Scratch Built 'Speed Shop' from the 1950's

[farrellaa]

zstripe

Bob,

Williams Bros. used to make 57 T-Bird model kits, that were clear plastic, that You had to paint and put together, (easy to do) I picked up some 56 Crown Vic's from them when they sold them in three packs, back in the 80's. I have the link for Williams Bros. and they were taken over by Brett Ind. some time ago...I don't know if they are still around, My link show's error when I click on HO autos.

I did find a distributor that has 57 T-Bird kits from Williams Bros. if You are interested, this one is a convertble though.....might be able to bash a top. The Link:

http://factorydirecttrains.com/williamsbrothersmodels53120ho57thunderbirdclear.aspx

Take Care! 

Frank

BTW: My high school friend had a 57 port hole top that You could take off and store in Your garage and snap on a fake convertible top cover...I'm pretty sure, they are were like that...only drawback was getting caught in the rain too far from the garage...LOL.

 

Frank,

Thanks for the link and info. I just ordered the 57 T-bird and a 56 Crown Vic, I had both of these back in the day. My Bird was bronze with tan porthole top and the Vic was white and light green; both 312 cid V-8's and very fast for the day.

   -Bob

[zstripe]

Bob,

Glad I could be of some help...

Sounds like My buddy's car...but with a white port hole top...I got pic's of it somewhere....If I ever find them, I'll be sure to post.

BTW: Does the engine in the pic' look familiar??

Take Care! 

Frank

How about dis' one??

[farrellaa]

Just got the Speed Shop located and about 90% scenery finished. Still have to mount the building and fix around the edges but took some photos today to show it as it will finally appear on the layout. Still don't have any lights in it though.

   -Bob

[hon30critter]

The scenery looks good Bob.

Dave

[zstripe]

I'll second that Bob...looks great!!

Take Care! 

Frank

[chutton01]

Bob: Do you plan to add gravel or other paving out behind the shop, where the junkers reside. Also, maybe a gravel addition to the right of the parking lot entrance (extending it some), as body shops as a rule can NEVER have enough space to store vehicles they're working on or holding for a customer (and around these parts in NY, if they actually do have space, they'll lease it to a small-time landscaper or tradesman to park his truck overnight.
Also, a fence or barrier of some type to prevent a distracted customer from backing his vehicle onto the railroad track - by the 1950s it well could be a chain-link fence, but could be wooden - maybe just a low wood post fence, as I am not not certain if the now-common metal W-design guardrail would be used at such a facility during the era you modeled.

[farrellaa]

chutton01

Bob: Do you plan to add gravel or other paving out behind the shop, where the junkers reside. Also, maybe a gravel addition to the right of the parking lot entrance (extending it some), as body shops as a rule can NEVER have enough space to store vehicles they're working on or holding for a customer (and around these parts in NY, if they actually do have space, they'll lease it to a small-time landscaper or tradesman to park his truck overnight.
Also, a fence or barrier of some type to prevent a distracted customer from backing his vehicle onto the railroad track - by the 1950s it well could be a chain-link fence, but could be wooden - maybe just a low wood post fence, as I am not not certain if the now-common metal W-design guardrail would be used at such a facility during the era you modeled.

 

I have a wood fence to go along the RR tracks but haven't installed it yet. I have some speed shop related decals to put on it first. I will put a little gravel behind the building where there is some 'junk' being stored. This is a speed shop though and not a body shop so I don't think they would need additional space for storing customers vehicles, but that is still a good idea. Thanks for all the suggestions.

   -Bob

[chutton01]

farrellaa

This is a speed shop though and not a body shop so I don't think they would need additional space for storing customers vehicles, but that is still a good idea.

Yes, I know. I grew up only a block away from such a Speed Shop in Valley Stream, NY; the "Hi-Speed" shop rated a mention on the Hemmings blog - as an  OLD SCHOOL shop, no less! The garage door was in the back, along with a parking lot for customers cars that needed a few days of tinkering.

I often walked past the shop back in the day, and quite frankly as the Hemmings article mentioned nothing in the front window ever seemed to get sold. Dad knew the owner Frank, and I recall Frank at least once coming to our home to help Dad diagnosis and fix an issue with our (then new) 1977 Ford Fairmont (quality was job #3 or #4 for Ford back then).

I still live around the area, and occasionally pass by the shop which is now closed. Frank passed away several years back, and whoever inherited the building has closed it, painted out the Hi-Speed sign & checkered flags, and no longer seems to lease the backyard to landscapers. Otherwise the shop still looks about the same, except the door is no longer open with Frank sitting outside saying hello and asking how my parents were doing. Oh yes, also missing is the roar of engines being tested and cranked at full throttle into the evening (eh, wasn't so bad) ...