15 replies to this topic

[vnvslot]

Hi there! I want to show this car I finished these holiday days. It is the Agajanian's Willard Battery driven by Parnelli Jones while he won the 1963 Indy Race. The kit is made by AMT and the quality is great.

I bought the decals in Indycals.net (link), because the usual resource Pattos Place haven't got them.

 

 

To convert it into a slot recer I fixed a MRRC slim chassis that uses to fit perfectly in monoplaces. I stuck it into the base pan of the kit and I only had to make 3 holes for the guide arm and the motor wires. Wheels and pilot come from a Corvette of the modern Revell/Monogram.

The hardest step was the painting job, I had to paint it in white, then the blue parts and finally adapt the red decals.

 

I hope you like it and I wanted to ask you something... In several places I've seen this car called Watson Roadster, which would be the correct name for it? Watson Roadster, Agajanian?

[Bill from NH]

Nice job Antoni!  Watson is the company that manufactured the roadster, Agajanian is the car's owner. Both were involved in Indy car racing for several years. If you want to be technical, it's Agajanian's Watson Roadster.

[raisin27]

That lookes great!

[John Streisguth]

Always nice to see a slot car that is first a car (especially a nice replica) and THEN is a slot car.  Nice work!

[SlotStox#53]

Very nice car! Came out really good, thanks for sharing with us

[TSR]

Strombecker also produced this unmotorized promotional item for the Willard battery company  when Parnell R Jones lapped the famous speedway at over 150:

 

 

 

 

Jones car, owned by JC Agajanian, was called the "Willard Battery Spl" that year.

[1A Racing]

That is a really neat car. I had Parnelli sign a print of this car at a Motorsports Show in Philadelphia back in January.  

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[milmilhas]

Philippe i have the Strombecker car mint in box

[TSR]

Miguel,

Cool! These are many versions of the "6 into 1" Indy kit by Strombecker. The Willard display model is only one of many...

 

[dc-65x]

Beautiful car Antoni

[Gator Bob]

Beautifully constructed car. 

 Hard to make...easy on the eyes.

[Gator Bob]

 

Jones car, owned by JC Agajanian, was called the "Willard Battery Spl" that year.

 

While I never met 'Aggie Sr.', I did have the opportunity in 2005 to sit and have lunch with his son Cary J.C. Agajanian.

A brilliant and delightful man.

[vnvslot]

Thanks for your comments and for the information you added. I have too the car made by Strombecker but with several lacks. It is a nice model and as the most Strombeckers if you paint and detail them they change their appearence, the moulds are pretty good. I feel a bit of envy of all you because you live in USA... I live in Spain and I love the American cars mainly from 60s that I only can know or watch in photo, then all the motor legends you have in your country. To get a Parnelli's Jones signature would be almost a miracle here, but you are able to meet him, or to take a lunch with Mr. Agajanian... You are very lucky.

[TSR]

Antoni,

Parnell Rufus "Parnelli" Jones is a friend and I see him occasionally during various events. I would be happy to get you his autograph if you send me something for him to sign.
 

Here is something he signed for me, an advert for the Willard Battery Spl.:

 

 

Note that the advert is from 1962, a year before he was to win the "Indy 500" and defeating in the process, the attempt by Lotus and Ford to end the reign of the font-engine, Offy powered antiquated machinery that had dominated Indy racing since the early 1950s. In that controversial finish, Jones was able to distance himself from Jimmy Clark in a Lotus type 29, as the track was greasy from oil spewed by Jones car laps earlier.

No black flag was shown to Jones after his car owner, the very influential J.C. Agajanian, flexed his muscles on front of the terrorized stewards, and so went history.

Chapman of Lotus was immensely upset but Clark was not, being the true gentle person he was. He would take his revenge 2 years later when he decisively won in his new Lotus type 38 ahead of Jones in... a Lotus type 34.

 

From 1961 through 1969 are the most fascinating of all Indy 500 races, a fantastic era in which for the third time in its history, the clock was reset by "foreign" technology.

 

Here is Jones in 1965 in the very Lotus driven the previous year by Clark, who was betrayed by his British tires while running away with the race:

 

 

For many, the death of the font-engine "dinosaurs" spelled the end of Indy as far as they are concerned, but for many others, it was only the beginning of a fantastic era.
 

 

[Samiam]

Philippe,

 That is a super gracious offer.

[vnvslot]

Wow Philippe that is the kindest offer that I've ever received. I would be very pleased if you could get a signature for me. I would keep it as if it was a treasure. I will send you a message to get your address but I will work before with the drawing programs to get a sheet of paper worthy enough to stamp a signature like that. Of course I don't have any kind of haste so if I have to wait during 1 or 2 years it won't be any problem, your gesture is enough for my gratitude. Thank you again.