Altered Wheelbase Nova

..... Because of dwindling support on another forum I subscribe to, they decided to have a "box stock" community build ........... the subject was old drag cars (right up my alley) .............. the only changes we were allowed to make were tires and wheels and decals ................ so I bring you my rendition of the horrible AMT Rat Packer kit ............... I call mine the "Texas Twister"

Nice, I love those original funny cars.

There are a few of those altered kits, I believe they all have the same chassis. What's so bad about them, just old? I've never seen one.

That is an oldie, I remember a mate building it in the late '60s as the "Polygasser" Nice job on the old
girl too!

Looks good for such a dog.

Was the other Forum Fred's, Scale Racing Lobby or Randy's?

I get around as you can see

Just worry about getting it done, no sense work on a new technique if you're not going to get it done. That seems to be the technique you have the most trouble with.

Plastic Freak wrote: Just worry about getting it done, no sense work on a new technique if you're not going to get it done. That seems to be the technique you have the most trouble with.

Wrong thread Curt

Plastic Freak wrote: Just worry about getting it done, no sense work on a new technique if you're not going to get it done. That seems to be the technique you have the most trouble with.

That's just way too funny. Wrong thread Curt.

It was all planned boys, . 

I built this kit years ago and you are right, it's a dog of a kit.

You made yours look good though!

Thats a fantastic result, could never tell the kit is poor. 

dublin boy wrote:Nice, I love those original funny cars.

There are a few of those altered kits, I believe they all have the same chassis. What's so bad about them, just old? I've never seen one.

Nearly all of AMT's old altered wheelbase kits shared the same chassis ............ however, the bodies were of differing wheelbases ............ made for some poor fits ............ look at the Nova pictures ........... originally both the front and rear wheels were way too far to the rear ............ I was able to adjust the front axle forward but not the rear .............. the kit also suffers from poor fit and weak attachment points for parts .............. much super glue is required to get this beast to withstand any movement

The original chassis was scaled to fit the '63 Tempest kit ...............



The rear wheels fit on the Falcon kit, but the fronts need to be moved slightly forward ............



....... but the chassis won't fit the Nova body correctly without MAJOR surgery on the chassis wheelbase

John

Originally one of a series of kits for cost conscious buyers, $1.49 instead of regular $2.  We were content even with the white plastic "paint-'em-yourself" tires instead of black vinyl. Probably kit's weakest spot was the simple underside chassis and lack of engine compartment tubing structure.  It was nice to have a semi-real funny car ready to go without the modifications we had to do with other kits.  I still have mine. Correct on most kits sharing same chassis and attaching body to the rest of the model was by gluing to upper edge of interior. Perhaps the only exception on frame was the mid-engine Corvair. I luvved the Olds topless Cutlass. I didn't know the Pontiac was the first of the series, I woulda bought it if we had it here back then.
   Not a bad choice for box stock!

Great looking vintage racer.

harron68 wrote:  Perhaps the only exception on frame was the mid-engine Corvair.  I luvved the Olds topless Cutlass.  I didn't know the Pontiac was the first of the series, I woulda bought it if we had it here back then.
   Not a bad choice for box stock!

The other oddball that shared the mid-engine Corvair's chassis was a Barracuda ................. it actually came along before the Corvair

One of my favorite Kits. I admire your clean and sharp building style!

Super, I remember when these cars raced, Wonderful memories. Super job.

Really great looking cars OC. Sorry about the hijack, not intended.
The Tempest is my fave.

Model King got a few of these repopped by amt, I think the Tempest is red on the box art.

I assume they were limited runs though?

I like those old drag cars too.

Nice builds..! I need to find parts from the tempest one to restore a factory stock original kit buildup sometime.