I’ve said elsewhere on this site that this project will be one of just three of my “Legacy” Projects by which I intend to best exhibit my skills and through each of which I want to advocate for an expanded range of activities that can accompany a high-effort modeling effort. The other two such “legacy” projects are The Lynx Project for which I’m building a sophisticated model of the first of the “lost” Lincoln-Mercury dream cars, and my obsessional interest in Starbird’s Predicta (a new website for The Predicta Project will be uploaded soon. I’ve built a lot of pretty cool scale miniature vehicles since 1979 – and a couple have been great models – but it’s high time for me to take the next major step toward even greater levels of craftsmanship.

Here are photos of the two models I built right after I completed the Club Victoria model:

In 1980, I was tired of the ubiquitous traditional custom Merc so I built this front wheel drive, fast back, sectioned, four-wheel independent suspension Merc. The panels all opened. 34 year old lacquer paint is still in great shape.

The hood was pancaked, and a square-themed front end was designed. The photoetched grille is the first-known use of this kind of part in a model car. The roof was lifted from a 1961 Starliner.

The doors, hood and trunk were all made from sheet aluminum; the trunk latches. The windows were made from clear acetate. A center-mount exhaust vented the 427 Ford engine that was mated to a Toronado front wheel drive set up. The steering wheels moves the front wheels.

I had to give in! I built this traditionally-styled Mercury convertible after building my contemporary chopped, front wheel drive ‘49 coupe. All the panels opened on this model, the doors and the trunk latched, and the Carson-styled top is removable. The lights all work, too. Ed Roth signed the roof about a decade before his passing. This model was on the cover of Scale Auto Enthusiast.

I’m going to finally do what I ought to have done a quarter century ago – buy a mill and lathe and learn how to machine parts. I’ve mastered other high-end techniques and there’s no reason (I hope) that I can’t learn to mill and lathe parts. I’ll consult with master machinists Gregg Nichols, Randy Derr and Mark D. Jones for their recommend equipment.

James Long, an electronic expert, will design the electronic and computer systems necessary to make on the on-board lighting systems (headlights, turn lights, hi-low beams/brake lights) for the factory Vicky model as well as the sound system and engine-speed systems for the slot car.