1959 John Beauchamp Daytona 500 Thunderbird

[MarkJ]

Here is another car that is wrapped in controversy. This car was given the win after the end of the 1959 Daytona 500. The next day after reviewing the film of the finish, Bill France reversed the decision and gave it to Lee Petty in a much slower 1959 Oldsmobile. Pettys's wife scored her husband's car, and some say that Pettys's car was also a lap down with the Weatherley car that was also at the line at the finish of the race. Her score card put him on the lead lap with Beauchamp. You can decide for yourself what happened here, but it seems a little fishy. You might remember in 1961 at a Daytona 500 qualifying race it appeared that Beauchamp in a 61 Chevy actually got on Pettys rear bumper and shoved him into the fence and followed him over and outside the track. both drivers survived the wreck but basically ended both of their careers as racing drivers at the top level of the sport. Was the wreck payback on Beauchamps part? Only he knew for sure. Just remembered something about this build. The kit was actually a 1958 thunderbird so I had to change some things about the body and grille to turn it into a 1959.

[MarkJ]

Here are some real photos of the discussion above.

[TarheelRick]

Pay back can get expensive and quite serious. Beautiful T-Bird, really like the interior detail. Is this the Monogram '58 T-Bird kit?

[Rattlecan Dan]

Great build and research. Looks great, and great story (info).

[Volzfan59]

Great looking T-bird Mark!