Built in 1975 Custom Ford Van - StarTruk

[RestoModGuy]

I designed and built this to enter in the junior class AutoWorld model contest in 1974, I was 12.

Custom body flares, spoilers cust out and wing-open the doors. Hand painted all the StarTrek space mural and airbrushed the rest.

Handmade interior with TV and CB radio and wiring. One of my most fun builds, luck it has survived all these years.

Think I should do a little restoration and give it a really thick clear coat and polish it real nice and tuck the rear tires in a bit.

 

 

[bigdrag1]

Very cool van, you must be very proud to still have it on your self. I don`t think you should do anything to it , look`s great just the way it is....

[hjracing]

Wow! Awesome build!

[slusher]

Man, thats one cool custom. Wish I was that good at 12.

[bondo bill]

very cool-neat model history also

[Intmd8r]

While this sort of build is not my thing, I can most certainly appreciate the amount of effort, work and most of all, the skill to build something like this.  Good job!

[thatz4u]

I'd love to Trek around the country in a van like that, looks like you've boldly gone where no modeler has gone before...

[ZIL 111V]

Very cool 70s  survivor! very, very, nice work for the age/skill you had 40+ years ago.

[62rebel]

Man, that's great work for 12 years old AND with '75 era materials... DON'T mess with it; it's a time capsule!

[Maindrian Pace]

You were 12 when you did that? Amazing! I wouldn't risk a paint reaction with the clear coat, just polish it lightly and preserve it. Tucking the rear tires into the flares wouldn't be a bad thing, though.

[Jim B]

That's awesome!  I'd leave it just the way it is.

Here's a thought: build another one with your updates skills.

[Chuck Most]

Authentic '70's style. Bonus points on the Star Trek-themed murals. 

[Daddyfink]

That is so awesome! I must have drawn a thousand vans like that when I was a kid and I had nothing close to that type of talent at that age! That is a very cool survivor build! 

[RestoModGuy]

Thanks every one for the nice comments.

This is one of my more prized possessions, so sharing it with you all, 40+ years later is a bonus to what was a fun childhood memory too. 

[iamsuperdan]

Twelve?! I'm not even sure I could pull that off now!

Would be interesting to see you build the same thing now; with everything you've learned since you were twelve. Same theme, same mods, improved technique.

 

 

[Jonathan]

Awesome.  I'd leave it as is and proudly display it in my case.  Maybe build another one, or similarly themed, with your matured skills.

[Davewilly]

Thats Awesome!   Nice work!

[Jim B]

Wish I was that good at 12.

Wish you were that good a 12?  I wish I were that good now at 47.

[scummy]

Mate that is outstanding . Just leave it the way she is , lots of work there .

[Hubert Rollins]

Wow- I was afraid to even paint my first few. I only bought the ones molded in color. Wish I still had them like you have this one though.

[Spex84]

Wow! That's a wild piece of work! I'm impressed that you could do this when you were 12 years old. My attempts to customize stuff at that age mostly ended up as piles of mangled plastic shavings.
 I love the paint job and custom upholstery. This build is a real time capsule, if I were you I'd keep it clean and pretty much leave it alone!

[GTJUNIOR]

Looks incredible. I would keep any changes and revisions to the bare minimum, then put it on display front and centre of your collection. 

[RestoModGuy]

Wow, all right the comments all direct to leave it alone as a time time capsule, although moving in and adjustment to the rear wheels would look better. Thanks for all the nice compliments on this one. 

[kymdlr]

This is cool, even more so the fact that it was made with all the custom stuff in the 1970's before all this aftermarket stuff we have available now was even around and the fact that you were 12!. I started building around that age in the 90's and my early builds were no where near as good lookin.

[gatorincebu]

 

    Jim,

         That is one really fine looking model, given that you were 12 when you built it.And that it has survived this long! Aside from tucking in the rear wheels. I would leave it alone. Like most everyone else has suggested. I also suggest like some others .That you build another van of a similar theme today with you improved skills and maturity.

 

 

   Be Well

    Gator