Tuesday, March 15, 2016

The AMC Hornet Funny Car That Never Was...THE STINGER


Although the American Motors Company were well-represented in all levels of racing, including drag racing, and the funny cars of the muscle car era were colorful, quick and cool.

Most car aficionados immediately think of Javelin and AMX, maybe the Scrambler when they think of AMC, there were a group of small, modified lighter-weight cars that were perfect for the strip, cars like the Gremlin, and the Hornet.
The Hornet was a neat little speedster that, when combined with one of the AMC big blocks like the 360, 401 or 390, made great times down the quarter mile. This one run by Shirley Shahan, the Drag-On-Lady, was one such racer...


And others, like Wally Booth...


But a couple more would have looked great on the track, but didn't get past the JoHan model stage, but were awesome concepts, like the generic model below...



and then there was the legendary "Stinger"!



With plausible graphics, and impressive launch shot, this plastic model embodied the mixed concept of hot rod caricature with realistic detailing. In other words, it didn't exist, but easily could have.

It was a neat little model, and the graphics were definitely a highlight.



The yellow variation was still cool!


Hornets are comparatively cheap today, and what better inspiration do you need to make a tribute to a "tribute"? Someone needs to bring this concept to full-blown life, and I'll be the first to line up for tickets...


Tuesday, March 8, 2016

1950 Plymouth Business Coupe Is A Gas!

Truth is, I'm a Mopar man through and through, so I have a soft spot for the face only a mother could love, bulldog front, 1950 Plymouth. I've always lusted after the three-window coupe, and this is how I'd do it, with a late 50's 392 hemi shoe-horned into the engine bay, but still keeping that sleeper look. Apparently someone else things the same way, or at least they did back in this old Popular Customs issue. Kudos!



Wednesday, March 2, 2016

1950's Whitman Race Car Puzzle

A cool 1950's Whitman picture puzzle. Doesn't seem very hard to put together, but you gotta get them started young!!


Rare Shots Of The Phantom Corsair

While browsing through some online sale sites, I came across some very rare shots of the famous one-of-one Phantom Corsair, designed by ketchup heir Rust Heinz.
It was a marvelously odd confection, with a sort of aquatic black shark meets galvanized shovel look, but it is unforgettable. It graced the cover of the 1954 International Motor Sports Show Program when it was owned, and customized, by Herb Shriner, but it was put back into it's original incarnation when it was bought by the Harrah's Car Museum.

Check out these early pictures of this super rare vehicle!







Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Turn Your Hudson Into A Sports Custom!

In 1952, Charles Martz gave us a step-by-step template on how to turn your plain-jane Hudson sedan into a cool sports car custom roadster. For those of you who missed it the first time, here's another look!