15 replies to this topic

[Slot Car Rod]

The Gray Ghost is a Trans Am race car that was built on nights and weekends by Herb Adams and a bunch of Pontiac engineers.  They started with Herb's wife Sandi's 1964 Pontiac Tempest daily driver.  Herb Adams was the head of Pontiac Special Engineering.  The car was built for the 1971 Trans Am season.

 

Bob Tullius drove this car in seven 1971 Trans Am races.

 

I originally built this slot car with Plafit brand running gear.  This car with an inline Plafit chassis never drove well.  I guess, a long wheelbase and narrow tire track did not agree with the Plafit.  Also, the Plafit motor was too sluggish.

 

I decided to build up an anglewinder chassis for the Pontiac.  The chassis is a FERRET stock car chassis that was rebuilt to fit the Pontiac.  The wheelbase was lengthened, and chassis was narrowed.

 

A Mabuchi 26D motor was assembled using a mild low timed Lenz rewound armature, Arco magnets, and a magnet shim.  Wheels are H&R with Minilite-style inserts added.  Rear tires are fish foam.

 

The car with the "new" running gear is fun and easy to drive.  No more fear of rolling the car in the turns.  The rewound 26D motor has the right amount of power and torque.

 

 

Big fender flares.  Tamiya paint.

 

 

"Loose" body mounting screws allow the pans to shake and roll.

 

Rear tires are 1 1/16" diameter.

 

 

 

[don.siegel]

Great job, Rod. 

 

Do you have a photo of the original Ferret chassis? Looks like you pretty much rebuilt the thing! 

 

Don 

[Bill from NH]

Nice job on the chassis Rod. The flares look great too. I recall when the 1:1 car was actually run.

[Dave Crevie]

From Motorsport Magazine;

 

https://www.motorspo...-us-muscle-car/

[bronxcomet]

Hey guys, it just so happened that my bro and I were at the race in LimeRock on a typically rainy day. All the heavy hitters were there, and Trans-Am was at its height.

 

The conditions were very sloppy; the big boys were just skating, and the only guy stuck was Tullius. I think in the end, he blew up but until then, put on a show for the (Rockers).                                             Marty P ..............surfs up

[Larry Horner]

Lovely build Rodney ... I'm always amazed at how incredibly life like your cars are. Nice work!

[Bill from NH]

Don, here's the Ferret chassis Rod probably used. This one is right side drive, Rod's is left side. In the day, these chassis were frequently advertised in the British slot car mags.

 

[Bill Seitz]

I had a couple of the Ferret chassis with the pan-type rear section in the 60's, but both were right-drive with 16D motors similar to the one Bill Fernald has shown. Rod's is the first I've seen left drive and with a 26D.

[Mad Mark]

Really cool love the flares!

[don.siegel]

Thanks for the photo Bill - I had forgotten about the rod type central section. 

 

Don 

[Lone Wolf]

As usual very cool.

 

I remember the Herb Adams VSE parts for suspension and stuff.

 

They were the hot set up back in the day.

 

Keep them coming Brother.

 

Nobody keeps these older cars alive like you.

 

And by the way, I love 26D's.

 

Lots of revs like an old 327/365 with a big solid cam.   ( or your 302 in your '69 Z LOL )

[Slot Car Rod]

Don, I did not take a picture of the chassis before the modifications.  Thanks for the chassis picture, Bill.  Joe, I remember the VSE parts also.  Big sway bars with moderate rate springs.  The solid lifter 302 loves revs.

 

 

'69 Camaro Z-28

[Sloter]

Very interesting, did not know it had a Chevrolet 302! 

 

Bob

[John Luongo]

interesting. i had never seen it race back in the day and never knew it had a chev 302 in it. i always thought the engineers had whipped up a de-stroked 326v8. great engineering on that live rear axel. lots of suspension compliance keeping the tires in contact with the track.

[Slot Car Rod]

Joe and I were talking about my '69 Z28 with the 302.  Sorry about any confusion.

[John Luongo]

rodney, your 69 camaro z28 with that high winding 302 is a "holy grail" car for alot of enthusiasts. very nice.