SCCA Regional C Mod racer...

[Patrick]

I made this model last year and was induced to post it here because of Chris' SCCA Vette fun build. I started with the body of the MPC Howmet Spider. This build was influenced by all the Regional racers I've seen in the mid-60's and remember so well...
So, I took the body and only slightly modified the side doors so that they were flat...

this allowed for the rear deck to have air intakes and I used a big block Chevy with planned injectors...

the chassis was a simple affair with simple suspension...remember this was only a fun build...


Since this was to be a racer from the mid-60's I nixed the fuel injection and substituted a Weber carb set up...I found some "Olympia Beer" decals and added a huge spoiler ala Jerry Grant's Lotus 19 from the first USRRC series (aerodynamics was still an early science!). The model began to give me the "feel" of those early Group 7 cars...

in those days sports-racers still had to have lights so I kept the covers and presto!


a SCCA sports racer from 1964 similar to the King Cobras and early Lola T70s. This was a very fun project for me and really reminded me why I started to build model racing cars. Thanks Chris for the remembrances of those days.

Patrick

[Art]

That's very cool, Patrick!

[imsanut]

I really like this a lot, as I have a couple of these kits stashed for just such a phantom type build. Nice to know there are others who like the phantom approach to road racers as well.

[Chris K. Hale]

I love this build, the WIP gave me many ideas for using the chassis under several slot car bodies I have accumulated. Although not entirely accurate for some it does give one a basis that includes engine and interior possibilities, over a chassis of flat styrene with some tires and wheels attached... Chris

[imsanut]

indeed it does!

[Patrick]

Thanks to all for the kind comments. If I can just settle enough then I'm off to other pre-CanAm projects.

Patrick

[dustymojave]

Pretty cool Patrick.

With its tube frame and simple body shape, to me it represents a late 60s/early 70s SCCA A/SR homebuilt "special". The early 70s open-cockpit bodywork was done on one of the original coupes by McKee for a land speed record effort. The shape more resembles the later shapes of the CanAm cars than the pre-CanAm C/Mod era when body shapes were more rounded and the noses much higher off the pavement.

But I agree that it makes a cool Special. The presence of headlight covers certainly lends a pre-Can Am air to it.

[dustymojave]

Just as a PS:
Chevy introduced the 396 as their 1st big block engine available to the public (not counting the 1963 NASCAR 427 Mystery Motor of which only a handful were made). So with that in mind, and considering the presence of painted headlight covers, I would date this as a 1965 or later "Special" A/Sports Racing club racer. Like the big block Olds powered McKee that runs some Vintage events. it's an earlier chassis than the Howmet or the Bob Montana McKee-Hemi of 1965. And while it ran a couple of USRRC and Can Am events later as a back marker, it was primarily a club racer its whole life. That car has a rounded body more like a Genie or a Cooper without the long snout.

I really like your model Patrick.