Scale-Master Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 The Turbo-Jet Z/28’s name was derived from the label applied to cars powered by Chevrolet’s Big Block engine and a jet aircraft theme was also incorporated. The inclusion of Z/28 moniker was purely due to the meteoric rise and current popularity, including new race heritage of that option package. One of GM’s more bizarre creations, (but then consider the era), this Camaro based car included such oddities as a faux jet turbine intake in the grille and an afterburner exhaust between the taillights. Since it appeared to have standard dual exhausts, it is highly doubtful it did anything functional, not even as cool as the Batmobile (which it was arguably inspired by) in that regard…. Even the tail lights looked cheap being only the transparent red parts of the RS units with no chrome trim or even provision for back up lights. While it appears to be made from a second generation Camaro at first glance, in fact it was built from a base model 1969 Camaro convertible. If you compare the “sheet metal parts†that look like a ‘70 Camaro with an actual one, you’ll see the shape and proportions are different even though the styling is similar in a somewhat warped fashion. Even the headlights are not set into the bezels as a ’70 would be. In reality, it had a fiberglass body except for the stock ’69 Camaro deck lid. The front clip is a seamless one piece unit. It has been suggested this was made by using an early F-body mock up version, or a fiberglass lift of a clay exercise intended to be an attempt at the second generation Camaro. The dash is also styled similarly to the second generation Camaro, possibly to give a glimpse of things to come, or leftover from the styling studio. Furthermore, even though its name indicates that it had a Big Block (plus the Z/28s were all Small Block powered,) and the literature of the day claimed it did have an L88 427, most involved with the project say it was no real secret it was powered by an anemic 283 Small Block with a two barrel Rochester 2GV carb connected to a Saginaw 4 speed. It didn’t even have true dual exhaust, just a Y split off a common pipe. The interior is also aircraft themed to some degree. The floor panels were perforated ostensibly to allow water to drain out due to it being a true speedster indicating there was some forethought to actually using it? Who knows… The entire interior was finished with an industrial gray/black Zolatone epoxy finish. The door panels mirror the floor design and mimic aircraft dive brakes, (literature stated from a Dauntless dive bomber) and the steering wheel sports an aircraft yoke-like configuration. Plenty of large gauges also give a nod to the aero look. A T.V. monitor in the console said “futuristic style†for the day. The headrests were said to be inspired fighter planes, as was the anti-glare panel on the hood. The rear spoiler was made of rubber and looked just like a 1969 unit. The windshield was made of acrylic or poly carbonate, not known for sure, but subsequent scratching as it progressed through the show circuit makes it very unlikely it was glass. The car also had no seat belts and the only door actuators were buttons inside the silver door panels. The traditional floor high beam switch location was actually where the start/stop button for the engine was located and no keyed ignition was used. The Model: I reworked the front of a ’70 Camaro and grafted the top and rear of a ’69 together. The dash is from the ’70 kit with gauges made from brass. Interior details, as were the unique “Turbo-Jet†parts were machined from aluminum. The wheels centers are fronts from the Revell Landy Charger with machined outer rims and backing plates. Graphics were copied and printed as decals. Testors Panther Pink looked to be a close match to the “Turbo Ma-Jet-A†color originally used.
stewart Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 Wow. That must have required a lot of scratchbuilding. It is really cool. Was that an actual show car or just one you made up? Very nice STewart
VEGADETH Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 (edited) WOW!!!!!WHAT A FINISH ON THAT BABY!!!LOOKS GREAT!!!!!Where did you get the print for the gauges??or should i say decals. Edited March 31, 2011 by VEGADETH
David@MinidreamsInc. Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 What a super cool concept ! VERY NICE !
Steve Keck Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 WOW! Just WOW! Does your model ever bring back a rush of memories! I remember seeing the concept car at a late 60's Denver International Car Show in the old Denver Stockyards Arena. You have really captured it in scale. Great work!
Keef Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 *picks jaw up off floor* that is absolutely stunning
Harry P. Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 Sorry, that color belongs on a MOPAR only... but the craftsmanship is at your usual insane level of perfect-icity. (That's like "synchronicity," only different!)
Danno Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 WOW! Just WOW! Does your model ever bring back a rush of memories! I remember seeing the concept car at a late 60's Denver International Car Show in the old Denver Stockyards Arena. You have really captured it in scale. Great work! Colliseum, Steve! Denver Colliseum at the Stockyards. But, you're right about seeing that car there. That car was no bum steer. Everybody was very bullish on its styling!
Pete J. Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 Colliseum, Steve! Denver Colliseum at the Stockyards. But, you're right about seeing that car there. That car was no bum steer. Everybody was very bullish on its styling! I was in college at the time in Laramie and remember seeing it on the front page of the auto show section of the Denver Post. Never got down to see it, but it was just strange enough to stick in my memory. Very nice replica Mark.
bsoder Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 Ahhhhhh the dawn of the 70's wont see an oem coming up with something that crazy for a show anymore! grat job man
ewaskew Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 Sorry, that color belongs on a MOPAR only... but the craftsmanship is at your usual insane level of perfect-icity. (That's like "synchronicity," only different!) Sorry Harry but I used that same color on a 37 Ford hot rod and it looks good.
ewaskew Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 Even though this is not my taste in building. It is a very nice build,the scratch building involved came out great. Very good work.
Trae Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 Outstanding work, Mark! And I'm very impressed with your frugality.
Greg Pugh Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 Very interesting car. Well-executed. Nice build as usual!!
Steve Keck Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 Colliseum, Steve! Denver Colliseum at the Stockyards. Danno, you are absolutley correct. The arena was inside the colliseum.
diymirage Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 its a great looking model but seeing that mopar colour on there is like seeing a hamburger on a hotdog bun...its just not right
Steve Keck Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 Wasn't there a rumor that the arena was haunted by the ghosts of the cattle that got processed on the killing floor? Rumor yes. However the killing floor that was haunted was across I-70 in the stockyards. I can understand how the story could easily get twisted.
Reeves Racing Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 When they displayed it at the Darryl Starbird car show at Century II arena in Wichita KS it had the ralley wheels like the put on the 71 Chevelles. Great job on a very famous car!!!!
sjordan2 Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 Killer build, and I see that this model and the story have migrated to dozens of sites around the Web. Somehow, I can't find a single picture of the 1:1. Could this be an April Fool thing?
Scale-Master Posted April 2, 2011 Author Posted April 2, 2011 Killer build, and I see that this model and the story have migrated to dozens of sites around the Web. Somehow, I can't find a single picture of the 1:1. Could this be an April Fool thing? You got me. Total fabrication, story and model, I thought... Makes me wonder if there was maybe something like it now with some of the responses... All in good fun...
Pete J. Posted April 3, 2011 Posted April 3, 2011 You got me. Total fabrication, story and model, I thought... Makes me wonder if there was maybe something like it now with some of the responses... All in good fun... Great fun! Thanks for the hours of chuckles, gafaws and outright belly laughs.
Modelmartin Posted April 3, 2011 Posted April 3, 2011 You got me. Total fabrication, story and model, I thought... Makes me wonder if there was maybe something like it now with some of the responses... All in good fun... What are you talking about?? I saw that car at the Minneapolis Auto show when I was in 7th grade. It was awesome. It was especially cool when they fired up the turbines! Cooler even than the Batmobile which I saw when I was in the 3rd grade!
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