THE RICHARDS/SHEWEIRY BOSS 302 MUSTANG restoration (Sidchrome mustang)

[George Sheweiry]

over a period of time I hope to show you the 2 year restoration of the old girl form the long wait it had from 1985 when I stopped racing it till July 2011 when after considerable goading from different camps, I took time away from competition to do a full rebuild. In the shots to follow is how it looked then.

[hilstwist]

I have a couple of photos I took of you in that car racing at Puke.Maybe early 80s? You are racing Cook,Nissan. The finlays bakery Datsun,Osborne capri,A chopped up Muatang maybe Faheys old car?Your Mustang lokks like its in a Black/red.yellow liverie. I will send them to Steve to post as I have tried to no avail to post myself. A bit tech handicapped i'm afraid

[George Sheweiry]

19865 So this is how she looked before the big strip down, still in the colors I painted it somewhere around the end of 1979 I think. The only difference besides the paint was a rear wing and i changed the hood scoop to a Cobra one that I took a mold off my Falcon Cobra. A couple of times I towed the 3 axle transporter I built when I was 24 that was a caravan type front with a bed above the race car nose at the back with a viewing platform above the car, so I could stay at the track and save on accommodation with the Mustang on the back and towed by the Cobra that I also raced in Production Supercars. I do have some photos of it but being towed by my S Pac panelvan when I started my electrical business I will dig out and post.

[George Sheweiry]

I have a couple of photos I took of you in that car racing at Puke.Maybe early 80s? You are racing Cook,Nissan. The finlays bakery Datsun,Osborne capri,A chopped up Muatang maybe Faheys old car?Your Mustang lokks like its in a Black/red.yellow liverie. I will send them to Steve to post as I have tried to no avail to post myself. A bit tech handicapped i'm afraid

Thanks that would be cool to see, Its funny but I dont have many photos of my racing years, ahhhhh yes now it comes back to me, I put every dime I had into my cars and it wasnt as cheap or simple as it is today with ph cameras etc.

[TonyG]

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq204/TGPhotography/Scanned%20Images/img017-2.jpg (http://s448.photobucket.com/user/TGPhotography/media/Scanned%20Images/img017-2.jpg.html)

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq204/TGPhotography/Scanned%20Images/img016-2.jpg (http://s448.photobucket.com/user/TGPhotography/media/Scanned%20Images/img016-2.jpg.html)

[Steve Holmes]

I love those pics Tony, especially the startline one, with the four cars all grappling for grip.

[Rod Grimwood]

Must be me again, but no pics from Tony.

[seaqnmac27]

I love those pics Tony, especially the startline one, with the four cars all grappling for grip.

Yes Steve, this is from the reverse grid/handicap race at the NZGP beginning of 82, If the shot were expanded out, Tulloch and Crowe would be lurking menacingly as well.

[George Sheweiry]

1994719948 These next shots are of the car stripped out and as you can see I have already removed the floor.

[John McKechnie]

Good thing the roof is there to hold it all together.
Looking at this makes me feel better about the Monaro.
WOW, WOW, WOW, big underpants time.

[George Sheweiry]

some more photos, these are of the floor before it was removed, note how they just cut down the center of the drive shaft tunnel and opened it out then just screwed a bit of alli over the top, no wonder my seat moved during accelerating and braking and was no doubt responsible for all the stress cracks in the floor. I cut the transmission bulge out of the new floor and moved it back then welded it in and took it up into the new panel steel firewall
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[John McKechnie]

Cage fits very snugly on B pillar and down onto the floor- excellent bracing.

[kiwi285]

Looking at those photos I can see why it takes so much time to get one of these cars back to its original shape and presentation. Great work George

[George Sheweiry]

Thanks Big Bad Dale but then it just has to be done that way really. Anyway, a few more of the inside and of the trunk before it was pulled apart.

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[Habu]

[QUOTE=George Sheweiry;31499]Thanks Big Bad Dale but then it just has to be done that way really. Anyway, a few more of the inside and of the trunk before it was pulled apart.

Yikes! Its not until you see these photos that you get a real appreciation for the amount of time, effort and $$$ that went into this rebuild. Only saw the car a couple of times before, but lets just say that "mammoth" would be a serious understatement of the amount of work that this was. Top job George, and even better now that we all get to enjoy it on the racetrack again :):):)

[Steve Holmes]

Neat photos George, and quite revealing. Although this car took on legendary status in Australia and New Zealand, to JR and the team running it, it was just a tool, built to serve a purpose. It was modified to keep pace, and the mods didn't have to be pretty, they just had to be effective.

[George Sheweiry]

Yes it was a rather large task and because I am not a millionaire just a dumb electrician who has a collection of cars (too many) and races them I have to do it all myself but then I am a worker and do enjoy the challenge. I guess there's worse things in life I could be doing!! Anyway, the next shots show the suspension and parts before restoration.

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[seaqnmac27]

Hi George, congratulations on a brilliant job, the car looks fantastic. I am not sure if you have seen these shots of the old girl in Jim RIchards hands at Teretonga 1977. These are pictures taken by the late Kevin Thomson

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[Grant Sprague]

George , dont put yr self down ....... you have done a great job & we know this its just fantastic..... hey yr pretty handy with a camera & pc also........ Hey Jim knew the deal on getting weight out of a car lots of nice holes lol , not many did , easy cheap horse power ???

[seaqnmac27]

Hi George, congratulations on a brilliant job, the car looks fantastic. I am not sure if you have seen these shots of the old girl in Jim RIchards hands at Teretonga 1977. These are pictures taken by the late Kevin Thomson



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Actually, I had not looked at this photo so closely, note the damage to the right side of the front spoiler, must consult my MotorActions, Something kept the Mustang out of at least one of the Teretonga races and he, instead drove Pat Creas Cortina.

[George Sheweiry]

George , dont put yr self down ....... you have done a great job & we know this its just fantastic..... hey yr pretty handy with a camera & pc also........ Hey Jim knew the deal on getting weight out of a car lots of nice holes lol , not many did , easy cheap horse power ???

Well you don't like to place yourself alongside the professionals Grant but I guess its just necessity to all us racers that we give things a go cause the dollars never seem to go that far do they?

[George Sheweiry]

Wow seaqnmac that shot of the cars coming around the big left hander all evenly spaced is just awesome. That certainly was a good looking Gotina of Pat Creas. I haven't seen that shot before, brilliant

[George Sheweiry]

A few more shots of the suspension etc

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[seaqnmac27]

Wow seaqnmac that shot of the cars coming around the big left hander all evenly spaced is just awesome. That certainly was a good looking Gotina of Pat Creas. I haven't seen that shot before, brilliant

This is from the first race, which resulted in the front right corner damage. The report is a little confusing it seems in a passing attempt he either tagged Crea or Edmondson in the Charger.

I agree re the Cortina, its one which along with Miss Victorious really sparked my imagination seeing it race as a 4 year old at Pukekohe back in 77.

[Shano]

You're a brave man George - a daunting amount of work to be done on that car.

[Rod Grimwood]

Having been up close to this car last week and now seeing what you started with George, wow. Don't pat yourself on back mate as we will all do that for you. This is an amazing bit of work and the improvements strength wise are very well done. I see what you meant by it was cut down middle and alloy screwed. More holes drilled in her than the moon. Even holes where the seat was, no wonder your arse moved, now it will only pucker hopefully.
Got my mind ticking on that black one you showed me.
Cheers will be intouch

[Limezed]

Hey George,
Here is a quick photo of that poster I spoke to you about at the show. I'll try to get it scanned and printed and send you a copy for the shed wall.
I'll also try to get some of the old home videos that Paul took of you guys down at Puke many years ago uploaded to youtube.
Cheers,
Karl
http://s832.photobucket.com/user/sentch/media/sid_zps3be25a6d.jpg.html

[George Sheweiry]

Mate I see what you mean , that is a great poster and one I have never seen before, just let me know the cost and I will fix you up for it. Cheers, George.

[Limezed]

Don't worry about the cost. It's just great that guys like you are putting the cars we grew up with back on the track so that our kids get the chance to see them.

[John B]

For those who love this car - and let's face it, who doesn't - we still have three of this 1:43rd model in stock. Click here to check it out (http://www.spr-models.co.nz/other-brands/armco).

Every model purchased earns a $10.00 donation to The Roaring Season. Here are some images of this high-quality resin model...

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[George Sheweiry]

2016120160

thought you might like to see a before and after

[George Sheweiry]

I found these old photos of the old girl when I had not long purchased the car, I think it is from the 78/79 season at the grand prix meeting at Pukekohe with one shot going thru the castrol esses, then out of them and heading down the chute!



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[BMCBOY]

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[George Sheweiry]

Wow that's a neat photo I haven't seen that before. You can tell by the fact that there are no stone chips on the air dam that this was the first meeting I ran the car at after I repainted it with the addition of the large wing and cobra hood scoop. I just loved Baypark it was my favorite track and good old Peter Hanna and Graham Pearce, they knew what brought the crowds. " Baypark where the Big Bangers race"

[SPman]

pictures

thought you might like to see a before and after

Well George, if the rest of the car is as tidy as that, it should be a real pearler!

[George Sheweiry]

Here are some shots of the right rear guard after I reworked it back to the shape it was when first built, then I painted it then put on three coats of releasing wax and then 1 coat of release pvc and then the fiberglass mat to make the mold for the replacement flares that would be fitted once I had replaced the rear fender with a new one. It sounds quick but there was a lot of work to achieve it


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[Jac Mac]

Post # 7 in the thread 'Sidchrome Mustang-Bay Park' thread shows the car with first set of 'bubble' style flares, these 'Cologne' type flares must be second type..... This car is a bit like PDL1, if you built a replica of each version & paint scheme you could have a Sidchrome or PDL race on its own merits with half a dozen entries of each car!:)

[George Sheweiry]

Funny you should say that Jac Mac I have been approached by someone who is interested in purchasing the car and not for a $1.50, but more in the 730K line, or should I say Aus $635K and I actually prefered the car the way I had it in the Black cologne capri colors, cause lets face it the yellow and red was really Jims, so I wouldnt be worried doing a replica however it does mean the car would be lost to Australia unless someone from NZ fronted up!! but yes you are dead right with what you say.

[Habu]

Funny you should say that Jac Mac I have been approached by someone who is interested in purchasing the car and not for a $1.50, but more in the 730K line, or should I say Aus $635K and I actually prefered the car the way I had it in the Black cologne capri colors, cause lets face it the yellow and red was really Jims, so I wouldnt be worried doing a replica however it does mean the car would be lost to Australia unless someone from NZ fronted up!! but yes you are dead right with what you say.

Noooooooo, please dont sell it!!! I'm not in a position to purchase it, but it would be very sad to see it go offshore.....

[George Sheweiry]

Once I had the mold from the rear fenders I was then able to remove them and as you can see there was a lot of hidden surface rust that I was then able to have blasted and then 2 pot epoxied.21307213082130921310

[Ellis]

A lot of very hard work gets covered up when its all back together and its very interesting to see what is underneath the paint in a well known and respected car such as this.
Thanks George

[Rod Grimwood]

A lot of very hard work gets covered up when its all back together and its very interesting to see what is underneath the paint in a well known and respected car such as this.
Thanks George

It sure shows how the mice got into it and chewed holes everywhere, even the rear surrounds.

[George Sheweiry]

So here at the front of the car now you can see I removed the front inner RH apron (and the LH one) ready to install the new one and the left and right custom bulkheads needed to be removed so the blaster could get in behind and also because I wanted to replace them with proper ribbed panel steel

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[Ellis]

George

The amount of detailed work that went into this is unbelievable...as I said before the paint (and panels) cover up all the interesting bits.

Ellis

[Steve Holmes]

Simply awesome thread George.

[George Sheweiry]

In the first shot you can see how the RHF Fender and flare have been reworked to the original shape from photos I have of the car when it was rebuilt with the cologne type flares. All 4 flares were a different shape to each other, the LHF being the closest to the original.


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In these next shots you can see the guards have been primed and then sanded with 1200 paper then 3 coats of separating wax and a final of pva that gives a thin glad wrap type coat to help prevent sticking of the mold. The next step was to brush on the resin and apply the resin soaked fiberglass matting to make the mold. I wasn't quite sure why I didn't have photos of this and then remembered my wife would have been real pleased if I had have coated her camera with some nice sticky resin!! The bloody stuff gets everywhere!


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You can also see the beat up L&R front inner aprons before they were removed and replaced with new ones

[Racefan]

The shed in Takanini where the Mustang was built still exists on the cnr of Mill and Airfield Roads . Would make a cool photo with the restored car.

[Racefan]

http://www.carpartsandmore.com.au/mustang/champions02.htm

[George Sheweiry]

Ahh so you know about that too. Yes I used to drive past it back when I wired Murray Bunns house, the engineer on the Sidchrome Mustang project, I had got to know Murray after I bought the car and we struck up a friendship and he told me where it was originally built. I always planned on doing just that and will probably try to get it done before the end of the year.

[George Sheweiry]

Here are the 2 L & R front inner aprons after they were installed


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[George Sheweiry]

this is the newly formed front fenders straight out of the molds getting a trial fit



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[Racefan]

Hi George yes I saw the photos years ago in a book about Jim Richards . Being local I figured that was the shed.

[George Sheweiry]

So then it was time to take it to the sand blasters



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[George Sheweiry]

from the sand blasters to Crystal panelbeaters to be epoxy primed in the booth




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then back home for the next phase


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[SPman]

A lot of work!
Worth it in the long run though.

[Shano]

They sure drilled a lot of holes in that car. I wonder how much weight they saved - it would have been a lot of work.

[TonyG]

Hi George. Have you seen this shot before. Just found it while on Fleabay.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-PRINT-Jim-Richards-Mustang-Sports-Sedan-12-/400195318156?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item5d2d7ff18c

Cheers
Tony

[seaqnmac27]

Hi George, check out this link to Bruce Smarts pics, from Baskerville, Sept 1975 pics 35,36,37 and 55 http://oldmotorsportphotos.com.au/gallery_images/Motorsport_Photos/Baskerville/Film%200058A/index.html
This seems to be race day and includes shots of a dice between Richards and Moffat
http://oldmotorsportphotos.com.au/gallery_images/Motorsport_Photos/Baskerville/Film%200058/index.htm

[seaqnmac27]

Pic 82 in particular is fantastic in this one http://oldmotorsportphotos.com.au/gallery_images/Motorsport_Photos/Baskerville/Film%200090/index.html

[George Sheweiry]

Pic 82 in particular is fantastic in this one http://oldmotorsportphotos.com.au/gallery_images/Motorsport_Photos/Baskerville/Film%200090/index.html

wow seaqnmac what a fantastic race track that Baskerville looks to be with those huge elevation changes. does this track still exist and where abouts in Aus is it? Great Photos!

[Ellis]

George ...
You need to get out more....do a few touristy things.
The Siddy's first race in Australia was at Baskerville
You need to bring it back to celebrate the 50th year of the Mustang at the Historics at Baskerville in Oct 2014

It sure does still exist.
Its not in Australia...its in Tasmania...lol... down near Hobart.

Baskerville
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/206951_498540776881346_704367724_n_zps98ab60b8.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/206951_498540776881346_704367724_n_zps98ab60b8.jpg.html)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/XWGTBville_zps1ca75134.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/XWGTBville_zps1ca75134.jpg.html)

This pic was its first meeting in Oz at Baskerville...Gearbox let go and they swapped one out of an XWGT to finnish the meeting.
The same bloke still owns the XWGT which he has had since new.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/falcongtho/RichMoffHalliday_zps7e8b23fa.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/user/falcongtho/media/RichMoffHalliday_zps7e8b23fa.jpg.html)

Richards Moffat Halliday Baskerville Sports Sedan 10000 1975
Bruce Smart pic

Ellis

[George Sheweiry]

Hey there Ellis thanks for the shot of the Track, now I can put it all together from those other shots. I love the lay out, you boys in Tassie are onto it! Man I would be over there boots and all, it would be great to have a run with some of the cars it used to compete with, but I'm just a one man band sparky and I haven't one lotto yet! Maybe I should see Sidchrome Australia and see if they could get me over there and back. lol crickey better go and check the mailbox ha ha. Cheers, George.

[Frosty5]

George, have sent you a PM
Cheers Dave

[George Sheweiry]

The other week I had a very knowledgeable visitor come for a look at my toys. He was a wealth of information and took an immediate shine to the Sidchrome in fact he hopped in and spent most of his time here happily sitting in the seat. Does anyone recognize him?


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[MarkQ]

David Vizard? He is a clever fella.

[Ross Hollings]

David Vizard,legendary Mini tuner,I still have his book,very dog earred now. What was he doing in NZ ?

[George Sheweiry]

Yes Ross,he was over here for a performance seminar arranged by Graeme Dobbie who has had a lot to do with him with several race Teams. He was here once before doing the same thing. It was great timing as I had only just bought his latest book on head porting which he kindly autographed for me. Reminds me of a similar situation in 1987 on my first trip to the states. I had just bought a book that had a lot about AAR in it. I was going to go down to Santa Anna to AAR to see Dan Gurney about a set of Gurney Weslake heads as Lying Lyall Williamson had told me he still had sets there for $1200.00 complete. Incidently I had just been to the Pomona swap meet where I had seen a set for sale for $500 but i thought by the time I went thru them they would probably get close to the price of a new set. Dan still had plenty of sets left (including 1 of the 3 valve sets and a complete V12) but they were $3600 a set!!! To get from the front office to the workshop we had to walk thru a 16 ft long corridor that was lined with photos of all the cars Dan had run, boy that was impressive, he has raced everything you can think of. He is a really nice guy and kindly autographed my new book for me, he was interested in what cars I was running and what the racing scene was like in NZ as he had been here in the 60s I think in fact I have the feeling he ran in the NZIGP one year. He seemed to know Ronnie Butler quite well, a Kiwi who worked for Shelby the same time as Johnny Olsen and who I later visited with Murray Bunn up at his place in Santa Barbara. Ron at that time still had the Indy Turbine car lurking in the corner of his workshop Butler racing that his son and daughter had pretty much taken over the running of.

[Ross Hollings]

Thanks for the reply George,very interesting,yes seem to remember Gurney out here,someone will know either way. Ross

[GD66]

Gurney was in NZ driving the BRM P48 at Ardmore in 1961
http://www.sergent.com.au/motor/1961.html

[Kiwiboss]

Yes Ross,he was over here for a performance seminar arranged by Graeme Dobbie who has had a lot to do with him with several race Teams. He was here once before doing the same thing. It was great timing as I had only just bought his latest book on head porting which he kindly autographed for me. Reminds me of a similar situation in 1987 on my first trip to the states. I had just bought a book that had a lot about AAR in it. I was going to go down to Santa Anna to AAR to see Dan Gurney about a set of Gurney Weslake heads as Lying Lyall Williamson had told me he still had sets there for $1200.00 complete. Incidently I had just been to the Pomona swap meet where I had seen a set for sale for $500 but i thought by the time I went thru them they would probably get close to the price of a new set. Dan still had plenty of sets left (including 1 of the 3 valve sets and a complete V12) but they were $3600 a set!!! To get from the front office to the workshop we had to walk thru a 16 ft long corridor that was lined with photos of all the cars Dan had run, boy that was impressive, he has raced everything you can think of. He is a really nice guy and kindly autographed my new book for me, he was interested in what cars I was running and what the racing scene was like in NZ as he had been here in the 60s I think in fact I have the feeling he ran in the NZIGP one year. He seemed to know Ronnie Butler quite well, a Kiwi who worked for Shelby the same time as Johnny Olsen and who I later visited with Murray Bunn up at his place in Santa Barbara. Ron at that time still had the Indy Turbine car lurking in the corner of his workshop Butler racing that his son and daughter had pretty much taken over the running of.

If youre a kiwi you get the red carpet treatment at Dan Gurneys!! awesum guy as you say George and you should have bought those heads at $3600, I paid ALOT more :(.

Dale M

[George Sheweiry]

Well , polished vinyl floor and fancy overhead lighting, it was more workshoppeeee when I was there Dale and your right, when i walked in to the office that day in May 87 I said to the older lady at the desk hello I was wondering if I could speak to Dan Gurney Please where she Promptly replied I am sorry he is very busy would you like to leave a message. So when I said blaa blaa blaa here from New Zealand she said one moment please, made a quick ph call and 2 minutes later Dan walked thru the door and a quick conversation about NZ ensued. Gotta give you credit on your photo taking Dale, I recall having my new motor drive camera when I went there but as usual got caught up about other things and didnt take any photos. Here are some of the photos I did manage to take on that trip. The first is of myself and friends Dave Hunter and Tony (camper) who I stayed with in their house (plus 3 other resident Kiwis) down in Riverside. We were off to the last ever race at Riverside International Raceway. next is of the winning Jaguar in the Imsa prototype race. Last is of the day I was leaving. I got a container dropped off to their house so I could load the 3 cars I had bought and a heap of parts tools and other goodys not realizing that they didnt have swing lifts and it arrived on a trailer!!! so it was a quick trip to national lumber and back to make a ramp set up where we used come alongs to pull the cars up into the container and also make a ramp inside for my Boss 302 to go up over the hood of my 66 FB then a mach 1 to sell back home to help fund the trip.

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[George Sheweiry]

I dont know if I have posted this previously but while finding those photos of my 87 trip I found this one of the siddy at Baypark with the first camper/transporter that I built from scratch. We would camp at the track for the weekend which helped keep the costs down. This would have been about 1978.



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[George Sheweiry]

Crikey, found some more old faded photos of the old girl at my parents place in Hillsborough, must have been only 6 or 7 months after I bought it. Its sitting on an old wakka of a trailor I bought off the NZ Herald for $200.00. I had to cut off the rear support that came from the top of the guard down to the end of the trailor to be able to get the rear wheels of the Mustang on.

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[kiwi285]

Great photos George - always was a great looking car and certainly has some history. How long have you owned the car now ?

[Kiwiboss]

Crikey, found some more old faded photos of the old girl at my parents place in Hillsborough, must have been only 6 or 7 months after I bought it. Its sitting on an old wakka of a trailor I bought off the NZ Herald for $200.00. I had to cut off the rear support that came from the top of the guard down to the end of the trailor to be able to get the rear wheels of the Mustang on.

Very cool pictures George, I like :)

[Steve Holmes]

Wow, those are cool George.

[George Sheweiry]

A buddy of mine Dave Downie who owned the local Mobil Service station on the corner of Carr Rd and Hayr Rd Mt Roskill recently sent me this photo he took of the Sidchrome on the trailer behind the ex Francevic Falcon when we called in one day on the way to a race meet at Pukekohe must be around 1978 Xmas Grand prix meeting39730

[Steve Holmes]

A buddy of mine Dave Downie who owned the local Mobil Service station on the corner of Carr Rd and Hayr Rd Mt Roskill recently sent me this photo he took of the Sidchrome on the trailer behind the ex Francevic Falcon when we called in one day on the way to a race meet at Pukekohe must be around 1978 Xmas Grand prix meeting39730

Wow, this is such a cool photo George!

[George Sheweiry]

Very "period" isn't it Steve!!

[Roger Dowding]

For those who love this car - and let's face it, who doesn't - we still have three of this 1:43rd model in stock. Click here to check it out (http://www.spr-models.co.nz/other-brands/armco).

Every model purchased earns a $10.00 donation to The Roaring Season. Here are some images of this high-quality resin model...

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John B, sold me one of those - it sits in my Aussie / Kiwi Model cabinet along with ATCC, V8 Supercars, V8 Brutes, other Mustangs and models of cars that I have owned over the years..

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George has done a great job restoring the Car ..

[chaindrive]

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Another Small tribute