Tony Bettenhausen 1955 Chrysler

[1961redlegs]

Here's my latest completion, the Chrysler Tony Bettenhausen drove to victory at the Milwaukee Mile in 1955. Bettenhausen was one of the leading contenders on the AAA and later USAC Championship Trail, he won the 1951 National Championship. He never had much luck at the Indianapolis 500 and he died in a practice crash there in 1961. His sons Gary, Tony Jr and Merle all raced.

I used a Tim Flock Moebius kit with Plastic Performance Products decals, I painted the body Testors Wimbeldon White and the interior black, with light sand seats and door panels.

[Calvin]

That is really cool its not to often you see one of these.

I need to ask a question....Would this be a AAA Stock car?

[oldphotos]

AAA was the sanctioning body thru the 1955 season, USAC didn't come into existent till the 1956 season. The 1955 Le Mans crash was one of the main reasons AAA decided to get out of racing.
USAC main supporter and the man behind the organization Was Tony Hulman.

Old Photos

[1961redlegs]

Thanks for the kind words Calvin! This is indeed a AAA stock car, as Old Photos said this was the final year the AAA Contest Board sanctioned races.

I forgot to add last night that the tires are Plastic Performance Products 1957-59 Goodyears and the wheels come from a 1965 Galaxie kit. The kit wheels and tires are okay, but after seeing Tom Mooty use them on his 1956 Buck Baker Chrysler I think these look better.

This was a super easy build and these decals are available at Southern Motorsport Hobbies, I highly recommend this for anyone who'd like to add a 1950s stock car to their collection. These were pretty cars and the kit does them justice.

[kip]

Beautiful, just beautiful. And, as usual, your photography is top notch. I gave up on NASCAR years ago when the cars stop looking like anything I'd see on the road. But this one makes me want to build one from the days when they still raced on dirt. Maybe my next project..... By the way, I'd love to see you build one of these stockers as a WIP.

kip