Some alternative bodystyles that would make cool racing tributes...

Popular Hot Rodding had a wildly popular Project Car Called "Project Talledega". It was a 1975 Chevelle Laguna done in '70's NASCAR style. Weve also seen several '71-74 Chargers done like Richard Petty's most iconic racer. I'd like to see some others that people don't usually think of. Here's my list of potentially awesome racing tributes. # 1. 1963-66 Ford Galaxie. The fastback Galaxie would look mean as hell with radiused fenderwells,huge tires and loud exhausts exiting in front of the rear wheels. And with 390 cubes under the hood it could back up the image.  # 2. 1959-66 Full-Size Pontiac. High Performance Pontiac magazine featured an article on Fireball Roberts and Smokey Yunick's Pontiacs that were the scourge of NASCAR in the early '60's. In 1961-62 Roberts won 22 races, a record that stood until Richard Petty won 27 in 1967-68. The reason the Pontiacs are a great hot rod is while most Impalas of this era are small-block powered, every Pontiac built had at least 389 cubes under the hood, and a few had 421s. # 3. 1967-70 Mercury Cougar. These Cougars look totally badass done in Trans-Am style like Parnelli Jones' racer. Radiused wheelwells, Minilite Wheels with fat tires, and side-exit exhaust. I'd build a 347 inch stroker with Edelbrock or Trick flow "Cleveland" heads and the "E-Boss" manifold to make a snarling "Boss" style engine. # 4. 1971-74 Pontiac Ventura. Pontiac's version of the Nova. One of these would be totally badass done in Trans-Am style with radiused and flared fenders, huge tires,a T/A style "Shaker" hood scoop and a snarling 400 or 455 under the hood. ( Pontiac engines are externally identical from a 326 to a 455. So swapping a 400 or 455 for the 350 is a no-brainer. ) And any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Camaro / Firebird will fit the "X" bodys, so you could make it a real corner carver. # 5. 1974-76 AMC Matador. AMC actually had modest success in NASCAR with the swoopy fastback Matadors. 360 V8s are plentiful in junkyards ( used in millions of Jeep Grand Wagoneers through 1993 ). Edelbrock makes aluminum heads,and intakes for them,and Crane and Comp Cams make cams, so you could have the power to back up the image. # 6. 1978-79 Dodge Magnum. Richard Petty briefly campaigned a Magnum in Nascar, and then switched to the much more aerodynamic '77 Olds Cutlass. However,the Magnum is racy looking, and the engine bay will swallow anything from a 318 to a 440.  Any of these cars would be a nice change from cookie-cutter Camaros, Chevelles, Mustangs, etc.  Mastermind