The Hot 150 list and Clone the Past
Two Important Museum Programs
by Mark S. Gustavson

Since the inception of the Museum, one of our chief goals has been to identify and either locate or replicate the models that have most influenced the development of our hobby.  As this Museum project progresses, we'll have the ability to portray the development of model car craftsmanship in the hobby by presenting either the original models -- or clones of models -- that appear on our Hot 150 list.  Additionally, we'll also prepare a large display chart that will contain images of the notable models that appear on the Hot 150 list. 

Of course, the first task is to identify the most important models in the history of our hobby. The definition of an historically significant model is crucial to this Museum program: the model has to have appeared in a major publication (or its "influence" may be very limited by definition), it must have pioneered a new technique/style of building, and it must have exhibited very high standards of craftsmanship (adjusted for the time the model was constructed). 

At this point, we have named the models, through 1968 (balloting is going on for later years), that have significantly influenced the development and progress of model car building. This effort is on going as further research continues: in fact, the list for the Second Age has recently been amended to correct an earlier oversight: now, Donald Katz' "Off Beat Beauty" (featured in Car Model, February 1964, pages 22, 27 and the cover; The "Way Out GT Custom", featured in Car Model, March 1964, pgs. 28-32, by R.A. Smith and Mike Baltes (both of Auto World); and the various passenger car custom pickups by Budd "The Kat" Anderson (check out Car Model, February 1965) have all been nominated and appear on the Hot 150 list. 

In order to keep in touch with the great builders who are working on the Clone the Past project, the Museum now publishes a Clone the Past newsletter. Go here to read the current issue and to see additional images of the models that are being replicated.

The amended list for the First and Second Ages of our hobby is available on this site by checking in at our Clone the Past Chart and, while there, you can click on the name of each of the named models to view scanned images of those models.

The second part of this Museum program is to acquire or replicate models that appear on the Hot 150 list. So far, a group of dedicated builders have agreed to replicate several of the models that are named in Ages One and Two. These models have been picked up by Members of our Museum to clone: The "Nervous Nomad" by Paul Sable has been completed by Tim Pentecost. Bill Taylor (God rest his soul) finished his replica of the famous Car Model magazine "Dixie Bee" many years ago. Mike Good has sculpted an exquisite replica of Lonn Stern's Astrodan that is now painted candy green by Mark S. Gustavson; Mike studied the handful of historic pictures to craft the body of this most-famous model - check out these photos of the roughed in body with early coats of block-sanded lacquer primer. Rick Hanmore has finished the bodywork and painting on his replica of Bill Neumann's '60 Ford Starliner. Already, Paul Sable's custom Mercury has been cloned by Rick Wright. Marc Havican is working to duplicate a Jim Yonts dragster, and Bob Paeth is working hard to finish cloning Jack Herndon's radical custom '29 Ford roadster.

Again, view the nominated models for Ages One and Two on our Hot 150 list Of course, other models from Age Two can be seen by going to the Hot 150 chart and then clicking on the name of each nominated model. Three more great builders and Museum members have stepped forward: Jeff Worsham has just signed up to clone Tom Davison's metalflake chartreuse custom Corvette. Terry Rollins decided to build Harry Auffinger's remarkably restrained full custom 57 Chevy, and Carl Moore has stepped forward to build two of Budd "The Kat from AMT" Anderson's legendary passenger car pickups – Budd's '61 Ranchero and '58 Chevy. And , Mitch Capps has signed up to replicate an incredible model from Bob Sifferd – the Telstar; Bob Sifferd is involved in this project and has offered a lot of very helpful information to Mitch to aid in the recreation of the Telstar. To enjoy photos of the Telstar and Golden Nugget, go here. Our thanks to all these great builders!

With the cloning effort underway, it's time to move on to identify the most influential model in the Third Age covering 1969 through 1978. We approached Tim Boyd and Chuck Helppie who contributed their nominations for that era; after that, Mark S. Gustavson added his nominations, and Dennis Doty chipped in his ideas. That list is now is being reviewed by Museum research assistants Rex Barden and Randy Van Draiss) after which that list will be examined again and then submitted here to your review. There are a wide array of terrific, hobby changing models in this era that meet our threshold requirements of having been published in a way that could have affected other modelers, thereby influencing the development of modeling technology and finishing techniques. Check back here for the chart for the Third Age of our hobby which should be uploaded here for your review late in 2008.

New builders have signed up, and the work of builders already working on projects is progressing well. Please check there for an update on the Clone the Past chart for an update on this important effort that will, as replicated models appear, introduce visitors to the history of technological developments in the history of our hobby. A sample of an older Clone the Past newsletter (usually distributed just to "cloners") might be of interest, too: http:/www.themodelcarmuseum.org/July_2006_Cloning_Newsletter.pdf  There are a number of really interesting models that still need to be replicated. How about these models that are being cloned or have been cloned:

Rick Morgan's Revell-Testor II winning dragster

Mark S. Gustavson received a fax at his office from "R.W. Morgan" in early September that described this fellow's recollections of Dave Shuklis. Even though it was ambiguous, Mark responded to the fax, acknowledged the great note (see text below), and asked if the sender was the "Rich Morgan" who won the first Revell-Testor contest in 1965. Read more...

Chuck Jones' Custom

The Museum's Hot 150 list, which supports our Clone the Past program, aims at reproducing the most influential models in the history of our hobby so that model car historians and Museum visitors can appreciate how the leading edge of our hobby has developed since the early Fifties. One of those models from the Second Age of our hobby is Chuck Jones' innovative bubble top, mid-engined custom model that won the International Modelers' Guild in 1963. If you haven't done so already, you should read the article The Early Years: Model Car Contests in America The Chuck Jones Saga, that appeared in Volume 10, No.2 of The Builder. Read more...