​​Tim Bongard

​ Detailed Models

and 

Building Projects

Life is a scratchbuilding project

Build On &

Build Boldly!

     Aside from the implications of what role the Corvette GTP played in the development of the Hendrick NASCAR teams, the Corvette GTP is one of the most distinctive and beautiful racing cars ever built. It was one of those cars that I looked at and thought to myself, "If they ever make a kit of that thing...".

     ​The Corvette GTP raced in the IMSA GT Series in the 1980s and was and is probably one of the best keep R&D secrets in the history of racing. To frame this in context, Rick Hendrick was making waves in NASCAR with his new multi-car teams and seemed to many to be the young, hotshot owner who just couldn't get enough of racing. To some, he seemed to confirm this opinion when he acquired the Corvette GTP program and started racing in IMSA as well - a nearly sacrilegious  act in NASCAR country. Most dismissed him as nuts while others chuckled thinking he was flushing dollars down a black and silver hole, but in reality he was doing some substantial R&D work with the purpose of making his NASCAR racing engines bullet-proof without any other NASCAR teams looking over his shoulders. And the ploy worked. All you need to do is look at the record books and timelines of the GTP program and how the Hendrick's NASCAR teams engine and handling programs blossomed to get a gist of what was really happening.

Built-up Model Project Tour

ENGINE & SQUAD 51 MODELS