The Old Reliable III addendum

[Len Carsner]

An old adage says you can’t put 10 lbs in a 5 lb bag. That happens on occasion, even with printed material in model car magazines. There are only so many pages and the axe has to fall somewhere.

We’re presenting here some important information that didn’t make the 1962 Chevrolet Impala article in the January 2011 issue of Model Cars magazine. This material takes the very nice out-of-the-box super stock drag racing version and elevates it to a higher level with some added detailing and some selected after-market parts and pieces.

Follow along now as we give you a quick look at what the Revell 1962 Chevrolet Impala model can become when accurately built as a genuine NHRA B/FX Impala SS drag racer. A special thank you goes out to Larry Davis who’s insight and guidance on such subjects is priceless.

Larry Davis, noted motorsports writer and automotive historian of this era in drag racing was a godsend of reference on this project. Here are but two of his books on the subject of early drag racing.

The Revell 62 Impala comes with a standard bench seat seen here. The factory NHRA 62 Impalas were Impala SS’s so with the help of resin bucket seats and console from Model Car World we are able to add a bit more accuracy to this build.

Here the MCW resin bucket seats and console can be clearly seen, painted, detailed and glued into place. To complete the competition accessories, a driver’s side seat belt was built and installed using The Model Car Garage set No. MCG-2127.

These four water-slide decals sets from MCW open up more possibilities for personalizing your particular 1962 Impala B/FX drag car if you so choose. From top to bottom:

- Dyno Don Nicholson

- Dave Strickler

- Ronnie Sox

- Dick Harrell

Shown here is the MCW 62-63 Z-11 Parts set. I chose to use the factory cowl induction air cleaner in the lower right corner of the package. Larry Davis tells me that the Strickler car was supposed to have this piece but they ran out of time before the first big event. I still think it makes for an aggressive looking addition to Revell’s newly tooled competition 409 V-8.

Though I’m told that the original TOR III used twin pots over the dual quads, I just couldn't resist using the MCW resin factory performance air intake as shown here painted semi-gloss white.

According to Larry Davis, the Stricker TOR III did use twin bonnet air cleaners like these shown here that would have been found on a Corvette of that era or a SS Pontiac.

If you’d like to upgrade your 62 Impala to a Super Sport, The Model Car Garage offers this photo-etch set (No. MCG-2127), that has all the extra bells and whistles to do the job for you.

Once again Larry Davis came to the rescue with his knowledge of the Dave Strickler 62 Impala. Larry described for me via email what the NHRA legal shorty-exhaust system looked like on the actual racecar. Rather than build something new, I simply straightened out the rear-most pipes on the kits drag layout, trimming them to end exactly at the center of the rear axle as the NHRA rulebook called for.

Note also the addition of fuel/brake lines as well as emergency brake cables, all of which snake through the center part of the X frame as seen from this view. Most of that detailing was accomplished with light gauge aluminum wire and metal tag wire.

Here The Old Reliable III looks pretty good on a black background. The driver figure adds a bit of realism to the racecar, as does the open hood. Note how the cowl induction air cleaner almost seems made for the car. Well, actually it was! Note also the addition of side window glass. I made a cardstock template and cut Butyrate clear plastic to make those additional parts.

We hope you’ve found something useful in this addendum to the Model Cars magazine’s January 2011 article They’re Real Fine, These 409’s. And we hope ole’ Dave is smilin’ from ear-to-ear seeing this model of his famous Chevy drag car.

LC -n- BC

Edited April 8, 2011 by Len Carsner

[Harry P.]

Yeah, sometimes in the world of print the axe falls... :)

But a very nice addendum/update/follow-up to the printed feature!

[SuperStockAndy]

Stop it-stop it now! You guys make me change me birthday and Christmas list, ALOT!

Seriously, very cool model!

[Len Woodruff]

I understand from Larry Davis that Dick Harrell & Ronnie Sox ran the B/FX Impala's Black with Red Interiors.

Any pictures of those cars?

[seeker589]

Attention! Attention!

I declare this car to be really nice! Love it! It has a great look. A great example of Suspended disbelief.

[Janne Herajärvi]

Very cool `62!!