Drag racing Funny Cars – in one form or another – were around long before the 1966 National Hot Rod Association World Drag Racing Finals, where the NHRA first hosted the Funny Car class as an official eliminator class of drag racing.
My AMT 3in1 kit 1959 Buick Invicta convertible, “The Beast”, was built in early 1960, so technically a 1:1 drag car like the model would not have been classified as a Funny Car by the NHRA then. Be that as it may, it does in fact look funny with its oversize HEMI engine and leaded-in body parts for aerodynamics. Liquid Aluminum was generously used as a filler for the front, rear and under the long fins. Fairly sure the wheelbase was not altered as some predecessors of funny cars were done this way. And the decals that were applied sporting “16 B/A” suggesting an altered car, (A), and a B category type car, were probably all wrong as I was (and still am) ignorant of drag racing nomenclature at the time. Well, even the NHRA hadn’t figured it out yet for the “funny cars” in 1960! (Actually, the yellow decal scallops stood out well on the custom green color, and that’s what I primarily liked about the decals, irrespective of the authenticity of the NHRA classification or lack thereof.
The oversize HEMI engine is from a 1:24 scale Monogram front-engined sling shot dragster kit of the era , I believe.
“The Beast” still makes me smile after all these years about the same as when it was made. LOL
Thanks for looking…
