Home Racing World

... and with a spec like that, you're hooked already? Just wait until you see one!

I've made quite a few 1970s American sedans but the question is always "What next?" I thought that perhaps I'd try my hand at bodyshells which could also be used as rally cars, and for this I’ve come up with a Tatra 603 and Skoda 1000MB. So you can re-enact your Checkpoint Charlie chase with a black Tatra, or enter a rally with a red one.

Silly idea, or worth a try? Here are some pictures to guide you










After tracking down some 3D data of a Tatra, I set to work improving it, adding details and making it correct for 1960.

I then had a go at finding some rally colours for the Tatra. Some of these are later cars (4 headlights after 1964) but colour pictures of any kind are very difficult to find!

Of course this is the view any Skoda owner would hate to see through his rear window


Red and white on the very early cars


I think this is pale yellow, with a red roof




Simple white colour scheme was popular. Because Tatra entered teams of cars the stripes over the front were different on each car.




Look at the radiused rear wheelarches on this one!


Orange and black on later cars


A great picture of Skoda and Tatra together


And eventually the CAD model was finished and sent for manufacture




Plenty of room for suspension travel

After 2 weeks, this arrived




Check for clearance on the chassis


Lets compare it to another rear-engined car, this is an Airfix Volkswagen




I made a silicon mold and resin cast the bodyshell




And here's how it looks today. Windows in, interior fitted and graphics on. I took a bit of artistic licence with the front Monte Carlo plate; in the correct position it covered up the centre headlight so I moved it to the bonnet where later cars had it.

Wheel centres still to do!

Great subject... I like the quirky nature of these cars. The slightly earlier models with the big central dorsal fin are straight out of Buck Rogers... And who doesn't like the idea of a rear mounted (air cooled) HEMI V8?

Is there a way to get a smoother higher res, more voxels, or whatever, in order to get a slicker surface?

I have been putting this off, but I have to try to get one of my 3D models printed.

Again, great subject, and inspiring process - really makes me want to do one (some) of these...

Choc, you've outdone yourself again. This may not be everyone's cup of tea but this would be great on a club racing night when everyone chimes in: "What the ....is that?". What's the track and wheelbase on your body (in inches please :D )?
What's next.....a Zil?

For a while there, the Brits had a lot of Skodas running around. Look in the background of 1960-70s British films and you'll see them. I seem to remember a chase scene in an Alec Guiness movie that had a Skoda churning up dust in a hard turn. I remember thinking they must have filmed it going down hill with a stiff wind behind it and a tow rope attached to something fast! I've never seen or heard of a Tatra, but I am interested. I'm going to go study it in the net. Looks neat, especially the split rear window. I assume that's a brace for the powerplant area.

Very cool subject! Nice!

Very cool car Gareth! I really like the old iron stuff.

As for the 3D - I know it takes a lot of work, and I'm impressed how he's been doing all of these different bodies.

Always loved the Tatras. Totally unique. They even make Saab owners say "WTF was that, Bjorn?"

Absolutely great video Gareth! Awesome machine!