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Best looking pre-'70s car


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#1 Michael Jr.

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Posted 06 October 2023 - 09:26 AM

Other than hard body, where can if find the highest detailed 1950s model 4" cars.  I like the 4 1/2" 55 Chevy from Protrack but he doesn't have a 4"  I need it to have high enough sides to run a 4 tire chassis from Protrack.  The one's I've found so far are a little short on the sides.


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#2 Dave Crevie

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Posted 06 October 2023 - 12:16 PM

In Lexan, there aren't many well detailed bodies available. You can add details from plastic models, and that helps a lot. As for what will fit on a 4 inch chassis, most sports car bodies will work. American small sedans, like Chevy Nova, Olds Cutlass, Pontiac Tempest, and Dodge Dart are a few choices. And of course, American small coupes/muscle cars can fit the bill. It really depends on what you want to run as a class. Stay away from drag car bodies as most of those are made for small front wheels. 



#3 Michael Jr.

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Posted 06 October 2023 - 12:27 PM

In Lexan, there aren't many well detailed bodies available. You can add details from plastic models, and that helps a lot. As for what will fit on a 4 inch chassis, most sports car bodies will work. American small sedans, like Chevy Nova, Olds Cutlass, Pontiac Tempest, and Dodge Dart are a few choices. And of course, American small coupes/muscle cars can fit the bill. It really depends on what you want to run as a class. Stay away from drag car bodies as most of those are made for small front wheels. 

 

 

Looking for the 1955-1958 model cars.  Earlier would be ok but trying to stay in the 50s for the most part


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#4 Thom

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Posted 06 October 2023 - 01:24 PM

Just the bodies or the whole model in a box? Im going to a model swap meet and show tomorrow, I could look. This is where I get all my hard bodies.
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#5 Dave Crevie

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Posted 06 October 2023 - 01:27 PM

Early Corvette. Compacts and sports coupes didn't come along until the '60's. Shoebox Chevys are too long front to rear axle. 



#6 Michael Jr.

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Posted 06 October 2023 - 01:35 PM

Just the bodies or the whole model in a box? Im going to a model swap meet and show tomorrow, I could look. This is where I get all my hard bodies.

 

Just standard Lexan bodies.  This is a new class of cars we are running.  i have some that look pretty good from NEAN but the sides are a little short.  And there aren't many to chose from.  Looking for a more traditional 50s era car body


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#7 Dave Crevie

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Posted 06 October 2023 - 01:57 PM

Here's a shot from the Bomber trailer races. The cars are hardbody, and all need 4 1/2 chassis with the front axle moved back maybe 3/32nds to 1/4 inch. I would bet any Lexan body would have close to the same wheelbase as it's styrene counterpart. If your 4 inch chassis has enough guide tongue, you might be able to move the front axle forward a bit to match the wheel opening. Somewhere I have a '57 Chevy drag car with a Lexan body, but I scratchbuilt the frame. I can't tell you off the top of my head what the wheelbase and guide lead are.

 

trailer1.JPG  

 

The '53 Chevy, #87, is the shortest car.


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#8 Bill Seitz

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Posted 06 October 2023 - 04:43 PM

The problem with Michael's request is that very few American cars are close to 4" scale (96" in 1:1). The usual shortest wheelbases were around 108", which in 1/24 is 4.5". All of the hard models I'm aware of are 1/25 scale, so these bodies are a little shorter usually than 4.5. I've found some of the Lexan bodies seem to have been molded from a 1/25 scale model, so they are a little short to 1/24 scale. However, nothing will come close to 4" in most American sedans. Sedan bodies that have been made for 4" chassis, including the NASCAR racers, are not to scale and made to fit the chassis. Since they're not scale to begin with, they usually lack small detail and have other mods to be better racing bodies, though in the 80's there were a couple brands (no longer available) that had decent Trans-Am/IMSA sedans for that period. No legacy vac-formed sedan bodies were made of the 50's cars so far as I'm aware, and aside from drag racing, I'm not aware of any Lexan 50's sedan bodies, especially for 4" chassis.


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#9 scooter_trasher

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Posted 08 October 2023 - 11:42 PM

A Maiko Shark might fit the bill, they ran tall tires, all the other lexan bodies I've seen are set up for flexi type chassis, which to me look more like thingie representations that resemble the cars.


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#10 Michael Jr.

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Posted 09 October 2023 - 10:24 AM

A Maiko Shark might fit the bill, they ran tall tires, all the other lexan bodies I've seen are set up for flexi type chassis, which to me look more like thingie representations that resemble the cars.

 

Where can I find that?  I'll start googling.


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#11 Michael Jr.

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Posted 09 October 2023 - 10:48 AM

Still looking for more of a 50s style like the 55 Chevy. Proslot makes exactly what I want BUT only in a 4 1/2" which may go back to Bill's post about getting the right scale.  Caveman makes a pretty snazzy one too however, it's so boxy that most think it is a WOMP when they see it.


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#12 Tom Katsanis

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Posted 09 October 2023 - 04:43 PM

Try straightlines racing they do drag bodies but they have a good scale 49 Ford & 54 chev in styrene & Lexan I'm not sure on the wheelbase.

#13 Ramcatlarry

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Posted 09 October 2023 - 11:33 PM

Historical perspective:  What REAL cars had a wheelbase from 96-100 inches?  Has any vacformed bodies EVER been made of them?  Are THOSE molds available or known? 

 

Your parameter may be unrealistic.


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#14 Thom

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Posted 10 October 2023 - 08:06 AM

Find a 3D file of the car you want and have it modified to fit the wheelbase required. You might want to chop, channel, and section to get the best look. Have a good 3D body printed and send it to someone like me, Gene, Caveman, or Dom who can back pour a mould and would be willing to do a “small” run of bodies.
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#15 Dave Crevie

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Posted 10 October 2023 - 08:58 AM

Not much that will fill your bill. Here is a list of 50's cars with wheelbases that are in your ballpark, plus a few that you might be able to use by fudging the front axle location a bit.

 

awb1.JPG

awb2.JPG

awb3.JPG

awb4.JPG

 

American sedans have always been big compared to foreign cars. Partly because the automobile became such a status symbol. The big problem you are facing is that available chassis are not dimentioned to scale. The widths don't match the lengths. Using the H&R adjustable chassis will give you enough adjustment to let you use a greater selection of bodies.    


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#16 Brian Czeiner

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Posted 10 October 2023 - 09:24 AM

Would these work? It is 4 inch wheelbase designed for and FCR or ProTrack type chassis using 910 or larger wheels. Comes with the interior too.

 

http://www.cavemanbo...ig-tire-bodies/

 

 

 

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#17 scooter_trasher

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Posted 16 October 2023 - 12:03 AM

 

Where can I find that?  I'll start googling.

 ebay


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#18 Tim Neja

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Posted 16 October 2023 - 10:08 AM

Early Corvette. Compacts and sports coupes didn't come along until the '60's. Shoebox Chevys are too long front to rear axle. 

What about all those Corvettes and T birds from the 50's??


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