1961 Imperial Destruction derby car

[Paul Hettick]

This was built to replicate a car run circa 1970. Many cars were street legal, driven to the arena kick the glass out and chained up there. Uses a kit roof and thin aluminum body panels.      900 was my number as a derby driver from way back when.

 

Edited November 8, 2019 by Paul Hettick

[restoman]

Nice!

[Eric Macleod]

This is both awesome and painful at yhe same time. How many good restorable cars did we lose this way? You certainly have captured the spirit of the event!

[Paul Hettick]

Yeah lots of nice cars met the derby fate. Around 1980 I bought a very nice 63 S-55 Merc fastback for 200.00. Metallic Tan, white vinyl top and pearl white bucket seat interior. Drove it all summer then gutted it and ran it at the Intermountain fair derby on Labor Day weekend. Wrecked lots of 57- 64 Fords and Mercs

[peekay]

So cool!

[ChrisR]

Looks great!

[randyc]

Helped a buddy prep a couple derby cars back in the late 80s.   We had a 69 Electra and a 67 Ford Country Squire.   WE were severely outclassed by the "pros"   Got 2 derbies out of each of them.  The Electra frame broke over the rear axle in the second derby.   You could lift the whole rear of the body like it was on a hinge.  lol.  You captured the damage nicely.  Fun stuff.

[TonyK]

Wow! So hard to make a believable demo derby car but you did it. I can see the interior looks good too.

[cobraman]

Love the way you created the damage.

[iamsuperdan]

Demo derbys are the main reason I can't find a 70s station wagon to turn into a project car. lolz

 

nice job on this one!

 

[Nitrobarry]

Perfect!

[alan barton]

I've seen a few demo models before but none as accurate as this one. The bumpers are incredible!

Cheers

Alan

[Claude Thibodeau]

Hi!

Verrrrrry impressive. I can see the infinite amount of time here. Bravo!

CT

[MeatMan]

Outstanding job Paul!! Outstanding!

[tbill]

I think that’ll buff out....

 

super cool build, you really nailed the look.

[Modlbldr]

On 11/8/2019 at 7:37 AM, iamsuperdan said:

Demo derbys are the main reason I can't find a 70s station wagon to turn into a project car. lolz

 

nice job on this one!

 

Got two 72 Fords and a 64 Pontiac, along with many other cars pickups and trucks to get rid of. The Ford wagons even come with extra rear glass.

Later-

Edited November 10, 2019 by Modlbldr

[bisc63]

Drop those off at my place...

[PappyD340]

Nice Demo car!!

[Modlbldr]

4 hours ago, bisc63 said:

Drop those off at my place...

Love to. Just shoot me an address. Lol

No. Seriously.......

Later-

[iamsuperdan]

16 hours ago, Modlbldr said:

Got two 72 Fords and a 64 Pontiac, along with many other cars pickups and trucks to get rid of. The Ford wagons even come with extra rear glass.

Later-

 

 

 

 

PM sent!

 

[bisc63]

Apologies to the OP,  but I was surprised at how much I loved the lines of that Ford wagon. Total shock!

I really like seeing a nice Imperial as well, and this is a beautifully rendered demo car, even if it is a heartbreaker! Great attention to detail; very authentic damage.

[ChrisBcritter]

As a two-time Imperial owner, I just gotta say: Great job on something that's painful to look at!

Believe it or not, Imperials are now being dragged over to England and Holland for use in banger races. Sigh...

The paint jobs are more professional and the pace is much faster, but the end result is the same.

[89AKurt]

That is awesome work, love the bumpers especially.  I know you spent some time creating that, since I did this for another magazine competition.  I thought Imperials were also banned for demo derbies, perhaps that's a regional rule, since I read the County Fair rules when I did mine.  I also did a "before" version, less work than "after".
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