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Review: GMP Ohio George Montgomery Mustang GasserReview: GMP Ohio George Montgomery Mustang Gasser. photos by Marvin T. Smith and David Dilbeck Back in 1967 I attended a gasser meet at Southeastern International Dragway, in Dallas, Georgia. On hand was Ohio George Montgomery with his newest creation, a 1967 Mustang AA/G car. This was easily the most beautifully crafted car I had ever seen at that time, and I'm not sure all these years later that I have ever seen a finer car. From its light blue metalflake paint to its blue anodized interior tin, this car was immaculate. The old phrase "an engine clean enough to eat off of" was an apt description of Montgomery's Ford cammer. Of course the fact that the car easily defeated all the competition that day did little to diminish my memory. That car was the NHRA National Record holder, and pretty well spelled the end of Willys and Anglia gassers in the top class. I'm not sure if it was ever defeated at NHRA national events in class run-offs.
Back in the 1960s, MPC produced a plastic model kit of the car. I built that one and still have it in my collection today. It was an exceptionally detailed kit for its day, but had one glaring error - a 1966 Mustang front end instead of the correct 1967 front end.
Finally, GMP has come out with a correct Ohio George Montgomery Mustang. And it is every bit as finely crafted as the original full-scale version! This is perhaps the finest diecast I have ever seen. The first thing that grabs you is the fantastic depth of the light blue metalflake paint with darker fogging around the wheel well openings. This is the best finish I have ever seen on a diecast! The interior has that nice blue tinwork, with white door panels and headliner and blue and white striped seats just like the original. The upholstery is painted in a metalflake paint that seems a little strange until I remembered that the real car had metalflake naugahyde. The SOHC Ford engine is very nice, with all wiring and hoses in place. The suspension is very nicely done with working springs. Everything is there down to the simulated multiple parachute shroud lines. There is a little license plate on the rear listing the crew that I figured must be something added for recent car shows, but a check in a vintage Car Craft Magazine shows that this item was in place in 1967.
The car has loads of working features, including steering, working suspension, opening doors, flip up front end, and a body that hinges at the rear like a funny car. Photos in my 1967 Car Craft magazine show the car displayed with the body up. The massive M&H slicks hang out of the wheel wells just like the real car. You want details? How about every ignition line, emergency brake lines, fuel lines complete with red and blue fittings, cloth seat belts with photo-etched buckles, parachute release cable, throttle springs, and even a radiator overflow line. The gauges are all detailed, and the transmission crossmember is a photo-etched metal piece.
Is this the perfect diecast? Almost. The only error that I or my friends have detected is the straight front axle - the real car had a nice bend in the middle of the axle for clearance. I thought that the car always had real headlights as required by the rules in 1967, but good friend David Burlington found a photo on the internet showing it with painted on lights at one point in its career. Some people might question the lack of a front spoiler, but that was added after the 1967 season. The diecast body is correct for 1967. I have not found a photo of the real car with exactly the same decals, but those things changed from week to week and I haven't really made a good search. I wouldn't bet against GMP. I did notice that the emergency brake lines (George believed that an emergency brake was a needed safety feature) went to the rear axle tubes instead of to the brake backing plates. The interior has the correct Hurst shifter brake pedal, but it incorrectly has a similar clutch pedal. This car had no clutch when it was built in 1967, and I was not aware that it had a clutch assisted automatic transmission later in its career, although perhaps this set up was also tried. While scanning some photos of the original car I shot in October 1967, I noticed that the original car had a painted Hilborn scoop with blue fogging around the opening, while the diecast has a polished scoop. Again a check of my 1967 Car Craft Magazine showed the polished scoop. These cars were changed almost weekly!
This is a diecast that all Gasser fans, Ford fans, Mustang fans, Ohio George fans, and any other person who ever considered owning a diecast historical drag racing vehicle must own. I have heard rumors that the 1969 Ohio George turbo Mustang may be coming out, and I sure hope those rumors are true. I saw that car win the Gatornationals one year and would love to add it to my collection. GMP continues to lead the way in excellent drag racing diecast. Check out their entire line at GMPdiecast.com. Tell them you saw it on GeorgiaDragRacing.com. More photos: community.webshots.com/album/217925165gQlUSM. (Also, see Photos by Marvin T. Smith in our Photo Gallery.) (See, also, the review of Greer - Black - Prudhomme by GMP and GMP Swamp Rat VI.) Get One at GMP Diecast
Additional comments from David DilbeckAfter a visit to the GMP showroom to see their products up close, I'm even more amazed at how nice their items really are! I, naturally, love the drag racing cars, but I'm also impressed by GMP's other diecast products! The 1:18 McLaren is one that I have to have! Road racers, sprint cars, airplanes, muscle cars, accessories, and more can be found at GMP. When you purchase one of GMP's products, you won't be disappointed with the detail and quality! I even purchased another Swamp Rat VI -- it's that nice! Get your favorite before they're sold out! (Also, see Photos by David Dilbeck in our Photo Gallery.)
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