Meet the Fleet – Muscle Cars: ’70 Chevy Chevelle SS 454

• BODY: Johnny Lightning
• WHEELS & TIRES: Road Race Replicas

This is one of the earliest slot cars I bought, definitely in the first 10. It was purchased as a body mounted on a pullback toy chassis and sold as a “Johnny Lightning Thunderjet 500” in the days before they released the first reproduction chassis (at least, that’s what I understand; if I’m wrong, please set me straight)! With the exception of one wheel swap made almost immediately after I built it, it has never been changed-notwithstanding the upgrade to the Goodyear RWL silicone tires from RRR-and it has always been an extremely good performer. It is very fast but its not amongst the fastest; what it has instead of extreme speed is smooth running and excellent predictability: it is an exceptionally “well behaved” car. That’s all the more amazing since it has had a hard life; I’ve been rough with this one, running it on at least 6 tracks, using it for testing, and countless crashes. She just keeps zooming along like greased lightning!

Although somewhat lacking in the fine inkjet-applied detail of the the newer AW issues, I’ve always loved this car; the bright green body with the black stripes is a perfect color combo, and the lack of decoration almost enhances its brutal look. The chrome reverse wheels may not be everyone’s preference on a early ‘70’s muscle car, but I can’t think of anything I’d rather see on this badass big block Chevelle; it completes that “don’t f**k with me” attitude.

Named “Linebacker,” an appropriate moniker for a broad shouldered muscle-bound brute, she is driven by Richard “Big Dick” McKenzie; as he stands 5’9” that moniker doesn’t seem as appropriate, so one can only speculate that the nickname refers to something other than his height, but regardless, “Big Dick” doesn’t mess around: he is a driver as unforgiving as his car, and will not give a competitor an inch on the track. Though never officially docked for unsportsmanlike conduct, he clearly doesn’t like to lose, and the thunderous sound of “Linebacker’s” 454 “porcupine” big block is enough to strike terror into the hearts of equally savage muscle car bullies. His rough “take no prisoners” style has bent the car on several occasions so “Linebacker” has several rebuilds in her past and the scars to prove it, but it seems that, so far, no amount of rough treatment has been able to shake her down…exactly what you would expect from a Chevy! With the fall racing season just around the corner, McKenzie and “Linebacker” show no signs of slowing down!