Al Eckstrand's '65 Plymouth Golden Commando

[papajohn97]

This second car in my assembly line is from this limited release Moebius kit which I can't recall ever seen posted as a build.  

I believe his car was one of the 2% WB specials that was only raced one at the '65 Winternationals in Beeline Arizona after which the car was modified to match the other more radical AWB cars (15" rear/ 10" front wheel base shift). I built this one OOB except for  some Fireball resin carbs, a detail Master distributor and plug wires and some scratch-built fuel lines, linkage and a roll bar (not included in kit).  I used Scalefinishes Plymouth Viper Striker Orange and base white. I like the showroom stock look of these mid-sixties super stockers like this one. Cheer's, John.

 

[R. Thorne]

Boy, you sure build clean, highly detailed cars.  Another nice one.  Job well done.

[kjohan]

All compliments to this build as well as the other two you posted 

Concerning your comment on the wheelbase :

From various net sources, incl the Ramchargers very entertaining homepage, my understanding  is the 2% cars were the ones used in the Factory Experimental class in in the -64 season. Late in this season -64  Dick Landy (and perhaps other independants) started to use more radical wheel base modifications.

In the -65 season the factory cars in the A/FX class had the 10/15 " wheel base. 

This particular Eckstrand Golden Commando participated, as I understand it, with the stock wheelbase in its sole appearance in the AHRA Winternationals -65, perhaps in the Stock class, thererafter perhaps to be rebuilt to the 10/15 execution ???

These are my humble conclusions , with a significant element of uncertainty, being far away from the center of action.  Would be nice to have confirmed alt corrected, as I have the same kit in the stash for future build.

 

 

 

[papajohn97]

Thanks Gunnar for the WB comments. My 2% note for the original WB of this race car came from a draglist.com here. I’m sure Moebius just used the stock Satellite body in this kit (I wouldn’t bother shifting the rear wheels openings for 2% (2.3” or .09” in 1/25)).

I love BS-ing about these old race cars. If I ever won one of those big lottos, I would gladly overpay for a well-done ‘65 A-990 reproduction to go for joy ride ice cream runs with the grandkids. Faster Grampa!!!!

 

Edited July 28, 2023 by papajohn97
Spelling

[Altered Ego]

Yet another fantastic build.  I love it, keep them coming!

[Rattlecan Dan]

Really nice. Very realistic, and great replication.

[bondo bill]

very nice

[kjohan]

10 hours ago, papajohn97 said:

Thanks Gunnar for the WB comments. My 2% note for the original WB of this race car came from a draglist.com here. I’m sure Moebius just used the stock Satellite body in this kit (I wouldn’t bother shifting the rear wheels openings for 2% (2.3” or .09” in 1/25)).

I love BS-ing about these old race cars. If I ever won one of those big lottos, I would gladly overpay for a well-done ‘65 A-990 reproduction to go for joy ride ice cream runs with the grandkids. Faster Grampa!!!!

 

Thanks for the link.

That was verry much to the point,  everything clear.

Gunnar 

 

[ChrisR]

Very nice!

[PappyD340]

Very nice!

[catpack68]

Another great build John!?

[Scott8950]

Nice and clean build

[Nitrobarry]

Excellent work!

[jjsipes]

Looks great. I'm currently trying to get that one painted but haven't had much time too. That and the AWB at the same time

[afx]

Very nice.

[Lobo2me]

Nicely done. Excellent detail, fit and finish!

[Altered Ego]

Very nice work.  It would be nice if one of the resin companies (Fremont?) would build some 2% AFX bodies so we could build some accurate renditions.

[Zippi]

Great looking Stock Car.  Very clean build and the business end is detailed really nice.  Fantastic build.

[jabba]

Hey there,

nice and clean build of a piece of Drag Racing history in scale.

Regarding these 2% cars, Jim Schild writes in his book "MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE - Mopar Super Stock Drag Racing 1962 - 1969":
"Among the qualifiers in S/S and S/SA (Super Stock) were the Ramchargers' 1965 Dodge; Tom Grove's 1965 Plymouth (Melrose Missile); ... Al Eckstrand's 1965 Plymouth (Golden Commandos); and Roger Lindamood's 1965 Dodge (Color Me Gone). The four 1965 cars were considered 2 percent cars because of the wheelbase rule for the class. These cars were actually hardtop bodies that had been chemically milled to lighten them. ... These four 1965 cars ran at the AHRA meet and the NHRA Winternationals and were then taken back to Detroit and given the full altered-wheelbase treatment. There was some confusion among the drag racing media writers  of the time, who thought these were actually four additional cars."

I don't think the bodywork on the rear wheelhouse was changed as extensively as the 110" wheelbase cars (= 12 % cars).
From this video (4:14) is a nice side shot of Roger Lindamood's 2 percent COLOR ME GONE.

I could imagine that the front wheelhouse area was "simply" cut away forwards by a corresponding amount, if it was changed at all.
The axle was moved 2% forward and remounted on the leaf spring (altered leaf spring ?).

[Brutalform]

As always, another finely detailed, and well executed, super stock build. I keep finding you builds in my searches, as I’m into the 65 Plymouths myself, right now. 

[Nitro330]

Super nice build John!  Fantastic job on the striping and that striker orange is a great choice.  I love 60's super stockers and you do great work recreating these.

[slusher]

Looks great!