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Topic starter
17/04/2025 11:18 am
Here's two examples Arnie Beswick's Pontiac drag cars with their heavily modified 421 Super Duty V8 that demonstrate the various philosophies of suspension mods to keep the cars on the track. The first is the 1962 Pontiac Catalina 421 "Mr B's Passionate Poncho ll" who's engine was resurrected a few times ending with a blown version in the '66 GTO posted below. That year, everyone employed jacking up the front end to shift the center of gravity towards the rear. I thought it looked cool and so many street racers I knew followed suit. The 1965 GTO Tri-Power 421 "the Jolly Green Giant" employed Traction Master ladder bars to stabilize the rear and prevent wheel hop. Those two philosophies persisted for a few years and the coolest kid around bought himself and early production black '65 Impala in late '64 when you could still get the 409 before being phased of by the 396. He raised the front end by removing the front bumper and grill assembly leaving the quad headlamps floating in a black void. It looked cool as hell.
17/04/2025 12:26 pm
Nice pics (and weathering Rich ) of two great examples - that make a fine pair - of "Arnie cars!" I've always thought a raised front end-minus the bumper looked way more badass & cooler than a raised rear end with leaf-spring shackles, etc. 😎 😎
Here's some of my "Arnie cars:"
Topic starter
17/04/2025 2:11 pm
@chris That flip top Judge is really cool. I have '63 Tempest SD test mule.
Tony Perrone and Christopher Moroni reacted
17/04/2025 2:49 pm
@chris - My flip-top Arnie Beswick car was sacrificed for the Logghe chassis so I could create the Dyno Don Nicholson Mercury Flip-top. The only problem is that Beswick's was a Stage II Logghe, and Dyno's car was a Stage 1. Modifications starting with the chassis flange were needed to make it look more like a Stage 1. The roll bar cage had to be removed and a new one fabricated. I also used metal sheeting for the interior floor. Later, I did a similar sacrifice to Don Gay's funny car to create my Jack Chrisman roadster Comet.
Later, I did a similar sacrifice to Don Gay's funny car to create my Jack Chrisman roadster Comet. However, I did acquire another because the model is just too cool to not have in my collection.
17/04/2025 2:54 pm
Great photos, Rich! It's really cool to see that many of Beswick's cars have been re-created in 1:18 scale.
17/04/2025 3:03 pm
There was a guy, Mike Urbas, I encountered a few years on FB who built Beswick's '63 Tempest Funny Car. This is his work.
17/04/2025 3:41 pm
GREAT thread fellas! I sure recall the Arnie Beswick cars - fast Poncho's!
Rich Sufficool and Christopher Moroni reacted
17/04/2025 3:41 pm
That flip top Judge is really cool.
My flip-top Arnie Beswick car was sacrificed for the Logghe chassis so I could create the Dyno Don Nicholson Mercury Flip-top.
- Yes Rich, I agree.... this all plastic, but nicely done, body is also completely removable just like the AWB metal body on that HW61 model.
- Marty, your sacrifices were ALL for a good cause. The ends justified the means! 😎 😎 😎
Topic starter
17/04/2025 3:49 pm
@marty-johnson The guy's got skills.
Christopher Moroni and Marty Johnson reacted