Smokey's '57... [PIC]

I feel your pain brother. As I noted in previous posts.... Smokey drove a hardtop at Daytona, not a 2-dr sedan. This nicely done model is essentially a "model of a model."

But your excellent photography Rich, brings up another point that I've "moan & groaned"  about for a l-o-n-g time. 

These HW61 1957 Chevrolets are excellent 1/18 replicas; I have purchased many, but the one flaw that sticks out (always to me!! ) is that too-wide-front-wheel-track.  These front wheels need to be "tucked in!"  

On one of mine I did just that. When compared to Rich's photo, I think you'll agree my in-scale front track looks more accurate.

PS: I'm aware of that missing right turn-signal lens. Older pics show that it was loose...I didn't realize it...and it fell out...somewhere  🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 😫 😫 😫 😫) 

Posted by: @chris

These HW61 1957 Chevrolets are excellent 1/18 replicas; I have purchased many, but the one flaw that sticks out (always to me!! ) is that too-wide-front-wheel-track.  These front wheels need to be "tucked in!"  

 

 

Yeah, that's always been a pet peeve of yours.  LOL!  Check out the upside-down turn signal bar on mine!  I purchased this one with the intention of painting it so it would replicate my '57 Chevy I once owned.  

- Yes, I should have T-shirts printed, "Tuck In Those Wheels!"   😏 😏 

- But your pics illustrate my point perfectly. Just look at how much further that HW61 turned wheel sticks out when compared to your actual car.

- Oh, that's funny....knowing about that upside-down bar, it's now difficult to overlook it. 😬 😬 😬 

- Yes, I recall your re-paint project... it's unfortunate HW61 didn't replicate the paint chip darker than this one. 😒 

I thought it would be prudent to weigh in on the matter of Smokey Yunick and the issue of tribute cars. What most people don't know is that Smokey Yunick did not keep his race cars, he either sold them for next to nothing in many cases, outright gave them away to others in many cases or he would have them crushed into a cube and stored them on his garage property if he did not sell or give them away. 

This limits the ability to create scale models of most of Smokey Yunicks cars as the only thing to go by are some photos. The Indy capsule car is one that survived and it is at the Indy museum on display. The 1962 Watson Roadster that Smokey put the wing on is no longer around. Smokey's 1957 Kurtis Kraft 500G is still around and his 1969 All American Racers Eagle Chevy Powered Indy car is also still around. Another car that is still around is the 1967 Smokey Yunick Chevelle that never turned a lap in competition because NASCAR would not allow it to pass tech inspection. Why no Diecast company hasn't done a 1/18 scale of the Chevelle is a mystery as that car was truly innovative down to Smokey designing and building a tube frame chassis for the car. Another car that still exits is the 1968 Camaro today owned by Vic Edelbrock. 

Where are the 1967 Camaro's that Smokey Yunick used to break all the land speed records with? Smokey Yunick took three Camaros to Bonneville, two small blocks and one big block along with a spare small block and big block engine and the equipment to rebuild them including valve grinding and cylinder bore hones. 

Smokey Yunick's Indy car dubbed the Python is no longer available because it was crashed in practice hitting the turn 3 wall in 1963 and destroyed by Curtis Turner.

Still the majority of Smokey Yunick's race cars are unavailable and no longer exist. 

Another car that still exists today is the 1969 BOSS 302 Mustang that Smokey Yunick had, it was restored back to its original Trans Am configuration, that is the car Ford president Bunkie Knudsen had Smokey take to Talladega for the first Talladega race.

@chris The front track I thought was a suspension mod (with longer spindles?). I don't have any of the stock '57s so I wouldn't have noticed the difference.

Yeah. I call it a "tribute model".

Posted by: @rich-sufficool

@chris The front track I thought was a suspension mod (with longer spindles?). I don't have any of the stock '57s so I wouldn't have noticed the difference.

Yeah. I call it a "tribute model".

HA! The fact that you perceived that wide-front-wheel-track as a "suspension mod,"  precisely reinforces my point.  Sadly, ALL 1/18 HW 61 1957 Chevrolets share this trait (looking at Marlowe's pic also confirm this ).  But of course, it can be fixed; I did it.  ....now I just need to fix the other 7 I have.... yeah right!  🙄 🙄 🙄

@rich-sufficool ACME calls this car a tribute car, the actual 1957 Chevy is long gone and only photos to document it today.

I am adding a photo of the end of the box ACME ships this car in.