1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Back in the early 70s when I was a teenager my dad used to take me to the Anderson Speedway here in Indiana on Saturdays. I loved to watch those nasty looking dirt track cars. There were a lot of 55 - 57 Chevys on the track back then. I've decided to take an old 1/18 scale die cast 55 Chevy Belair that I have had for a long time chop it up a bit and make a beat up old race car out of it. I'm going to grind the wheel wells out for bigger tires and fab up a roll cage. I'm thinking about painting it plum crazy purple I want it to end up looking something like this picture. I'll post progress pictures as I go along.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...ps89a10a7a.jpg

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

That will make a great looking model, even as a hardcore open wheel guy, I loved the look of the late 60's early 70's Late models, especially with the hogged out wheel wells, and huge slicks. Keep us posted!

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

That is one sweet looking 55, that was the best era for Late Models in my opinion, although the Nova is pretty sweet as well.
Bruce

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Well I'm making progress on the race car I just don't have any pictures yet. I have a friend that takes my pictures for me and he is having computer issues so he can't e-mail them to me. He says he should have things fixed soon so as soon as he sends them to me I'll post them. In the meantime I got another idea I'm thinking that if I can get my hands on a 1/18 scale old Chevy pickup cab and a dually frame and wheels. I will build a race car hauler truck and put the car on it like this.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...psb9439343.jpg

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Bigdad, Highway 61 die cast has some, check this out.
http://www.toywonders.com/productcar...6-94p11141.htm

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

I finally got the pictures here is what the 55 Chevy looks like so far, I'll be starting the interior and roll cage next.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...ps27cf4652.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...ps4133240a.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...ps96d03e71.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...pse4bb1f9d.jpg

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

....now thats looking good....... :)

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Really nice! where did you get the wheels and tires?

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Thanks for the comments, I got the wheels and tires from a diecast model of The Car from the James Brolin movie of the same name. A friend of mine had it until one of his kids got their hands on it and broke it. He gave it to me after that to use for parts.

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

..who made the model....is it die cast or plastic ?

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

The 55 Chevy is a 1/18 scale die cast model and the wheels are from a die cast of The Car from the 1977 movie both were made by ERTL.

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

....thanks.....I really love this project.....already started to think about doing one...keep posting,I need the inspiration... :)

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

That's going to look great.

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

I found another race car hauler picture that I like better I'm bidding on a 1/18 scale 55 Chevy pickup to use on e-bay. I hope I get it but I'll have to get my hands on some bigger wheels and tires for it and a duel wheel set up for the back, then I can use sheet plastic for the ramp and stowage boxes.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...ps5e81cb71.jpg

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Doing great work! Looks like a great project! Keep posting; I'm loving it!
:bow:

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

That looks great. What a good subject to build. I do model building as well. Mine are 1/8 scale and totally scratch built. Here's a 1979 Stanton sprinter I'm working on now. Can't wait to see more of your car.http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/...pse1071603.jpg

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Thank you all for your comments I just won an e-bay auction on a 1/18 scale 55 Chevy pickup to use as a wedge bed car hauler. This is a picture I found of what I want to do with the truck.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...psdd57964d.jpg

P.S.
I just paid for the truck and ordered a racing seat belt setup for the car they will be shipped tomorrow I should get them both next week.

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Here are a couple of pictures of the Chevy truck and racing seat belts for the car that I got on e-bay yesterday.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...ps838a331d.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...psf4d3d079.jpg

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

I got the 55 Chevy truck I'm using for the race car hauler in the mail today, the 5 point racing seat belt for the car came on Saturday.

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

I need some help I've had a couple of people ask me about the cut out in the Chevy's passenger door. I know I remember seeing cars like that back in the 70s I always thought that it was so the driver could get out quicker in case of an accident. I hope I'm not totally wrong I can't replace what I've cut out. I'm having a hard time finding reference pictures of cars with the doors like that though. Is there anyone out there that knows if this was done to cars back in the day or am I just having a senior moment.

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Bigdad, here's a really rough one, but I've seen others with the "cutouts", in the doors. I'll post more when I find them. I never liked the cut out, but it was done to the real race cars, I don't know exactly why either. But I still love your model, keep up the great work, can't wait to see the finished product.
http://autoracingmemories.com/forums...pictureid=7251

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Love the pictures

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

Well I should be able to get back to work on the car know my last purchase of a couple of bucket seats from e-bay will be here today. I was going to try to cut up the bench seat and use it but it just does not like right, plus I have that cool looking photoetch 5 point racing seat belt now. I have been holding off starting the roll cage until I have the seat. I'm having second thoughts about converting the pickup into a car hauler too. The 1/25 scale semi truck tires would work but the wheels look totally wrong, I may just get a trailer for the race car and do a kinda rusty old rat rod look on the truck.

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

.....this build has given me some inspiration for my own project.....I bought an old GMP Sprint Car Kit,and because I was having problems deciding what to paint my 1:1 car ... I thought if I could paint the model ,I may be on to something......I decided on Audi Amulet Red as a base,but haven't decided on a contrast colour.....the model is stock,with the chassis redrilled to raise the rear..this is the only modification.I hope you are getting on with your project....love to see some more photo's....

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

We had a cutdown drivers door on the 81 season superstock and a few others...why?...300 and plenty pound 6 ft refrigerator with a head named Moose...actually had 1 car with a hinged panel u would fasten with dzus clips when he got in!

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

..any more progress on your project ?......can't wait to see this done ;)

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

What's under the rear box and decklid bigdad?

Have you ever dealt with any remote control cars?

You're DEFINITELY good with the 'static' models NICE!!!

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile my wife and I moved to a new smaller apartment in June. I have not been able to get back too the 55 yet I have to figure out an area in the apartment where I can work. I'll post some more pictures when I get back into the build.

Re: 1/18 scale 55 Chevy Dirt Track Car
 

..can't wait...;)