After two weeks under construction, the Flowmaster Panel Cruiser has finally hit the drag strips and has already done well. Both on the 1/8 mile and 1/4 mile runs, the specially set up drag-only Cruiser turns some fine elapsed times and fast mphs.

The Panel Cruiser started life as a 1/24 scale Testors Hot Metal Gold Series lowrider kit. The following mods were done over the two week period:

*removed rear plastic wheel wells from both chassis and interior

*ground down inner metal rear wheel wells to provide wheel clearance

*cut off and shortened front wheel posts to lower front wheels

*drag slicks from 1/24 plastic model

*custom straight rear wheel axle and housing

*modified front wheels from radio control model upgrade package

*all wheels roll and front wheels are steerable

*front half of chassis lowered as much as possible

*custom metal exhaust tips

*custom side extractor pipes

*parachute from 1/24 scale plastic model kit

*side mirrors and rear-view mirror removed

*windshield wipers removed

*large carbs on hood from plastic model kit

*hand-made roll cage from plastic sprue

*modified dash and transmission tunnel

*seat belts from plastic model kit

*fire extinguisher from plastic model kit

*headlight, taillight, and other body depressions filled and colored

*stickers supplied by Flowmaster, Inc. from 2008 Hot Rod Power Tour exhibit in Little Rock,AR


This was a project where I had originally wanted a Hemi engine (which I don't have) mounted in the back of the Cruiser with the exhaust pipes coming out through the rear panels. With these compromises that I made to the original plan, the current Cruiser version still provided a host of challenges and obstacles, but was an enjoyable and fun exercise.

Thanks for looking!

Bob



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looks great. very nice job on it.

Yes sir, now that's the way it should look! A lot of work, but well worth it. Great job!