Auto World’s newest 4-Gear release (#26 SC369) hearkens back to the early 1970’s when drag racers had the nicknames that fans knew almost better than their actual names. These nicknames were major draws at the gate and if you were around back then, even the radio commercials from the local track called out the upcoming grudge matches between the great racers like Jungle Jim, The Snake, The Shoe or The Mongoose. The latest funny car release from Auto World has three of these great racers and their nitro burning rides. Let’s head down to the paddock and see these great cars.
SC369 #1 – 1970 Plymouth Cuda – Don “The Snake” Prudhomme (Chrome Yellow)
The Snake’s Plymouth Barracuda Funny Car has a very interesting history. As seen in this series, the car is in the 1970 livery. A Buttera-chassis with late Hemi power, it racked up some of the highest win totals of any funny car. Later in 1973, Prudhomme ordered one of Buttera’s “lay-down chassis” Vega Funny Cars, but was unimpressed with the performance. He quickly pulled the Barracuda out of retirement and applied the US Army sponsors to the old ride and got back to his winning ways. The Barracuda ran a best 6.23 seconds at Englishtown, NJ before it’s final retirement.* You can check out more details about Wildlife Racing from the Auto World Snake vs. Mongoose race set article here: https://speedincslotcars.com/?page_id=345.
SC369 #2 – 1970 Plymouth Duster – Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen (Chrome Red)
The Mongoose’s weapon of choice was a Buttera-chassis, late Chrysler Hemi-powered Plymouth Duster. Although the Snake was more often victorious in their legendary battles, one of McEwen’s biggest wins was at the last drag race at Lions Drag Strip in 1972 .* You can check out more details about Wildlife Racing from the Auto World Snake vs. Mongoose race set article here: https://speedincslotcars.com/?page_id=345.
SC369 #3 – 1973 Plymouth Cuda – Don “The Shoe” Schumacher “The Wonder Wagon”
In 1973 Don Schumacher was called in to pilot the original “Wonder Wagon”, a Vega Panel Van Funny Car that was struggling to be competitive early in the ‘73 racing season. “The Shoe”, being as smart in contract negotiations as he was in piloting Funny Cars, arranged to go back to a more standard bodied Funny Car if the panel van proved problematic. It did and the Wonder Wagon livery was transferred to a Plymouth Barracuda body. Although it was a fantastic promotion of a non-racing sponsor, Wonder Bread only stayed for the 1973 season and did not renew their sponsorship for ‘74.
Here’s the packaging for the 4 Gear Release #26 (SC369) Legends of the Quarter Mile.
And here’s another view of these great cars.
