Allan Moffat's 1969 Trans-Am Mustang

[ShawnS]

Hi Guys.

I don't often do WIP threads but as I am trying to get a bit more motivated to get some momentum up and get these done.

The Man.

Allan Moffat is a Canadian who was a Ford Trans-Am and factory test driver in the US in the early-mid 1960's. He moved to Australia to try his luck on the local Touring car scene but was without a car. He wrote a letter to Ford special vehicles boss Jacque Passino looking to source a 2nd hand Trans-Am Mustang for racing in Australia. Allan was invited to a meeting with Mr Passino in Detroit and after a few days was sent to Bud Moore's workshop in South Carolina where much to Bud Moore's dismay he was gifted a brand new Bud Moore '69 Trans-Am Mustang for his racing activities in Australia. Moffat's reputation as a good race and development driver helped grease the wheels with the Ford bigwigs both in the US and in Aus to get him that gift of a lifetime.

The Machine.

I will be building 3 versions of this car. The 1969 debut, The early-mid 1970 version and the 1972 version from what is regarded as Australia's greatest touring car race (more on that later).

The first version is as it arrived from Bud Moore with changes that reflect the necessities of the Aust touring car rules.

The second version is early to mid 1970, The slightly enlarged wheel arch flares, Minilite wheels, rear wing and covered over headlights are the main points of difference. This have the only visible engine of the 3 models.

The 1972 version will have bigger flares with bigger ROH wheels, side scoops, a bigger front spoiler and will look a bit lower and meaner.

The Models.

I have wanted to build a model of this Mustang for years but the amount of work to change the road car kit into the race car was more than I could deal with. The kit is just fine but not accurate enough for me. Having a 3d printer and drawing my own parts for various models over the last 2 years has put me in the right mindset to get the details of this car a lot closer to spec. One of the many ways the kit falls short is the really dull engine bay.  To do the engine bay right I had to remove the chassis rails and build up from there.

engine bay sides

The firewall

Radiator support panel

Export brace

All printed oaut and ready to install

 

I am well advanced with the first version but still along way off. There are still a few things that need developing and I am always re-drawing and printing items. I am not aiming to do THE most accurate or highly detailed model I just want to update the deficient details of the kit.

I am using an old tech 4k Photon Mono printer with E-sun bio resin. My drawing program is DesignSpark.

 

Thanks for looking. next update soon.

Cheers

ShawnS

[BK9300]

Great progress so far - amazing how being able to design and print your own parts can bring your ideas to life

[vamach1]

Looking forward to following along on these.

[Dave B]

Shawn, since you are printing your own panels are you going to include the pie cut nose?

Dave B

[Bainford]

I'm learning stuff already.  Like all Trans-Am Mustangs, the Moffat Mustang is dead cool. That photo of the First Version is just perfect. Great work so far, huge improvements to the engine bay. That looks like a Mustang should. This is going to be cool. I am definitely following along.

[ShawnS]

9 hours ago, Dave B said:

Shawn, since you are printing your own panels are you going to include the pie cut nose?

Dave B

No. After experimenting with a spare body I found that my attempts to get the drooped nose look ruined the lines and made it look like that 2019 Mustang Supercar. I have however developed a small tweak to the nose that helps get a bit of that mean nose look. That's for a future update.

 

Here are the Goody Blue Streaks with some Daisies.

As

As the rim of the wheel needs to be painted polished aluminium I made it separate.

 

Next update soon. Soooo much work to do.

 

Cheers

ShawnS

 

 

 

 

[ShawnS]

Hi again.

I originally wanted to just lightly modify the original kit suspension but as usual with me I decided to go all the way so that is why I had to re-do the frame, and since I did the frame obviously I had to remake the entire front suspension. This style of suspension setup was used for decades over a variety of Fords world-wide range of cars but in the model kit world it has always been the victim of manufacturing compromises and therefore a little bit underdone. This is my chance to get it closer to spec.

To start with I needed something to hang the control arms on. I tried to incorporate these brackets and cross member onto the frame and print them as one piece but after a couple of test prints I found that they weren't printing as clean as I wanted so I decided to make them as separate parts.

Next was the control arms.

The next step was to mount the upper control arm and add a shock. The shock absorber sets the control arm in place and helps with setting the ride height. The spring isn't the final item, it's just for show.

The front brakes will be two piece items mounted to the spindle. The assembled items are just prototypes so don't worry about the print marks.

Obviously a steering box and tie rods were required.

Test fitted in place.

The front sway bar and radius rods are in progress.

Another update soon. Thanks for looking.

Cheers

ShawnS

[BK9300]

Amazing work!

[MarkJ]

Wow, Shawn.  It's amazing that you can 3d print the parts you need for this build. Especially the wheels and tires. I want to do some trans am cars in the future but the aftermarket doesn't really have the right tires and wheels for the Bud Moore 69 Mustangs like Panelli Jones drove. Those daisies you made look perfect. Thats what has been holding me up from starting on it. I will definitely be watching this wip with great anticipation.

[Shunter]

Excellent work so far and your design work ontn3 parts needed is exceptional.

i saw this car at Allan’s workshop years ago when I went to photograph his ANZ Sierra he was running, it was an awesome car.

Have you seen the book t covering 3ver detail about this car? - https://superstore.v8sleuth.com.au/products/the-boss-the-inside-story-of-allan-moffat-and-his-trans-am-mustang-book?srsltid=AfmBOorAtoN1AFrpu8GOdvOp6MkGwmtb_nkZXg6ZWPULTHmuqzfntOVw

[Dave Van]

As someone that has been working on 65-73 Mustangs for 45 years AND someone trying to learn 3D art......this is all very well done. 

[ShawnS]

Thanks guys.

I have that book Shayne and it was the catalyst for me pulling the trigger to start this project and although the book doesn't have the answer to every question it has certainly been very helpful.

 

I would love to give everyone an update on this but I have had to set it aside as it is painting season and the Mustang was taking a bit too much time away from other projects that could actually be finished this year. I will get back to it sooner or later.

Cheers

ShawnS

[Shunter]

Obviously you are within the Melbourne range and doing eha5 I do at this time of year, paint like there is no tomorrow🤣🤣

I love spraying 2K on our 35 degree days and just watching the finish flatten out so smooth.

Regarding the book is it worth the money?

[ShawnS]

I'm in the southern suburbs of Adelaide and I have to squeeze in as much painting as I can in between constant days of 20-30 knot winds. 😔. I try to avoid the heat by painting in the mornings.

The (very big) book is worth the money with many pictures and detailed stories about the car and it's history and it also busts a lot of myths but doesn't have a huge amount of pictures that show smaller details that help me as a model builder.

 

Cheers

ShawnS