Pete Wiseman’s Sox and Martin tribute Barracuda
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As it turned out, it actually costs a bit just to splash some paint on; despite my pleas of “it’s only a race car, gun finish will do”.
Also the “S&M” design was quite wasteful and time consuming in terms of the masking up. Also most painters were not geared up to this sort of job, preferring the usual time and motion insurance job.
Once again, I had a lot of luck. A guy by the name of Bob Mitchell had just moved to the next village and had set up a spray booth in an old world war two air force “ready room” – it was the biggest Anderson shelter I had ever seen.
He also had a passion for Septic cars, having briefly lived over the pond and owned a ’68 Charger (though curiously not black
) as his daily driver. I became his first customer.
Once again, my speech of “it’s only a race car, gun finish will do” was rattled out.
His response was “I want my name on the side of the car, and any car with my name on will be painted properly”. He was as good as his word. He was not quick, but by god, he was good – he hand flatted the whole car with 1200 grit and then he buffed it (and the car!!).
Also the “S&M” design was quite wasteful and time consuming in terms of the masking up. Also most painters were not geared up to this sort of job, preferring the usual time and motion insurance job.
Once again, I had a lot of luck. A guy by the name of Bob Mitchell had just moved to the next village and had set up a spray booth in an old world war two air force “ready room” – it was the biggest Anderson shelter I had ever seen.
He also had a passion for Septic cars, having briefly lived over the pond and owned a ’68 Charger (though curiously not black
) as his daily driver. I became his first customer.Once again, my speech of “it’s only a race car, gun finish will do” was rattled out.
His response was “I want my name on the side of the car, and any car with my name on will be painted properly”. He was as good as his word. He was not quick, but by god, he was good – he hand flatted the whole car with 1200 grit and then he buffed it (and the car!!).
Last edited by Pete on Wed Jan 28, 09 8:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Pete Wiseman; Cambridge.
Mopar by the grace of God
Mopar by the grace of God
The glass bumpers were painted silver and mounted back on to the bumper irons that Blue had previously whittled down to match stalks – there is a repressed boy scout if ever I saw one – on the basis of weight saving (see rule 2, above, for guidance).
The original Sox cars were body in white from the factory, probably acid dipped, and then finished accordingly. The other key feature is that the engine bays were allegedly pummelled to death by the builders with sledge hammers and then painted black to hide the marks. Yeah, I fell for that one too, as I will show you MUCH later.
As can be seen, the original car was blue, buy we decided that it was not the RIGHT colour blue. My very good old pal Richard Ward tracked down the paint mixes for the car from original information about the real SS cars. It transpired that the red on the cars was not a Chrysler colour at the time of production, and a Fjord colour was used.
Regrettably I followed suit, and to date it is still the only thing Fjord on the car!
So the colours were mixed and the rubbing down and masking up commenced.
The original Sox cars were body in white from the factory, probably acid dipped, and then finished accordingly. The other key feature is that the engine bays were allegedly pummelled to death by the builders with sledge hammers and then painted black to hide the marks. Yeah, I fell for that one too, as I will show you MUCH later.
As can be seen, the original car was blue, buy we decided that it was not the RIGHT colour blue. My very good old pal Richard Ward tracked down the paint mixes for the car from original information about the real SS cars. It transpired that the red on the cars was not a Chrysler colour at the time of production, and a Fjord colour was used.
Regrettably I followed suit, and to date it is still the only thing Fjord on the car!
So the colours were mixed and the rubbing down and masking up commenced.
Pete Wiseman; Cambridge.
Mopar by the grace of God
Mopar by the grace of God
We are now approaching the birth of “Rule 3”.
Rule 3 “I don’t do deadlines”.
Time to break Rule 3.
I was determined to get the Car, now known as “the Sox” to the Nats.
A couple of issues with that was:
1) I had just imported a genuine 1969 ½ “A” code Roadrunner 440 six pack, 4 speed, 4.10:1 Dana car – manual everything – and Joy of Joys! a Coupe!!! Yep, a “post car with pop out rear windows – how “factory stripper” could you get??
Not only that but it was in factory Q1 “Sea foam” colour. A genuine 1 of 1 car. Alex had bought several boxes of man size tissues in readiness.
This car got MOT’d on the day of the Nats and was driven there still on the American Plates. Deadline number 1 done, Tick.
2) the Sox was still in bits the night before the Nats with no glass in it, no door handles, no trim, blah blah blah….
This was “All hands to the pump time”.
Bob and his brother Jay worked all night to put the car together.
I don’t think there was a cunning plan, but I do recall the rear screen going in about 03:30 in the morning of the Nats, and I have never cleaned so much stainless steel trim in my life (I was not allowed to do any of the important or “clever” jobs…
Somehow, amazingly, both cars were ready for the drive to Santa Pod.
I drove the ‘Runner, and Blue drove the Sox (minus Fender decals), accompanied by Jem Warner. I was quite pleased that Blue’s car was still “in the garage”.
Bob and Jay tagged along for the crack in Bob’s Winnebago, having been up for about 36 hours!!
An uneventful drive up there resulting in us arriving for a bit of fun on the track, meeting old and dear friends, and consuming the odd half of ale (or in my case ½ bottle of Jack Daniels as usual.........)
Rule 3 “I don’t do deadlines”.
Time to break Rule 3.
I was determined to get the Car, now known as “the Sox” to the Nats.
A couple of issues with that was:
1) I had just imported a genuine 1969 ½ “A” code Roadrunner 440 six pack, 4 speed, 4.10:1 Dana car – manual everything – and Joy of Joys! a Coupe!!! Yep, a “post car with pop out rear windows – how “factory stripper” could you get??
Not only that but it was in factory Q1 “Sea foam” colour. A genuine 1 of 1 car. Alex had bought several boxes of man size tissues in readiness.
This car got MOT’d on the day of the Nats and was driven there still on the American Plates. Deadline number 1 done, Tick.
2) the Sox was still in bits the night before the Nats with no glass in it, no door handles, no trim, blah blah blah….
This was “All hands to the pump time”.
Bob and his brother Jay worked all night to put the car together.
I don’t think there was a cunning plan, but I do recall the rear screen going in about 03:30 in the morning of the Nats, and I have never cleaned so much stainless steel trim in my life (I was not allowed to do any of the important or “clever” jobs…
Somehow, amazingly, both cars were ready for the drive to Santa Pod.
I drove the ‘Runner, and Blue drove the Sox (minus Fender decals), accompanied by Jem Warner. I was quite pleased that Blue’s car was still “in the garage”.
Bob and Jay tagged along for the crack in Bob’s Winnebago, having been up for about 36 hours!!
An uneventful drive up there resulting in us arriving for a bit of fun on the track, meeting old and dear friends, and consuming the odd half of ale (or in my case ½ bottle of Jack Daniels as usual.........)
Pete Wiseman; Cambridge.
Mopar by the grace of God
Mopar by the grace of God
I should alsi note that the Sox graphics were done by a smashing guy called Neil at "H signs" :
H Signs
61 Church Meadow
Barton Mills
Bury St Edmunds
IP28 6AR (Road Map)
Suffolk
Tel: 01638 713647
These were a mixture of vinyl and good old hand sign-writing.
I think Neill Melliard did the ones on Carl's car, even using gold leaf for the "Sox & Martin" detail on the door, but he was not available to do mine.
I went with a different approach and the "Sox & Martin" logo and the "Plymouth" callouts are reflective.
H Signs
61 Church Meadow
Barton Mills
Bury St Edmunds
IP28 6AR (Road Map)
Suffolk
Tel: 01638 713647
These were a mixture of vinyl and good old hand sign-writing.
I think Neill Melliard did the ones on Carl's car, even using gold leaf for the "Sox & Martin" detail on the door, but he was not available to do mine.
I went with a different approach and the "Sox & Martin" logo and the "Plymouth" callouts are reflective.
Pete Wiseman; Cambridge.
Mopar by the grace of God
Mopar by the grace of God
Ohh yes!
Alex did all the checking and assembly - That's why it's HIS name on the door where the original cars carried the mechanic's name.
I know we got it in as an assembled short block, but Alex may have dismantled it and de-burred and checked all the clearances. I know the bottom end got studded and a windage tray as well as a deep Milodon sump and pickup kit.
It was SOOOO much fun on the street banging the gears - 7000 shifts no problem
Alex did all the motor set ups at the strip.
Alex did all the checking and assembly - That's why it's HIS name on the door where the original cars carried the mechanic's name.
I know we got it in as an assembled short block, but Alex may have dismantled it and de-burred and checked all the clearances. I know the bottom end got studded and a windage tray as well as a deep Milodon sump and pickup kit.
It was SOOOO much fun on the street banging the gears - 7000 shifts no problem
Alex did all the motor set ups at the strip.
Pete Wiseman; Cambridge.
Mopar by the grace of God
Mopar by the grace of God
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