Completing the Cukras Car Model Winner
This car is the one used by famous racer John Cukras to win the big Car Model race in Los Angeles in 1967.
I had begun the restoration of this car a long time ago, but never completed it in hope that I would find the correct body for it. Unfortunately, it looks more and more that this will never happen as not a single example of the special model carved by Jack Garcia and used by several pro racer in 1966 appears to have survived.
So I used the closest thing to that, a Pactra Ferrari P4 Spyder molding made into a coupe.
The basic body was trimmed and mounted, then sent to Jairus Watson for a delicate coat of dark red and a couple of details.
I scanned and created the decals on Photoshop and applied them to the relevant spaces, found and painted a correct interior, fashioned the front spoiler and finsihed the car. It took forever to get all the decals made but I think the car looks pretty good considering. What do you think?
The original chassis, complete with motor, was donated a long time ago by the late Ron Granlee. I also previously restored a similar car for John Cukras himself.
The paper sticker on the front spoiler had to be recreated from scratch.
So was the small oval stickers over the engine cover.
The chassis had already been restored and needed no attention.
One more in the Museum’s vault.
Next!