Chi- Town Hustler Reference Photos

[nitro norman]

These photos are from the March 1970 issue of Hot Rod Magazine. Hopefully they will help those who want to build the original car. The kit is based on the modern version. I also included a couple from my files. Enjoy.

[AZ Boy]

Nice reference material, Norm. Thanks!

[MitchP]

Thanks Norm! This is a great find. I've been trying to assemble parts to be as accurate as possible for the new release and the plug wires looked a bit orangish in several ref. pics. Hope this helps!

[Speedfreak]

What is that tank sitting 'right' in front (right side) of the engine?

[MitchP]

Gene: if you look at the top left pic in the collage with the "ASP" ad, you'll see the rubber line going into the fuel pump. It appears to come from forward and below of the adjacent frame rails, so I'd guess fuel tank is the upright standing tank. The side tank further back might be a puke tank or part of a dry sump oiling system. Anybody else think this is correct? I'll check my opened box of the model later today and see what the instructions label them.

[nitro norman]

I'm pretty sure that the small tank is for water. Funny cars in those days would have just a fuel tank, a fuel tank and water tank, afuel tank and oil tank or all three, like the original Hawaiian. Sometimes the water tank would have lines running straight to the heads ( I think that's the case here ) and others would run to a water pump first. I'm not a mechanic and I'm not trying to be a know it all, but I've studied photos of these cars for years and I've been a drag racing fan since the sixties, and this is what I've observed. One thing about the Revell model that some people don't understand is that those bead lock rear wheels didn't exist in 1970. so if you build the original car, you should use Halibrand style wheels. Also, the orig. car didn't have that black border around the wind shield, and the tin work over the engine was different. Drag racing artist Kenny Youngblood said that this was the greatest funny car of all time, It was a beast !

[catpack68]

It looks like the original color of the car is solid bright red.ive seen many people paint the model candy or metalflake red.which is correct?

[Force]

As Mitch and Norman says, the larger standing tank is for fuel and the other small tank is for water, the lines goes in to a aluminum block at the front of the engine where the original water pump would sit.

I don't think you need a pump as water can self circulate as hot fluid rises and cold fluid drops...not good but good enough.

[nitro norman]

According to the old Slixx decal sheet for this car; the color was candy red over pearl white.

[gtx6970]

I've got this picture of the car.

It does have kind of a candy look to it .

I definitly don't think it's plain red , nor do I think it's any kind of metallic.

[MitchP]

I'm pretty sure that the small tank is for water. Funny cars in those days would have just a fuel tank, a fuel tank and water tank, afuel tank and oil tank or all three, like the original Hawaiian. Sometimes the water tank would have lines running straight to the heads ( I think that's the case here ) and others would run to a water pump first. I'm not a mechanic and I'm not trying to be a know it all, but I've studied photos of these cars for years and I've been a drag racing fan since the sixties, and this is what I've observed. One thing about the Revell model that some people don't understand is that those bead lock rear wheels didn't exist in 1970. so if you build the original car, you should use Halibrand style wheels. Also, the orig. car didn't have that black border around the wind shield, and the tin work over the engine was different. Drag racing artist Kenny Youngblood said that this was the greatest funny car of all time, It was a beast !

Norm - so was I right in saying the front upright tank fed the fuel pump? I'd like to know for sure as well as I intend to build this as close to original as possible. Something I've seen in later years is the rubber hoses running from either the heads or the 'charger down and clamped to fittings on the bottom chassis rail. I'd guess it had some sort of drain for it; not sure what it contained or if it could have been flammable. Makes me wonder why the NHRA was so down on Garlits' uni-winged rail storing fuel in the chassis. Thanks.

[MitchP]

As Mitch and Norman says, the larger standing tank is for fuel and the other small tank is for water, the lines goes in to a aluminum block at the front of the engine where the original water pump would sit.

I don't think you need a pump as water can self circulate as hot fluid rises and cold fluid drops...not good but good enough.

Hakan: Sorry I didn't see your post first. Thanks for the confirmation. It'll help in building my model.

[MitchP]

I've got this picture of the car.

It does have kind of a candy look to it .

I definitly don't think it's plain red , nor do I think it's any kind of metallic.

Bill: I have an article in Model Car Magazine as I can't make the races anymore and have to be content building models. They had a pretty nice spread on the history of funny car models and one of the tricks used to get certain colors or effects (at least for funny car model replicas) was spraying a gold base coat, a red coat and then a red clear coat of paints to achieve the desired tones. Not sure if this was done back then or not. Just a thought.

[nitro norman]

The Upright tank in front was the fuel tank. Those hoses on later funny cars that Mitch P was talking about are for blow by. And I'm pretty sure that the color was Candy red on Pearl white as the Slixx decal sheet indicated.