Collecting Drag Racing Model Kits

Relive the golden age of drag racing through this exhaustive volume covering the best drag racing model kits of the era. Model expert Tim Boyd, author of Collecting Muscle Car Model Kits, turned his attention to the fantastic drag racing model kits available from the late 1950s through today. Some racing model kits were actually 3-in-1 kits, where the builder assembled the drag-race version of the car in lieu of the street or custom version. Boyd starts by covering the options, collectability, variety, availability, and value of these wonderful kits, and then concentrates on the highly detailed drag racing-only kits that became available starting in the mid-1960s through today. He also shows the differences between original kits, older reproduction kits, and new reproduction kits that many enthusiasts find at swap meets and online sources today. Many of these great kits were from the 1960s, an era when building model kits was a widely popular, serious hobby, similar to video games today. Not only was it fun to build the kits but it was also a great way to learn about all the different race classes and categories because there wasn’t regular TV or online coverage during that era. The artwork on those kits was fantastic, and many collectors today seek original kits largely because of it. The classes of racing covered are Gassers, Rail Dragsters, Stocks and Super Stocks, Funny Cars, Pro Stocks, Exhibition Racers, and more. Drag racing cars designed by model companies that never actually existed are also covered. Nostalgia drags are some of the most popular events around the country today. People can’t get enough of these old race cars that were built in an era when variety, innovation and home building ruled the day. This book is great for modelers in general, model-kit collectors, and drag-racing fans young and old alike.

New from the Nostalgic Treasures series: a comprehensive guide for modelers or would-be modelers. Discover histories and descriptions of some of the more significant collectible groups of kits including AMT's Trophy Series double kits, 1953-62 Corvette kits, Mopar B-body kits, Classic kits, and more. Find out how to get started collecting model cars, what to look for, and the pros and cons of collecting versus building vintage kits. A superb addition to your modeling library.

In the 1960s, model kit building was a huge hobby. Kids built plastic kits of planes, tanks, race cars, space ships, creatures from scary movies, you name it. Before baseball card collecting, Pokémon, and video games, model kit building was one of the most popular hobby activities. Car and airplane kits were the most popular, and among the car kits, muscle cars, as we know them today, were one of the most popular categories. Many owners of real muscle cars today were not old enough to buy them when the cars were new, of course. Yet kids of the 1960s and 1970s worshiped these cars to an extent completely foreign to kids today. If you couldn’t afford or were too young to buy a muscle car back then, what could you do? For many, the next best thing was to buy, collect, and build muscle car kits from a variety of kit companies. Hundreds were made. Many of these kits have become collectible today, especially in original, unassembled form. Although people still build kits today, there is a broad market for collectors of nostalgic model kits. People love the kits for the great box art, to rekindle fond memories of building them 40 years ago, or even as a companion to the full-scale cars they own today. Here, world-leading authority Tim Boyd takes you through the entire era of muscle car kits, covering the options, collectability, variety availability, and value of these wonderful kits today. Boyd also takes you through the differences between the original kits, the older reproduction kits, and the new reproduction kits that many people find at swap meets today. If you are looking to build a collection of muscle car kits, interested in getting the kits of your favorite manufacturer or even just of the cars you have owned, this book will be a valuable resource in your model kit search.

This engaging book details the wide variety of model kits produced by Revell, Inc. of Venice, California, from the 1950s through the 1970s. Over 545 color photographs display many of the much sought after kits, ranging from automobiles and ships to aircraft and spaceships. Also included are a fascinating history of the company and the men and women who drove its success, a detailed recounting of the wide ranging, exquisitely detailed models produced, discussions of the artists who brought the box art to life, a bibliography, and a model kit index providing listings of the models produced, their variations, and their value in the secondary market. Newly updated values are found in both captions and the index. Anyone collecting or building models will be fascinated with this book.

The 1960s were a fascinating decade on the race scene. Relive the memories today through this wonderful new book. Drag racing has a long and storied history. Many have said that the first drag race happened shortly after the second car was made. While that may or may not be true, racing prior to World War II was mostly centered around dry-lake activities and top-speed runs. After the war, drag racing became organized with the formation of the NHRA, and during the 1950s, many tracks were built across America to accommodate the racers. Technology in the 1950s centered on the manufacturers updating old flathead designs into newer overhead-valve designs, and the horsepower race really started to heat up. In many forms of racing, the 1960s brought technological evolution. The decade began with big engines in even bigger stock chassis and ended with purpose-built race-only chassis, fiberglass bodies, fuel injection, nitro methane, and blowers. Quarter-mile times that were in the 13-second range in the beginning of the decade were in the 7-second range by the end. New classes were formed, dedicated cars were built for them, and many racers themselves became recognized names in the sports landscape. In Drag Racing in the 60s: The Evolution in Race Car Technology, veteran author Doug Boyce takes you on a ride through the entire decade from a technological point of view rather than a results-based one. Covered are all the classes, including Super Stocks, Altered Wheelbase cars (which led to Funny Cars), Top Fuelers, Gassers, and more.

Growing up in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s saw the development of extensive prosperity, of previously unknown luxury, and a level of frivolity that the previous generation never knew. Television, expansion into the suburbs, and the rapid growth of automobiles all led to a development boom that people had never experienced. Combine this with automotive growth, hot rodding, car shows, kids playing with toy cars and building models, and you have the elements necessary to create the show rod craze that proliferated in America during the 1960s and 1970s. A complement to author Scotty Gosson's previous title, America's Wildest Show Rods of the 1960s & 1970s, this all-new book covers what was often the inspiration for all those crazy show rods, the model kits themselves. Viewed from a collector's standpoint rather than a builder's point of view, all of the coolest and wildest kits are featured. Kits including the Red Baron, Li'l Coffin, Mysterion, Uncertain-T, Batmobile, and many more are featured from manufacturers such as Monogram, AMT, Revell, and MPC. Interviews and insights from the designers, the car builders, and the corporate suits provide a unique behind-the-scenes insight into not only what enthusiasts were demanding, but also the methods and marketing savvy that made it all happen. Author Gosson's entertaining prose, unique perspective, diligent research, and color photography throughout make this book essential for show rod enthusiasts. Whether you are interested in picking up the collecting hobby, just want a few cool kits from your childhood to display, or simply want to reminisce about building and obsessing over these crazy kits from your youth, Show Rod Model Kits: A Showcase of America's Wildest Model Kits will be a fun addition to your library.

The Muncie 4-speeds, M20, M21, and M22 are some of the most popular manual transmissions ever made and continue to be incredibly popular. The Muncie was the top high-performance manual transmission GM offered in its muscle cars of the 60s and early 70s. It was installed in the Camaro, Chevelle, Buick GS, Pontiac GTO, Olds Cutlass, and many other classic cars. Many owners want to retain the original transmission in their classic cars to maintain its value. Transmission expert and veteran author Paul Cangialosi has created an indispensible reference to Muncie 4-speeds that guides you through each crucial stage of the rebuild process. Comprehensive ID information is provided, so you can positively identify the cases, shafts, and related parts. It discusses available models, parts options, and gearbox cases. Most important, it shows how to completely disassemble the gearbox, identify wear and damage, select the best parts, and complete the rebuild. It also explains how to choose the ideal gear ratio for a particular application. Various high-performance and racing setups are also shown, including essential modifications, gun drilling the shafts, cutting down the gears to remove weight, and achieving race-specific clearances. Muncie 4-speeds need rebuilding after many miles of service and extreme use. In addition, when a muscle car owner builds a high-performance engine that far exceeds stock horsepower, a stronger high-performance transmission must be built to accommodate this torque and horsepower increase. No other book goes into this much detail on the identification of the Muncie 4-speed, available parts, selection of gear ratios, and the rebuild process.

No collection of a true student of the sport will be complete without The History of NHRA Pro Stock. From the achievements of pioneers such as Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins and the famed Sox & Martin through season after season of utter domination by Bob Glidden to today's six-second, 210-mph factory hot rods, The History of NHRA Pro Stock guides readers through the years of milestones, groundbreaking technology, and career turning points in this fascinating segment of NHRA competition. This newly revised and expanded edition covers the greatest moments in the 50 years of Pro Stock competition.