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Topic starter
16/04/2025 11:04 am
NHRA's Funny Car class meant that the entrants only look like a real car but after that, all bets were off. This supersedes both the FX era and the short-lived AWB. "Dyno" Don Nicholson who had big money backing, built the classic whole flip-up fiberglass body. On a much tighter budget, "Farmer" Arnie Beswick purchased an early 1966 GTO and had it sent for molds necessary to create fiberglass body parts that would allow the front clip to flip forward. Externally, the main difference was the front axle being moved 10" forward and an aluminum rear spoiler bolted to the rear deck. With a few more subtle body mods, the body was affixed to a '64 chassis and the heavily modifies Pontiac 421 SD from his 1963 drag car was used enhanced with a GM 6-71 blower. A modified Turbo 400 trans brought the power to Pontiac's HD rear differential with 4.30:1 gears. It ran nitro-methane fuel with a ratio that was limited to what all the stock parts could handle. His first official run was 8.73 @ 173 mph. The car remained very competitive in match races through '66 to '68 with the crowds loving the stock look and the crazy tiger graphics. The car was sold in 1969 and after a few owners still exists today upgraded to current NHRA safety standards, 4 wheel disc brakes and a few more performance tweaks.
Twenty years ago, this Highway 61 model was quite a surprise with its detail and functionality and the graphics are still amazing.
16/04/2025 12:10 pm
"Twenty years ago, this Sun Star model was quite a surprise with its detail and functionality and the graphics are still amazing."
Oops! Rich, this one is HW61 all the way. I'm surprised to not see any pics of just the chassis; the body is completely removable on this one - something I discovered after a few weeks of ownership. 😉 😉
It's truly an incredible replica and, IMO, an outstanding value. A CMC or Exoto at this level would easily retail for four-five times as much.
- VERY cool! 😎 😎
16/04/2025 12:18 pm
....but the pics YOU did take are awesome! 😎 😎 😎
16/04/2025 12:53 pm
Ahhhh, the memories! And Rich, thank you for posting your superb photos of this superbly made model of Arnie Beswick's AWB funny car. It was the very first 1:18 diecast model of an AWB funny car. I vividly remember seeing it for the first time at Prestige Hobbies in Anaheim. I had to have it and my wife bought it for me as my Christmas present. I think that was 1999 or 2000, right?
Every diecast collector knows of Prestige because it was THE hobby store in So Cal to peruse, shop, and buy diecast models! They routinely carried a robust breadth and depth of diecast models! Every trip to the store usually resulted in seeing a new model that we hadn't seen before. It was almost impossible to leave without buying something!
As all of us So Cal collectors recall, Prestige was located on a lot that featured several hobbyist stores. The grounds were kind of like a hobbyist's "Disneyland!" You can see a replica of the White House in the photos posted below.
Topic starter
16/04/2025 3:54 pm
@chris Funny, I went to the doctor's office after I posted this and on the way home, I began to wonder if the model wasn't by H-61 instead. Before I could take the model out of its case, I saw your post and let's chalk it up to my failing memory.
Marty Johnson and Christopher Moroni reacted
Topic starter
16/04/2025 3:58 pm
It's really sad that all my go-to hobby stores are gone. What has sprung up is the Hobby Lobby which is about worthless to a modeler and more fit for middle aged moms into arts and crafts.
Marty Johnson and Christopher Moroni reacted
17/04/2025 6:46 am
@rich-sufficool Rich you are so right about the true hobby stores being gone. When I lived in the St. Louis area, and for years later after I had moved south, I would visit Greg White's store when I was back to visit family. I never left the store without spending more money than I had planned and never spent less time than I had allocated just talking cars.
Marty Johnson and Jack Dodds reacted
Topic starter
17/04/2025 10:39 am
@bob-jackman There was nothing like browsing in an old fashioned hobby store. My favorite offered a full range of plastic kits, diecasts, electric trains and accessories, RC models of automotive and aircraft as well as aisles of enamels and acrylics, glues and adhesives, diorama materials and and instruments for all modeling applications. I would go there for inspiration and I don't think I ever left there without spending at least $100. It, and their adjacent toy store was owned by an elderly couple that had you teens helping and a full time master craftsman and modeler who aside from providing help and expertise, also repaired and restored electric trains. Unfortunately, as the couple aged, they could find no one to take over the business. I look at it as an end of an era.
17/04/2025 12:16 pm
"...the Hobby Lobby which is about worthless to a modeler..."
In my case I wouldn't say "worthless." I have purchased scale plexiglass, dowel rods, chains, fasteners, cardstock, etc... basically, supplies that I needed to see in person that were not offered by my local hobby store.
Marty Johnson reacted
17/04/2025 1:11 pm
Rich you are so right about the true hobby stores being gone.
There was nothing like browsing in an old fashioned hobby store.
Yep, I too have countless stories. Long before the internet I could (and would ) spend an entire day DRIVING to all (at least 20 ) the Hobby Shops that surrounded me - including hardware stores & toy stores.
- Sitting in my underwear, purchasing models online from Germany @ 2:15am is fun too..... but man, it's just not the same. 😞 😌 😞
David Green and Marty Johnson reacted