Low Budget Race Team

[Ralphthe3rd]

Resto- Works in Progress, although Technically, the Cars seen in these pix are not Pancake powered, well...they could be someday ;) The Blue Willys and Yellow Hot Rod just came to the shop, after having been dug out of Barn storage for the past 45+(?) years. The Willys has a Hot Rodded MARX chassis under it with Aurora T-Jet Front wheels and axle, an Vintage AJ's(threaded) Aluminum rims/axle on the rear. The Body is an original Aurora Speedline Chrome body, that was repainted back in the day. The Car wasn't running when it came to the shop, but it just needed tuned, cleaned and oiled, and the Spongees replaced on the Rear with Vintage AJ's Silicone, the Body will be left untouched. The Yellow Aurora Vibrator came to the shop in pieces, and still NEEDS a Few to get it in running order. The Body you see, was covered with FOUR Layers of paint that needed stripped off ! The bottom layer was red primer, followed by a layer of medium metallic blue, but was then covered with Dark Navy Blue, and finally the outer most layer was RED ! Whew, it took a lot of soaking and scrubbing to get ALL that paint off, but the body is pretty nice underneath. Originally this car was a Coupe, but it maybe restored into a Roadster instead, as a Lemon yellow HOT ROD roof may be impossible to locate :(
Lastly, in case you wondered about the Red '64 Vette body, that's actually an old Mini-Lindy model kit body, that someone converted into a Slot Car body -just by extending the screw posts. The Body is almost an exact copy of the Aurora '63 Vette body. It just needs a little detailing to be ready for road use-AND a T-Jet Chassis ;)
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[BRP32]

I looked at that lot on ebay recently. The blue willys with black stripe caught my attention.

Good score on your part!

Wayne (Bolton's Speed Shop) :D :D :D

[dge467]

Nice stuff Ralph!

[Ralphthe3rd]

Ok I'm Nuts, I know that, and some of you knew that too ;) Anyway, I won another ebay auction on monday, and here is my Diamond in the Rough- LOL ! .....It took me awhile to figure out the Body *was an old Atlas '62 Chevy Impala Convertible, that's *ahem*....been thru a WAR !? The Chassis underneath is a VERY Vintage Lionel, the oldest I've yet see, and you can tell this because it has the flat sheet metal leaf type springs for the pick-up shoes, something like the earliest Altas chassis also used. Anyway, I didn't pay much for it, and nobody bid against me- LOL :dance: Now WHAT am I gonna do with this Car ?.....Stay tuned.....
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[Ralphthe3rd]

The Atlas bodied Impala covered a very vintage Lionel chassis, and I've recently found out the FACT, that the Black Chassis are the older Chassis. Also note the pick-up shoe> Spring type....
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[Ralphthe3rd]

(FYI- the previous pix were the ones on ebay) I received the Impala in the Mail today, and.....
the Impala is Running :music-rockout: I cleaned and tuned the chassis, and it runs like a Jack Rabbit. Then I attacked the Body, and cleaned and stripped off the decals and stripes, and removed the melted remains of the Driver and the melted windshield as well. Also during cleaning, I removed the convertible boot, but may re-install that later, until I find one in better shape. Here is the pix....
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[Ralphthe3rd]

And the body front, and Chassis bottom...and YES, I NEED the front Bumper w/Grill. Ya know, Hotwheels made '62 Impala, maybe I could transplant one from the Diecast ?
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Hot Wheels- Chrome Donor !

[TuscoTodd]

VERY cool!

[Ralphthe3rd]

Just working hard to make customers Happy :) The Mustang was in with what was thought a blown motor, but turned out to be(overheated) burnt and seized Comm Brushes, in a slightly scorched comm pit, But the arm was fine. The comm pit was saved and reconditioned, and she is running great again with modern brushes :handgestures-thumbup:
The Indy car did have a Blown motor though, and the X-Mas Tree armature was toast. We simply replaced the Arm, with a nice reconditioned X-mas Tree arm. BTW- both of those chassis featured the early closed rivet chassis.
(Far right)The K2 Earnhardt '56 Ford Body, is out of the paint booth, and now awaits lettering- as seen on the 1/24th scale Diecast in 3rd photo :D
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[dge467]

Looking forward to see what you do with the old Impala!

[Ralphthe3rd]

Well, the Atlas Impala body was a basket case, and never will be pretty perfect as an '62 Impala, heck it didn't even look like and an Impala when Atlas designed it ! Soooo.... How about turning it into a '64-'65 Ford Falcon Futura ?
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Seen here is Test fitting some parts... the ragtop down, will have to be shaved lower though....and yes, that gap behind the front bumper bothers me, as the Impala Front bumper extended back to the wheelwell. Oh well, this was just a basket case I've thrown parts at for shits~n~grins :P
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Tail lights & Bumper don't look too bad ? Does it look like a '64/'65 Falcon Futura ? BTW- the Chassis seen- is Lionel, and will be changed out to either an Atlas or Aurora, whichever looks better ?

[vabchrog]

Flatten the rear end and fill in the front bumper area. A tjet galaxy glass might work

[sweet]

I think that transformation is so "cool".....If I didn't know it was an Impala, it would've fooled me!

[Ralphthe3rd]

....I've been trying to get some work done in the shop.
Not much to show, just snapped a couple of pix. Just messin' with paper sticker letters on the K2 '56 Ford, but really needing some correct K2 Decals ! I'm not happy with the tinted windshield on the Falcon Convertible conversion either.
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[sweet]

I like the 56 Ford, looking to get one. I also like the tinted windshield on the "Impalcon".