AMT Double Dragster (Altereds)

The other half of the AMT Double Dragster kit is the Fiat Altered. Although the kit was designed around late fifties/early sixties cars, when the kit came out Altered's hadn't changed that much. The chassis had improved some but the wheelbase was the same and people were using Fiat Topolino bodies so this half of the kit held up much better. Besides who doesn't like a Topolino?

The first build is pretty much from the box. The kit included a belly pan that is supposed to mate to the bottom of the body, but I didn't like the look so I modified it so that it became the floor pan and tucked under the body. The kit comes with a supercharged hemi, but I decided to go with fuel injection since it just seemed like a nice change. I modified the scoop so that it was molded into the hood giving a cleaner line over all. The wheels and tires are from an AMT parts pack and the paint is Rustoleum Metallic Red.







The next build swapped out the Fiat body for a 27 Ford T body from an AMT Parts Pack. The body came with the cutaway for the rear tires but the tires stuck out way too far so I modified the body so that I could bring the rear tires tighter to the body. If you look closely you can see through the rear deck where the tires intrude. I also molded in the cowl. The frame was stretched in the front so that I had someplace to put the fuel tank since the grill shell was in the way. Wheels and tires are swapped out. I used the fuel injected small block Chevy for a different look. The Paint is Rustoleum Blue Metallic.





My final finished Altered is another Fiat, but I built it in a more up to date style although still period correct. I used the blown Chrysler hemi, but I went with a lift off one piece body style. Because of this I built a full cockpit around the driver. To get the body to drop down the way I wanted, I had to move the fuel tank behind the driver. Although legal back in the day you couldn't do that now (nor most of the other things done on the car). I nervously cut out the front of the grill shell so that I could inset the grill into the body. The scoop is from the AMT 32 Ford Coupe kit and is styled after the Greer, Black & Prudhomme dragster. The "complete kit" I bought off eBay was missing the front axle so I crafted one out of plastic tubing. The wheels and rear tires are from the kit, but the front tires are not. The paint is Rustoleum John Deere Yellow. This is my favorite of the three.







I still have a Fiat body or two and someday I may make a street rod out of it, but knowing how slowly I go it's doubtful.

They look brilliant Dave.

Thank you.