[mairandeddy]

The famous farmboy from Illinois turned drag racing icon, Arnie 'the Farmer' Beswick created this amazing 'It's not a Funny Car' 1966 GTO styled dragster from fibreglass and aluminium…

Not wishing to remake the wheel (at risk of it turning out square!

) there's a fantastic article on this most amazing machine in 'High Performance Pontiac' online mag here….

(courtesy of the article) - and one with the great man himself....

Essentially on the surface we have the stock GTO shape, but the front wheels moved forwards slightly……but underneath….well, that's a different story!!

All credit to Highway 61 though for releasing a model that is bound to be more for the enthusiast than the mass market….it would seem more a labour of love than of profit.....

Supplied in a window box, but probably the best secured and protected model I've come across in it's clear formed packing that is possible this side of a styrene clam shell….HWE included, and as you know that's saying something!!

Anyways enough of the tattle, here's the mettle!!

Up front and fearsome!!

....and the tiger's tail.....

..broadside..

..now what's under that lid???

....NOT A LOT!

It's all further back where the driver should be!!

...and the driver sits where the back seat should be!!

..and in reality I reckon that this is all you'd ever see of the 1:1...

Hope you enjoyed this fantastic model!

 

[schuifelhoofd]

I've seen the model before, but not in detail.

Thanks for the pics Eddy, didn't know it had a flipfront

 

[Josh]

Hey Thats my neighbr!! No really I grew up about 4 miles crows flight from arnies Farm. I have met him several times and he is a great guy. I love this model I also have a couple other Arnie cars, there are quite a few!!!

 

[MuscleFreak]

I don't have much experience on the drag racing gurus< < < I know shame on me..

Image uploading. Refresh page to view

But still, what a nice model! What a good replica.

Not sure why the decided to put the engine in the cabine of the car though..

Thanks for the review and the cool pictures!

 

[Josh]

Arnie placed the engine there because it would help maintain a more stock appearing look, and also transfer more weight to the rear end, to help the tires hook at launch.

 

[MuscleFreak]

Arnie placed the engine there because it would help maintain a more stock appearing look, and also transfer more weight to the rear end, to help the tires hook at launch.

That's smart. Combining performance with style and looks. Gotta love that.

Thanks for answering!

 

[prawny123]

very nice eddy,always knew you had this in your collection about time you showed us what it looked like.

 

[mairandeddy]

very nice eddy,always knew you had this in your collection about time you showed us what it looked like.

Thanks Kev - it's about time I got more out of their boxes again.....but this is one of my favourite models, it really jumps out at me!!

Anyways, here are a couple more pics seeing as I took 'em......

Enjoy!

 

[schuifelhoofd]

The more you show me, the more i would like to put it next to my HW61's Montero Red and Candlelight Cream.
Now THAT would be a threesome

Didn't Ertl made a Arnie Beswicks GTO too? Edit: that's a '68, just googled it.

 

[mairandeddy]

The more you show me, the more i would like to put it next to my HW61's Montero Red and Candlelight Cream.
Now THAT would be a threesome

Didn't Ertl made a Arnie Beswicks GTO too? Edit: that's a '68, just googled it.

Yep I think you mean the 'Judge'.....

I was very interested in this one, but then I read somewhere that the body is plastic...

...however that's truer to the fibreglass 1:1 i suppose....

 

[Josh]

yes the body is plastic, an attempt to replicate the original, i guess, like you said.

 

[mairandeddy]

yes the body is plastic, an attempt to replicate the original, i guess, like you said.

Do you happen to have this one Smokey? If so, any chance of some pics?