Cat Diesel Land Speed Record Fantasy Car

[Harpo]

This is a land speed record car that "could have been but never was", based on components available in 1973.  Power is two Cat 3406 6 cylinder diesels, conservatively rated at 550hp each but capable of much more.  Target speed is 300mph, which I think would have been possible, IF you could find a driver crazy enough to climb in.  Here's the specs:

Displacement:  1786ci  (29.2L)  
HP: 1100 @ 1800 rpm
Torque:  3700 ft lb @ 1200 rpm
Weight:  ~20,000lb
Cd:  .40
Frontal area: 8 sq ft

This was one of those projects that got totally out of hand, as you can see from the build thread here.  I had recently finished another fantasy LSR car (Quicksilver), and this one was forming in my demented mind even then.  The main components started life as an AMT Ecto1A and a Revell Kenworth W900, with an extra engine from ebay and lots of mods and bits from the junk box.  Paint is Createx, Wicked Golden Yellow/Wicked Orange with 5604 Gloss Top Coat.  "Caterpillar" lettering is dry transfer, "C" decals are photo printed.

Call me crazy, but I find it very entertaining to imagine I'm behind the wheel of this monster with seven tons worth of diesels rumbling behind me.  I may do more detailing on it someday, but I'm done with this one for now - except for the fantasies!

 

 

    

  

 

 

 

 

Edited May 8, 2019 by Harpo
Wrong engine series

[Belugawrx]

WILD !!!

[cobraman]

Looks great ! Very nice model.

[landman]

I bet that thing boogies!! Lovely build.

[89AKurt]

Love the creativity!

[Claude Thibodeau]

Hi!

This is "out of the box" thinking at its best! Congrats!

CT

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Very creative build! Your body creation looks awesome. I like the color! Top notch work!!

Not to take away from your excellent build, those are 3406 or 3406A engines, the 3406E looks quite a bit different and wasn't available until 1993.

 

[Harpo]

3 minutes ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said:

Very creative build! Your body creation looks awesome. I like the color! Top notch work!!

Not to take away from your excellent build, those are 3406 or 3406A engines, the 3406E looks quite a bit different and wasn't available until 1993.

 

You are absolutely correct!  1973 was the first year for the 3406, first post corrected.  Thank you!

[MeatMan]

That's one awesome piece of work!

Very well thought out and executed!

[misterNNL]

Off the hook build. All kinds of crazy going on with this one. I love everything about it !

[ismaelg]

Very cool concept and beautiful execution!   

Stopping distance from top speed?  About half a state

"What's the current record? Hold my beer and watch this..."

[spencer1984]

Very cool, nice work on this!

[redneckrigger]

Incredible! Love the thought put into this from the driver location to the cooling system. WELL done sir!

[Curt]

A+ for both creativity and execution.  Ready to hit the salt!

[Harpo]

Many thanks to all for the kind words!  This was a fun build that took WAY too long.  I'll think twice before narrowing and modifying a body so drastically again, I think it's time to start my Tamiya Jaguar Mk II.  

[Mr. Metallic]

Very creative concept, well executed. Thanks for taking us along for the ride. I especially like the clean bodywork

[Peter Lombardo]

Unique, crazy and out there....... but very well done.

[ChrisR]

COOL!!