needed for another project I have going.

(Click on picture for larger image)

The kit is pretty rough, especially with respect to the engine block, heads and injectors which are pretty "vague" to put it kindly. However, it turns out that it has a really nice example of a late 50's era slingshot dragster chassis. It's got many of the somewhat primitive features of that period including a cool lever shock front suspension and a close-coupled rear 3-point roll hoop that puts the driver just barely behind the rear axle. So I decided I would build an example of a circa 1958-59 digger. Being a show rod the frame comes completely chromed so it had to go into the stripper before being painted black. Here's a picture of completed roller:

The front wheels and tires are from my parts box. The rear tires are from the Revell Tony Nancy Double Dragster kit. The rear wheels are from the Undertaker, once again stripped of their chrome and finished with Testors Acryl Jet Exhaust.

The body panels are also from the Tony Nancy kit, obviously cut down to the bare minimum. The finish on the bodywork is the bare metallic silver plastic from the Tony Kit wet sanded with 400 grit to create a surprisingly realistic bare metal finish. The seat is a cut down AMT '25 T item with the upholstery sanded off and the whole thing finished in Testors Aluminum Plate Metalizer.

The engine I installed is a Revell Parts Pack 354 Caddy with scratch built headers and "dog house" over the carbs. The front accessory drive is from an AMT'40 Ford Tudor kit. The rest of the drive train is from the Undertaker kit.

Everything else is from the Undertaker kit. Just these few simple changes creates a radically different model.

Thanx for lookin,

B.

Edited July 21, 2010 by gbk1

[Bernard Kron]

Here are some additional detail shots.

[Dragline]

Looks ready to smoke em all the way down the 1320.

Sweet.

Bob

[Raul_Perez]

Bernard,

It looks like you're developing quite a collection of parts box goodies to select from all on your own!!

My good friends at Cal-Surplus may have to swing by your place to see if there's anything they need for the store!

The old digger looks pretty cool!!

I have really got to get back to building...while you and Curt have been building up a storm, I don't think I've finished anything yet this year...

Keep up the good work!!

Later,

[charlzrocks]

Nice looking old railer!

[Bernard Kron]

Thanx guys! I'm glad you all dig it.

This was certainly the biggest change in style for the least amount of kitbashing I've ever experienced. Just replace the engine and front wheels, strip all the chrome off and fabricate a brutally simple body and you've got instant 50's funk!

Edited July 21, 2010 by gbk1

[Fuel Coupe]

Bernard,

You did a really nice job on this one. Looks great....

[Bernard Kron]

Bernard,

You did a really nice job on this one. Looks great....

Thanx Shane, your props are appreciated!

[Guest Johnny]

I think that era in drag racing was so much more interesting and exciting than what we have today!

To think that that was state of the art drag back then! The Great, Great, Great, Great Grandaddy of todays top fuel dragsters!

Cool build!