1965 Pontiac GTO "Jolly Green Giant" Arnie Beswick (SunStar) 1/18
Product Details Temp out of stock
Rick Holladay had no idea what kind of history would be made when he special-ordered a four-speed Tri-Power 389 GTO, painted dark green metallic, in 1965. Rick, a local racer from the Norfolk, Virginia area just knew he wanted to race it in B/Stock class. Following production, the green machine was shipped directly to Arnie "The Farmer" Beswick in Morrison, Illinois for special modifications. Arnie installed a set of Doug's headers, a heavy-duty clutch and traction bars. The car undoubtedly received a few undisclosed Beswick enhancements as well. At York US 30 Dragway, in its very first race, Arnie Beswick took home a trophy with the GTO. This was just the beginning of the "Jolly Green Ginat's" crushing of the competition. Holladay went on to campaign the car in the east and southeast US. It set numerous track records on the east coast, a testament to Arnie's ability to set up an engine.
In the summer of '65 Holladay took the car to the Maryland State Championship run at Capital Raceway. Numerous fast class cars were there but the Giant turned 12.76 at 109.22 for the championship win. Through the course of its racing life, the "Jolly Green Giant" scorched and blazed its way over enough track to earn more than 50 trophies. Holladay said, "The car was rarely beaten in class in the two years I ran it." He added, "That is more a tribute to Arnie Beswick's excellence and knowledge than anything I did." So here's to Arnie Beswick and his unique creations, with a special appreciation for his hand in the success of the "Jolly Green Giant."
Arnie's ability to make a race car perform is still evident today, as he pilots his Pro Stock GTO, making low 7 second passes at almost 200 mph. His name is legend not only in the Pontiac world, but the drag racing arena as well. He appears at many tracks across the country each year, including an event named for him at the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois in September. Watching his near-mile burnouts and blistering runs in his unique tiger-striped GTO is a delightful experience that will be long remembered!
SunStar Diecast Model No. 1810
SKU: JOLYGRNGNT
Specifications
| Vehicle Year | 1965 |
|---|---|
| Make | Pontiac |
| Model | Gto |
| Color | Green |
| Scale | 1/18 |
| Manufacturer | SunStar |
| SKU | JOLYGRNGNT |
The 1964 Pontiac GTO is universally credited as the first muscle car — a mid-size Tempest fitted with Pontiac's 389 cubic inch V8, the engine reserved for full-size cars. Pontiac engineer John DeLorean pushed the car to market against corporate policy, and the GTO became a sensation, selling 32,450 units in 1964. Car and Driver's infamous road test comparing it to a Ferrari GTO helped make its name. The 1969 GTO Judge with Ram Air IV engine represents the performance peak.
This 1/18 scale replica of the 1965 Pontiac Gto in Green is produced by SunStar to collector-grade specifications. At 1/18 scale — the most popular collector scale — the model measures approximately 10 inches in length and displays beautifully on a shelf or in a glass cabinet. Every detail — from paint finish to badging — is reproduced from measurements taken from the original vehicle.