CLICK->
1971 GTO model kit resembled the Pearson NASCAR. Randy
Mitchell (RMitch1171@aol.com) of Bristol, Tennessee fills us in on the history
of this car. He writes: "Bear with me because my mind slips sometimes, but
as I recall, a guy named Chris(?) Vallo offered to put up a million dollars to
see a Pontiac GTO win a NASCAR race. Ray Nichols Engineering, a very
reputable car owner/builder built the 1971 GTO's that Pearson drove. They
were not very successful to start with and Vallo turned out to have some
shady dealings and dissapeared for a few years before he got caught doing bad
things involving Cuba, I think. Nichols never saw a penny of the money and
gave up on the Pontiacs. Anyway, I recently saw a rerun of the 1971 Southern
500 on Speedvision and caught only a glimpse of the GOAT. I would desperately
love to see pictures of the car. David Pearson was the best NASCAR driver
ever. One year he ran only 17 races for the Woods Brothers but won 11 of
them!!!! Richard Petty said Pearson was the best. Pearson is second on
alltime win list with over 100 wins." Can anyone provide me with additional
information on the Pearson GTO? See my email link at the bottom of this page. CLICK->
Matt Gavigan sent in these photos of the
David Pearson #33 GTO. You can see a shot from the model kit box art and some
old photos of the real thing. Just for fun, there is also a shot of
a 71/72 convertible pacing a NASCAR event. CLICK->
Here is a scan of the original artwork for the #33 Pearson NASCAR 1971 GTO model kit. CLICK->
Matt Gavigan (m.gavigan@shaw.ca) sent in another photo of David
Pearson's 1971 GTO race car in a different color. He tells us this:
"As you may know, Chris Vallo reneged on his contract with
Pearson and Nichels, so Nichels repainted the purple GTO in the
same colors as the 71 Plymouth that Fred Lorenzen was racing for
him also in 1971. Hence, the STP logo and red and white color
scheme. To the best of my knowledge, Pearson only raced the car
five times; three times as the purple #33 car, and twice painted
in the red STP colors." CLICK->
Here is one of the Pearson kits in primer with a clear hood. Note you can see
the details of the roll cage in this shot. CLICK->
Stan Kaminiski sends in some pictures of a built up David Pearson's NASCAR #33 1971 GTO
model kit. Stan adds, "It was assembled a long time ago. It is almost complete,
missing a few pipes from the top of the roll bar cage and a tie rod end and a chrome
rear axle bracket. At least that all I can see that’s gone. This may be one of the most
detailed GTO model kit ever made." CLICK->
Stan continues, "The gas cap, grille surrounds and covers for the headlights and taillights
are chrome plated while the grilles are clear. A large front air dam is under the bumper. The
heads and valve covers appear to be clear but time and old glue has clouded them. The air
cleaner is unique; its opening is at the back and the distributor is in front of the intake
manifold. The alternator is on the right side. Two chrome plated tanks stand behind the driver's
seat and to their right is a small drum like object. The orange battery is in the trunks right
hand corner. A chrome plated brace sits between the rear wheel wells. The only painted parts on
this car are the orange battery, red oil pan, brown headers, fuel cell and white wheel rims and
water pump. Instead of the usual platform style frame, it has separate frame rails. A tube cage
surrounds the engine and separate tie rods and steering linkage along with dual shocks." GTO model cars SHOPPING at eBay with this one click!
CLICK->
The box says it's a 1964 GTO, but the Japanese that made
it screwed up. It's a 1971 1/24th scale Pontiac GTO model by Doyusha in Japan.
Kenny Gregrich describes this kit as a '71 GTO
with a rear wing. The kit includes no decals, so you can't make it look
like a Judge model, even though the box shows the eyebrow stripes and a Judge
decal on the fender. CLICK->
Another view of the '71 GTO box. The body is molded in
white and has recesses in the trunk lid
to mount the wing. They would have to be filled if you did not want to use
the spoiler. The hood is also molded in place and does not open like most
other models. Because of that there is no engine either. The model is
designed to be motorized, but does not include the motor. Only the contacts
and an axle with gear attached are included. Chrome parts include Rally II
wheels that you can read PMD on the center caps. CLICK->
The interior of this '71 GTO is molded in dark grey and
is very odd. The seats are very stubby with the backs only being about a
quarter inch high. The gauges look OK but the glovebox is twice as wide as
it should be. The steering wheel is only a 3/4 wheel with the bottom cut
away to fit the stubby seats. The undercarriage is molded in black and is
very incorrect. The reason for the "short" interior is because the car is
designed to allow the addition of a small motor. The motor was an optional
$5 item. Jeff Hamlin (email unknown) from Virginia says he has built one of
these kits with the motor. It has locking steering. He turns it on and lets
it run around the kitchen. CLICK->
Thanks to Kenny for sending these great box scans in!
Does anyone else have more GTO models that do not appear on these pages? CLICK->
This is what the kit looks like when you first open the
box lid. CLICK->
Tim Sickle built this (Japanese)
model. He made a Pro Street version of it. He airbrushed it with Lucerne Blue
paint, with a coat of clear over it. He added blacked-out windows, vinyl roof,
and chrome foil trim! He put in a Dana rear end out of a Pro Street kit,
complete with wheelie bars. This model was displayed at the 1997 GTO
nationals. It got a lot of attention there, as Tim answered many questions
about the highly-detailed kit. CLICK->
Another version of this Japanese 1971 GTO Judge model kit. This one was distinctly
Japanese. Click on this one and read the box. This Japanese model company created
a whole bunch of different models like the 1971 Judge. They list them on the side
of the box. They got a Stingray, Camaro, Mustang, and Skyhawk. GTO model cars SHOPPING at eBay with this one click!
Les (chrisa@MNSi.Net) says: "I wanted to let you know that DOYUSHA has released
a 1971 1/24th model kit."
Does anyone have a scan of the boxlid? If so, email it to
Sean Mattingly (mattingly@iquest.net).
Les (chrisa@MNSi.Net) also tells us about the '70
through '72 MPC model kits: "The '70/'72 MPC kits came with bogus spoilers. The spoiler in
the kits looks similar to that of a '69 Judge but with 2
posts missing. The real '70-'72 spoilers were not like that
at all, they were the surfboard style. The only model car
ever made with the EXACT same spoiler was the 1969 Hurst
Oldsmobile. Therefore I purchased 2 of those kits a month
ago to place on my 1970 and 1971 GTO models. I am assembling
both the 1970 and 1971 as JUDGE GTOS." CLICK->
The box says this is "A whole new wild, wild concept in rods!!"
It is an MPC Pontiac GTO Street Funny Car 1/25 scale Customizing
"Street Funnies" model car kit. It features: 400 CID engine,
spyder wheels, high rise assembly, american mags, instructions and
decal sheet. #1-0453-225. CLICK->
1971 hardtop kit could be built three ways. The 1:25
scale model featured a hood tach and "Woody's Wood Chopper" stickers for the
sides. It was put out by MPC. One side of the box shows you "all the parts for a wild
high rise set-up" as well as a supercharger for the engine and a BONUS christmas tree
assembly. CLICK->
This 1971 GTO kit was sent in by Roberto "Roby" Domenigoni
from Switzerland. He is a big fan of Pontiac. He thinks this kit is very rare.
A 1971 GTO with remote control: forward and backwards and steering system. The car
is similar to another Japanese kit described by Kenny Gregrich on this web page.
Roby bought this particular kit in England in 1995. CLICK->
1971 GTO promo model in Carousel Red from John Witzke. This
is the special Hobby Store edition promo. CLICK->
1971 GTO Promo in Quezal Gold from John Witzke. He must be waxing these!
They look way better than my real car. CLICK->
1971 GTO dealer promotional car. The color is Canyon
Copper. This is another one sent in by collector John Witzke
from Iowa. He purchased this model for $180. It came
with the original box. It is in mint condition. CLICK->
1971 GTO promo in brown. That's not all! Why not check out
Shelf #9 ?
Here's a comment from a recent visitor...
Says Thom Barker (SalineTB.@aol.com) - "Really enjoy visiting your site. It's so disapointing that I can't own every one of these specimens."