what manufacturer made this and any idea what kit it was?

[chris chabre]

so  I got this body in a pile of parts years ago...absolutely no other race car parts mixed in,  no markings, etc. its obviously a late 70s to mid 80s gm race car (short track, nascar etc) but the flares are throwing me off.  the door handle deletes are odd to me as well. has window clips and pinned trunk lid.  any help is appreciated. 

 

if this is the wrong section mods, please move. 

 

thanks guys!

[Bucky]

Looks kinda like a Monte Carlo body. Could the flares have been added on?

[Mark]

That body is from an MPC stock car kit.  In the early Eighties, they brought out a few "new" stock cars that used the two-piece chassis from their earlier series.  They offered a Pontiac Grand Prix, Chevy Monte Carlo, and a Buick Regal.  All three used the same basic body (looks mostly like a Buick) with different hoods, front fascia, and rear trim panel for each version.  The first group of cars didn't represent any actual cars (generic markings) but the second group had decals representing actual cars.  Most, if not all, had tobacco brands as the main sponsor.  Unfortunately for MPC, the far better Monogram NASCAR kits started hitting store shelves not long afterward.

The big flares aren't entirely inaccurate; some of the early "downsized" cars that raced starting with the 1981 season used earlier chassis, shortened and with different roll cages to fit the smaller bodies.  Only the top teams had entirely new cars built for the first season.  Using a cut-down earlier chassis would require that type of fender flare, to allow for wider track width.  Once the teams figured out whose chassis worked best with the smaller cars, more of them had new cars built, putting the older chassis to the sidelines.

Edited September 14, 2021 by Mark
Spelling

[Bucky]

Great info! I learned something I didn't know before.

[chris chabre]

22 minutes ago, Mark said:

That body is from an MPC stock car kit.  In the early Eighties, they brought out a few "new" stock cars that used the two-piece chassis from their earlier series.  They offered a Pontiac Grand Prix, Chevy Monte Carlo, and a Buick Regal.  All three used the same basic body (looks mostly like a Buick) with different hoods, front fascia, and rear trim panel for each version.  The first group of cars didn't represent any actual cars (generic markings) but the second group had decals representing actual cars.  Most, if not all, had tobacco brands as the main sponsor.  Unfortunately for MPC, the far better Monogram NASCAR kits started hitting store shelves not long afterward.

The big flares aren't entirely inaccurate; some of the early "downsized" cars that raced starting with the 1981 season used earlier chassis, shortened and with different roll cages to fit the smaller bodies.  Only the top teams had entirely new cars built for the first season.  Using a cut-down earlier chassis would require that type of fender flare, to allow for wider track width.  Once the teams figured out whose chassis worked best with the smaller cars, more of them had new cars built, putting the older chassis to the sidelines.

THANKS Mark!  Ive been thinkingnabout finding one and building a pro touring Buick Regal out of it.