Show Rod Model Kits. Scotty Gosson

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      The first independent builder to use a bubbletop (on this very car), Darryl Starbird was soon crowned The Bubbletop King. He crafted Predicta in 1959 and by the time Monogram released this kit in 1964 (in red plastic), Starbird was their celebrity Custom Consultant. Predicta (the last of six Starbird show rods purchased by Monogram) was later given away in a Monogram promotion, and repurchased by Starbird. (Photo Courtesy Dave Shuten)

      Technically not a scratch-built show rod, Starbird started this project in 1959 with a 1956 T-Bird and added 1959 Buick quarter panels, a Hilborn injected 392-ci Hemi, the bubbletop, and joystick control. It’s been street driven from day one and even drag raced. Most trophies came from shows, though, such as Oakland and Monterey. Predicta even bagged Motor Trend’s Custom of the Year award in 1960. Darryl was in the midst of changing the engine, bubbletop, grilles, wheel wells, and color (from blue to red) for inclusion in Ford’s Custom Car Caravan while the kit was being tooled. The result landed Starbird in the Million Kits Sold Club, less than a year after its release. Fifty years later, Monogram has sold even more kits. Starbird still has the car, and he remains humbled that Monogram’s Jack Besser and Bob Reder reached out to him.

       More of Monogram’s wonderful box art, circa 1964.

       Mark Gustavson warns of these (friction- and electric-powered) offshore fakes. Luckily, they’re easy to spot even though the quality is poor, at best. Thanks Mr. G!

      Finished kit, as built by Mark Gustavson, who is currently working on a dedicated Predicta book project. (Photos Courtesy Mark Gustavson)

Drag-U-La

      AMT #657, 1964, 1/25 scale, Designed by Tom Daniel, Re-issued 1989, 2010

      Bonus goodies include the coffin-shaped “Surf Slab” motorized surfboard (swiped from AMT’s own Surf Woody kit)! Drag-U-La’s only AMT re-issue was the 1989 Blueprinter Series combo, with the Munster Koach. Besides AMT’s iconic kit, Johnny Lightning has released at least a dozen variations of its diecast Drag-U-Las. Round 2 released an 11 x 14-inch coffin-shaped tin containing Drag-U-La and Munster Koach kits in 2010 that included both new and original decals, 16-page photo book, diecut Munster family photo backdrop, and three placards. (Photo Courtesy Dave’s Show Rod Rally)

      While contemplating a possible follow-up to his Munster Koach design, Tom Daniel was approached at a show by a well-heeled young man with an idea for a casket-bodied dragster. Daniel didn’t get the kid’s name and hasn’t heard from him since. But Tom ensured the message was delivered when Universal Studios inquired as to the possibility of a second car for the Munster family (“second cars” being the status symbol du jour).

      A peek at AMT’s instructions reveals the optional top-mounted gas-powered surfboard, as pioneered in the Surf Woody kit. Eat your heart out, Stroker McGurk! (Photo Courtesy Scotty Gosson Collection)

      William Clark enjoys large-scale building, illustrated by his Drag-U-La, caught in an appropriate setting. (Photos Courtesy William Clark)

      Again, Dick Dean and company built Daniel’s concept for Barris, but this time, they also made three fiberglass copies (the original was built around a real coffin), which soon scattered across the country and continue to change hands today. Daniel: “This was my deal, not Barris’. Barris changed the lights and scoops, and got the credit. That’s life. But I was pissed when Barris’ name appeared on the box.”

Wild Dream and King T

      AMT #2164-200, 1/25 scale, Designed by Joe Wilhelm and Don Tognotti

      Hall of Famer Joe Wilhelm crafted his Wild Dream body almost entirely from aluminum sheet. The exposed T roots are highlighted with scratch-fabbed track roadster and Indy car elements for a winning combo that swept hundreds of podiums on its way to AMBR glory in 1968. (Photo Courtesy Mark Gustavson)

      Two seminal show cars in one box! You can argue all day over whether these traditional 1964 customs belong with the scale show rods in this book, but Wild Dream and King T were still winning car shows from coast to coast in 1965, and the kits were selling well. Consider this double kit George Toteff’s unintentional gift to modelers and to AMT.

      The former AMT vice president (“I was their first employee”) jumped ship in 1963 to start his own MPC enterprise, with an agreement that AMT got first refusal on any of his molds originally made for AMT. After AMT’s release of said kits, MPC was free to market its own version. But Toteff decided, “I didn’t want to release the same kits as AMT,” and for reasons unknown, AMT never re-issued the popular double kit, making it one of the rarest in today’s market. If you find one of these, you’ll pay, but you probably won’t complain.

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