Highway 61’s four lakes racers started with the same basic car: a 1929 Ford Model A with a 1932 radiator shell. But each represents what the typical lakes racer would look like in four different years: circa 1936, 1939, 1946 and 1949. The first two have a Ford 4 cylinder engine with a Riley OHV head and dual downdraft Winfield carburetors. The second two cars have the Ford flathead V8 with aluminum high-compression heads and intake manifolds by Edelbrock, Navarro or maybe Offenhauser and Stromberg 97 carburetors. The last car in the series even has a S.C.o.T. supercharger sandwiched between the engine and the carbs.

Highway 61 has done a masterful job in creating these four cars and making them believable. The cars are painted in the typical style of their day…. one each in red, black and gray primer with the last one in a gloss Bronson yellow. Each car is “dusted” with the fine silt that typically covered the car when they raced. The numbers on the cars reflect the amateur nature of lakes racing with the first car in the series having its #44 crudely applied in strips of masking tape…… from then on the numbers were painted-on but it’s doubtful a professional painter had anything to do with it!

The first three cars ride on Kelsey-Hays “bent spoke” wheels mounted with Firestone passenger car tires on the front and big Firestone track tires on the rear. The blown car switched to steel-disc wheels; the logical choice with the increased horsepower and speed. Two of the cars feature standard upholstery and two have snagged some lightweight, war surplus, aluminum aircraft bucket seats. All the cars have Bell Auto four-spoke, circle-track steering wheels. The first car has a Ford “banjo” rear end and the later three have the center section replaced with a Halibrand “quickchange”.

The cars come packaged in handsome display boxes with a removable case sporting an attractive base and a clear plastic domed window. A pamphlet telling the history of lakes racing and a timing plaque similar to the ones issued by the SCTA and the RTA are included with each car.

Build quality is top rate when you consider price. The car doors open on scale hinges, not dog legs and the trunk opens to reveal the relocated gas tank and battery. Just more ways in which Highway 61 has done this project exceptionally well. I’ve really fallen in love with these models!

Each model is a LIMITED EDITION of only 2500.

-Bill Bennett