ACME is giving us a first look at the painted sample 1:18, diecast metal, 1965 Ford Mustang A/FX – Gas Ronda 1964 NHRA Top Stock Champion – Russ David car. This is the second car of the series and still provides full 360 access with more than capable details. Production is limited to 750 pieces and will be available in October 2021.
About the Ford Mustang A/FX – Gas Ronda 1964… “Gas Ronda’s A/FX Mustang needs little introduction but here is some very cool background on this incredible machine! It was the final A/FX to be constructed and it is the one that Ronda raced nationwide throughout the 1965 season. It featured the tube-fed dual Holley 4-barrel SOHC layout beneath a teardrop scoop, the heavily-reworked engine bay required for engine fitment, Ford engineered traction bar suspension system and a 4-speed manual transmission. During the season, Ronda set the A/FX record with a quarter-mile time of 10.88 seconds and would win Mr. Top Stock honours at the AHRA World Championship!”
Provide# A1801840
Disappointed to see that the sample is a copy of the restored vehicle sold by Mecum Auctions in 1965, rather than the rendition of how it appeared in the its full racing attire from 1965. The video review on ACME’s Facebook page notes that this is the “first finished decorated sample” and that they “got a few things we need to adjust and some decoration things we need to address” before the final release in October. Of course no details were mentioned on what the adjustments would be. I emailed ACME asking if they were going to have the model appear as it was raced, or simply produce it as a copy of the restoration, however, they never responded to me. As one who collects mostly racing vehicles, I prefer that the reproduction represent how the car appeared when it was raced rather than as a copy of how a restored version may now appear in a wealthy collector’s garage. If anyone has heard how ACME intends to proceed on this project, I would sincerely like to know. If the photos shown are what final product is going to look like, then I believe ACME has failed.
I agree. the air intake tubes were originally grey, the engine was black not blue,the Goodyear slicks were the pie crust style.
Walt, other obvious errors include the absence of sponsors stickers/ads on the body as well as additional script noting other sponsors on the front quarter panel including, Headers by DOUG, Cane Cams and ROTO FAZE Ignition. Even the American Mags are wrong; copied in appearance after those on the restored vehicle but not those which appeared on the race-prepped car in 1965. I just find it hard to believe that they would release this version, touting it as a replica of the original racer – major disappointment. Some may insist I’m nit-picking, but if a collector is going to shell out over $100 for a reproduction of a historical piece, it should be done correctly.
Correction, the Mecum Auction was in 2018, not 1965.
I still have my hopes up that they will get the sponsor graphics right. They corrected the lettering on the tasca ford a/fx.I agree with Denver , for the price I expect a diecast that looks like the as raced car, not the restoration and that includes the correct engine and air duct colors
Disappointed, no changes made. A little pissed off!
Yep, they dropped the ball big time on this one. The only change I noticed from the sample version was the addition of the drag chute to Ronda’s car, but even then, they didn’t include a ripcord! They also included a chute on the Tasca Mustang, but when Bill Lawton raced it, he never used a chute! I usually get my cars from Supercar Collectibles and have had numerous conversations with one of the former owners, Scott Dahlberg, who raced Mopars back in the 70s. He and his partner have just retired and have turned the business over to someone else. Scott was responsible with the cooperation from Ertl in creating the highly successful HWY 61 series of drag racing cars and he too also bemoaned the fact that ACME’s lack of detail and accuracy was prevalent in this series. He told me that when he helped with the development of the Ertl cars, he was adamant that they appeared as they raced and that they also included as much detail as possible. He also said that most of the people who developed the models for the HWY 61 series never attended a drag race in their life! If you compare any HWY 61 model to the ACME AFX Mustangs, you can see a big difference. Look at the engine compartments. The Hwy 61 series not only shows the plug wires, but other details such as the master cylinder, voltage regulator and other main fixtures whereas ACME only shows the plug wires, ignition, radiator hose and carb. tubes. The rest of the engine compartment is bare. And to top it off, they didn’t even include the ripcord on the chute, which the HWY 61 series included on all their 1965 AWB Dodge and Plymouth models. ACME should consult with people who actually were familiar with the cars (racers, mechanics, historians), such as HWY 61 did, before they develop a series.
Denver, thanks for ihe info on the Tasca ford’s use of a chute. I removed the chute from my diecast.
Walt, interesting thing about Ronda’s Mustang; he only started using the chute on his Mustang after his first car was destroyed in a testing accident 1965 mid-year. Holman and Moody had a spare which he began campaigning after that. A number of photos show the difference in the two cars, comparing his first car at the Winternationals in February and the second car at the Nationals in September. If I want to make the model appear as it did in late 65′, guess I’ll have to learn how to create my own decals as well as search the aftermarket for a 1/18 scale 65′ Mustang master cylinder, starter solenoid, and other engine compartment details – that should be easy (LOL). If I was really ambitious, I could try and make my parts myself, but that would be a master undertaking!
Love the models but where is the injected SOHC engine.????
James:
Holman and Moody came out with the injected Funny Car version for Ronda and the other FOMOCO team drivers in late 65′ early 66′. The 65′ AFX Mustangs all ran on carbs, unlike the 65′ MOPAR altered wheel based vehicles that started with carbs., but switched to injectors during the year.
Matt long showed the injected engine in early 2021 and said it would be on the Gaston car ? I want to know why this did not happen.? AT LEASE THEY SHOULD OF RELEAST THE INJECTED SOHC MOTOR. STAND ALONE KIT. WAITING. ??????????? 4106849499
Very interesting James. When I initially put my pre-order in to purchase the Ronda car, the ad from ACME on the Supercars Collectables website was showing it as the 1965 AFX car. Then a little after that, the ad changed to show the 1966 Funny Car injected version. Before I had a chance to contact Supercars to ask if ACME had made a mistake, the ad changed back again, but also included a statement saying that the car they would be producing was the 1965 version that ran on carbs.
Evidently there was a lot of confusion before the cars were even made. If ACME is going to produce the 1966 Funny Car versions, I haven’t heard or seen anything to that effect yet. The entire situation was strange.
James, take a look at the ad on this page and you will note that states, “FIRST LOOK: ACME FORD MUSTANG A/FX – GAS RONDA 1964.” Firstly, the car was a 1965 fastback (the year it was first produced), not a1964. Secondly, the first appearance for any of the 65’Mustang AFX cars was at the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona in February of 1965.That should give you an idea of how all this confusion probably started. Unbelievable!