GMP – “Peach State Special” Classic Salt Flats & Drag Racing 1934 Ford Roadster Very Rare - Limited Edition by GMP * Only 1,000 models built in 2003 * # G1802803 1:18 scale * New In Box * Never Displayed * Original Owner * Always Stored In a Dust Free, Smoke Free, Environmentally Controlled Area, and in a large sealed Sterilite Container with other models.
Only removed from box once, for pre-sale “condition inspection” and photoshoot. As seen from the photos, the temporary clear vinyl protective strap surrounding the doors needed to be carefully removed to expose the interior for inspection & photos.
Model Condition is Excellent – Like New. The Original Box Condition is Excellent.
The vast majority of 1:18 scale models are produced in quantities of at least 5000 or more, which is still not very many when you consider they are spread-out over the entire country, or even further. Yet, GMP only produced a mere 1,000 of these models which gives you a good picture on just how few of these exist today. (21 years later)
These GMP 1934 Ford models are definitely high-end models that sold for high end prices. The detail on this model is absolutely stunning. Whoever planned and speced out these models, really knew what they were doing, and really cared about top level presentation. The photos were shot carefully, but they still do not do justice to the incredible detail that is present on this model. From front to back, top to bottom, the detail level is absolutely superb. GMP only produced 3 different models of these unique cars, the Pearson Brothers Coupe, the So-Cal Speed Shop Coupe, and finally, the Peach State Special. This model is the only open cockpit 1934 Ford roadster GMP ever produced. The others were coupes.
The Peach State Special was a special “one-off” custom racing roadster skillfully built to blister the salt flats of Bonneville, and bring home top honors at the new drag strips popping up all over America in the early and exciting era of the1950’s.
It started as a ’34 Ford Coupe. To reduce weight and air drag, some competing coupes chopped the tops down so much, that one could barely see out through the windows. The Peach State Special took an even more radical approach that accomplished all 3 objectives much better. The entire top and windshield were skillfully removed! The result was even more weight reduction, much less drag, and great vision compared to the chopped coupes. Arguably … some would say it was better looking also. Fenders, running-boards, bumpers, and all lights were stripped away. In addition, the body was radically channeled to sit down over the frame rails, instead of on top, which lowered the entire body 3” for a much lower center of gravity, for much better wind resistance both over and under the body, as well as greatly improved handling and stability at high speeds. Dean Moon’s Shop was highly regarded for top quality fabrication work. Highly polished aluminum panels replaced the original interior door panels, as well as the stock instrument panel. The original steel trunk lid gave way to a lightweight hand formed aluminum deck lid. On that same thought, the entire stock steel front grill housing was replaced by a super slick aerodynamic custom fabricated aluminum nose cone with an integrated Curtis Indy Car type polished aluminum grill. Keeping with a strict theme of a feather weight, stream-lined, low-riding, high speed race car, the final touch was a tight-fit snap on nylon infused canvas tonneau cover with a very narrow opening for the driver only. This prevented air from infiltrating and buffeting around in the cockpit, resulting in an air-drag effect at high speed.
While the body was off the chassis for channeling, and the engine was out in the shop being prepared for all out competition, it provided a great opportunity for welding additional x-bracing to the bare chassis for extra strength and rigidity. Then the bare frame could be thoroughly sandblasted and repainted.
The engine would have been the legendary “full house” bored & stroked Ford flat head V8 with a fully balanced crankshaft sporting heavily beefed-up main caps, Clay Smith racing cam & valve train kit, Forged-True high compression aluminum pistons, Jahns piston rods, Perfect Circle rings, Edelbrock highly massaged finned aluminum racing heads, (see visible cast Edelbrock logo) R&R Cyclone precision ground alloy valves, A Weiand aluminum high-intake manifold under triple Stromberg 97 carburetors with Moon anodized aluminum velocity intakes. Spark was provided by a Mallory Racing Ignition System. Custom bent Tri-Y smooth cast aluminum exhaust headers allowed the explosive gases to exit very efficiently. An up-sized Edmunds custom aluminum radiatorand fan provided the all-important engine cooling duties. A heavy-duty 1941 Lincoln Zephyr 3 speed manual transmission with a custom machined drive shaft and Schiefer hardened alloy universal joints, along with a Halibrand quick-change rear axle unit, completed the driveline. These are just some of the racing candy you’d find lurking under the louvered clam shell hood of any one of these magnificent race cars from back in the early to mid-50’s.
The interior is strictly business. Anything not necessary for racing was removed. The cockpit included polished aluminum door inner panels. Custom leather wrapped aluminum steering wheel. Polished aluminum steering column. All 5 Stewart Warner gauges look very accurate. Moon aluminum brake, clutch, and accelerator pedals add more realism, along with a Moon pressurized aluminum fuel tank complete with fuel lines and a dash mounted pump handle. To satisfy minimal safety requirements for the time, a pair of surplus aircraft seatbelts extend through a single Moon custom formed racing seat surrounded by a 2 ½” tubular steel roll bar. A standard issue Western Auto fire extinguisher is through bolted to the floor next to the driver seat. That was the full extent of any safety features. All of this and much more is there as a feast for the eyes - due to the open roadster cockpit.
Chassis & suspension detail is all there, with components such as chrome paperclip style radius rods, chrome steering arm, shock absorbers, chrome “dropped & drilled” front axle. Plenty of chrome, but not overdone, just all in the right places. Replacing the original heavy steel wire wheels, are larger and much lighter 5 bolt slotted wheels shod with special Firestone racing tires specifically designed for high-speed racing. The diameters were 16” fronts, and 18” rears. The fronts were good for ¼ mile drag racing as well. Highly polished aluminum trim rings complete the wheels for a really sharp complimenting look to the highly polished aluminum front grill.
Back in the day, this hot-rod would have run against many of the big boys, such as the Pearson Brothers Coupe, and later, Alex Xydias’s So-Cal coupe. They would often run the dry lakes or Bonneville Salt Flats Saturday mornings until sunset, then travel back to the shop, change the rear tires over to Casler Drag Slicks, change the rear axle ratio in the Weind quick change rear end unit, re- jet the Stromberg carburetors, re-adjust the timing, load the car back on the trailer, catch an hour or so of sleep, and then head out again to the local Drag Strip early the next morning. When the dry-lakes season would come to an end, then it was “drag racing” every weekend until the next dry-lakes season. That’s how it was done … if you had a great “dual-purpose” race car like the Peach State Special. If you have ever had the privilege of viewing one of these vintage race cars in a museum such as the Wally Parks NHRA Museum, or the Bruce Meyer Collection, you would certainly be impressed at the amazing ingenuity of these racers, which is reflected in their cars. These guys were truly the solid foundation that all American auto racing is built on today.
This beautiful deep gloss Chestnut Red roadster accented with Aztek Gold Metallic nose art, represents how a passionate vision, a labor of love, and a “work in progress” would have ended up as the finished product in the exciting hot rod era of the 1950’s.
In an era where cruising, hot-rod street racing, drive-in restaurants, diners, juke boxes soda shops, drive-in theatres and more, early organized drag racing was really coming alive all over the country, creating opportunity for speed equipment pioneers such as Weiand, Iskenderian, Edelbrock, Schiefer, Clay Smith, Halirand, Chet Herbert, Ardun, Crower, Mooneyes, Jahns, Howards, Bell Equip., R&R Racing, Edmunds, Sig Erson and so many more speed equipment pioneers sold their goods through a network of small speed shops from coast to coast. This model so well represents that exciting time in history when homebuilt hopped-up Ford flathead V8 hot rods ruled the dry lakes, drag strips and the streets throughout the late 40’s and far into the 50’s. A time of truly great owner/driver/mechanic personalities who were as colorful as the cars they built.
At 77 years old, I am selling off my extensive high-end model car collection, so grab this rare vintage beauty while you can.