WIP: Neil Bonnett's '84 Budweiser Monte Carlo

This is a project I had actually started last fall before Atlanta. But due to winter approaching I hadn't done much on it for while. Every slightly warm day I work on it. Got it painted in HoK Euro Red, and cleared with Omni 2 part clear.

As you can see, I'm doing this one with a rear steer chassis out of a Monogram T Bird kit. From a lot of the pics I've found of the Junior Johnson cars it looks like a lot of them were rear steer at the time. I did the normal mods to get the chassis to fit the body as well as I could. I also added tow hooks to the front and rear of the chassis. First time I've added those. I'll be using HoK paint, and obviously the Wetworks sheet with the cool gold foil 12's.

The real deal.......

http://images20.fotki.com/v191/photos/8/174078/7195909/12_bonnett1984-vi.jpg

Here's the updated chassis primed in Plastikote primer.

http://images23.fotki.com/v823/photos/8/174078/7195909/PA268903-vi.jpg

http://images44.fotki.com/v1448/photos/8/174078/7195909/PA268904-vi.jpg

Back last fall, I also machined a few goodies. New firewall mounted oil tank with new cap, new two piece surge tank, and a brass rear end cooler with mesh screen.

http://images20.fotki.com/v367/photos/8/174078/7195909/PA268910-vi.jpg

Once the clear had cured over night, I got started adding some of the cool stuff. Front brakes were wired up with DM #1 hard line and fittings. The master cylinders and steering box were both brush painted silver, and then given a black wash. Oil tank and surge tank installed, as well as the rear end cooler.

http://images44.fotki.com/v1412/photos/8/174078/7195909/P2019045-vi.jpg

http://images25.fotki.com/v950/photos/8/174078/7195909/P2019046-vi.jpg

http://images47.fotki.com/v1455/photos/8/174078/7195909/P2019047-vi.jpg

I just love that big old tank hanging out there!

http://images42.fotki.com/v1447/photos/8/174078/7195909/P2019049-vi.jpg

Rear end cooler.......

http://images26.fotki.com/v940/photos/8/174078/7195909/P2019050-vi.jpg

I also did a bit of work in the interior, as well as adding a new air damn up front.

http://images28.fotki.com/v1032/photos/8/174078/7195909/P2019048-vi.jpg

http://images45.fotki.com/v1440/photos/8/174078/7195909/P2019052-vi.jpg

Body mods and upgrades are also underway, but more on that later.

Clay K

Hi Clay,

I've been following your (Nascar)builds for a while now and I noticed you usually build the entire chassis and rollcage before painting it and then putting in stuff like the seat. I was wondering if there was a reason to this way of working? Isn't it more difficult to paint every part of the cage or put for example the seat in through such a small window, especially with the modern Nascar's with the "Earnhardt bar"?

Tim

It's a trade off. All as one is easier for me to work with once it's painted. But it does make it a bit harder to paint. But I can detail inside just as easy all together as I can apart usually. For a detailed car like this, I just prefer to have it all together as one solid chassis than fumble around with the roll cage in several pieces. I did it that way on that Waltrip Dew car and I didn't really care for it.

Thanks for looking!
Clay

Beautiful oil tank, Clay !

I'm curious to see a non-modern super detailed Nascar from you :)

Bye: Robi

Great job so far, the red chassis and the metal parts look cool !!

Looking good, love the oil tank.

Quite nice Clay: bare alloy machined parts on glossy red bump at eye, fantastic effect.

That's a bright chassis! I love the colour.

No more updates??? damn!!! I love nascar cars and the way you so it!