Model Cars
A Long-Standing Passion
Introduction
Cars have been a passion for me since I was two years old (a great family story with movie documentation). Model cars were a logical part of my fascination with cars and I started building in 1949. Fortunately I still have some of my early examples.
Built Model Kits and Modified Diecasts – Mine
1932 Ford – A 5-Window Coupe Drag Car
1934 Ford – “The California Kid” movie version – 1:43 Scale
1934 Ford – “The California Kid” movie version – 1:24 Scale – New
1936 Ford – A Smooth Custom Roadster
1946 Jeep – Ace Wooden Kit – First Model I Motorized
1948 Packard Convertible Custom Master Caster Metal
1949 Ford Custom – Ace Wooden Kit – Another Early Build
1950 Chevrolet Bel Air Diecast – Sorta Like My First Car
1951 Chevrolet Station Wagon – Learned to drive in one
1951 Henry J – Custom in a weird scale
1953 Pontiac – Chopped and Straight Pin Wire Wheels
1954 Buick – Three-Tone Paint and Skirts – Soooo ’50’s
1954 Ford Convertible – Yes, we did think the color was cool
1955 Ford Hardtop – Three-Tone Paint and Skirts – Soooo ’50’s Also
1956 Ford Convertible – 1:32 Scale – Built in the Navy
1956 International S-100 Pickup – Farmer Cyrus takes a ride
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom – ’57 Chevy – One More Time!
1957 Chevrolet Corvette – Sebring
1957 Oldsmobile 98 – A Slightly Improved Promo Re-release
1958 Chevrolet Impala Custom Front Rear Frame – New
1958 Chrysler Imperial Convertible – Big ol’ sled
1959 Chevrolet Impala Convertible Custom Front Rear – New
Double Dragster Kit – A Chevy Powered Rail
Double Dragster Kit – A Hemi Powered Fiat
1960 Pontiac – Another Mild Custom
1961 Chevrolet Convertible – My First Contest Winner
1961 Chevrolet Hardtop – Street and Drag Strip Special
1961 Corvette – My First Resin Build
1961 Ford Styleline – My Oldest Unfinished Custom
1961 Mercury Convertible – One of my Most Lovable Customs – New
1963 Chrysler Turbine – Foil Trim by the Acre
1963 Ferrari 250 GT/E – Gotta get this resin built – I owned one!
1965 Ford Mustang – Owned by my beloved when we met
1968 Camaro – Built for a Friend
1968 Plymouth Barracuda – Like one I owned
1969 Camaro – Penske Trans-Am Car
1970 Plymouth Superbird – Richard Petty #43
1972 International 4300 – Conversion
1973 Corvette Four Rotor Show Car
1974 Ferrari 365 GT4 Boxer Berlinetta
1979 Chevrolet El Camino – NATMUS
1987 Ferrari F1 – The real paint!
1988 Caterham 7 – Modestly thought to be near museum quality
1994 Ford Mustang – Most effort for the least visible result
1997 Corvette – The Ultimate – A National Magazine Cover Car
1997 Plymouth Prowler – Contest Winner
2010 Ford Mustang – Kyle’s Dream Car
2014 Corvette Coupe – Pre-paint quickie
Built Models – Bill Eichhorn – 1961 – 2012
Honoring a friend too soon departed
Bill was a close friend and excellent modeler in several hobbies. Model trucks were his major building focus but he also built cars, trains, ships and planes occasionally. In the ’80’s, he started, along with his father, a model truck and car resin conversion kit company called Pinecrest Scale Models, long since out of business. Listed below are some of his models that his father gave me after Bill’s passing.
1910 International Auto Wagon – Revell 1:32 Scale
1978 International Trailer Toter – Pinecrest Resin 1:25 Scale
1978 International Tractor – ABF Resin 1:25 Scale
1984 International F-9300 Tractor and Livestock Trailer
1990 International 8300 Aero Straight Truck – Resin 1:25 Scale
1990 International Dump Truck – Resin 1:50 Scale
2006 International 4400RV – 1:24 Scale
Built Models – Others
1937 Chevrolet Coupe
1957 Corvette Stingray Race Car
1973 Corvette – “Corvette Summer” movie car
1990-91 NASCAR Lumina “Ferrari”
Diecast – Not Modified
Promos
1956 Oldsmobile – Yes, my father’s Olds
1957 Oldsmobile 98 – Detailed
1974 Hornet – Had to be green
1979 Chevrolet El Camino – Custom NATMUS
2008 Corvette Replica Pace Car
Research
Scale Comparison 1:25 1:24 Scales
1954 Corvette Corvair Show Car
1958 Autorama Program Cover – Barris Aztec and Copper Cart
1960 Corvette Hub Caps for Wide Rims
1960 Corvette Le Mans Resin Kit
1963 March/April Car Model – Shuklis ‘Build an Operating Convertible Top’
2001 Corvette C5 – Replacing the hood emblem
Misc
Thanks, Brian. I am not sure what you are referring to about my 1963 SIlver Blue Convertible article. If you can dig up the issue number, I’ll look it up. My 1997 Fantasy LeMans Corvette is listed above and was cover car and had an article in the May 1995 ‘Car Modeler’ magazine. Regards, David
Dave,
I sure enjoyed seeing your collection. Was hoping to see your 63 Silver Blue convertible. I still have the Scale Auto magazine from 1993 which showcased that model. 😊