MUNCLE MIKES · CASTING GUIDE
Hairy HaulerThe cockpit opens toward the nose
Hairy Hauler puts its big blown engine behind a small, low cockpit. That forward-opening hatch is worth checking before getting caught up in paint shades: a good finish cannot make up for a broken hinge.
Look at the hinge as well as the glass
The 1971 Hairy Hauler was made in the United States and Hong Kong. Both versions have white interiors, with clear glazing on the US car and blue glazing on the Hong Kong car. The cockpit cover opens forward.
A side photograph with the hatch closed shows its fit against the body. If the hinge moves freely, an open view can show its condition too. Leave a stiff mechanism alone rather than forcing it for a better picture.
One country mark is not the whole comparison
The documented differences include the exhaust crosspiece, base details, hatch hinge and interior construction. A hybrid with Hong Kong characteristics and US country wording is also recorded.
Compare those features together. An unusual combination deserves a clear description, but it does not by itself prove a prototype or a factory error. Ask about disassembly or replacement components before attaching that story to a loose car.
The exposed engine needs its own photographs
Check the engine from above and both sides. Look for damaged projections and repairs around the exhausts, where a bright reflection can conceal a join. Hold the body when handling the car, not the engine or canopy.
Keep scratches in the glazing separate from paint wear in the condition notes. A clear cabin view matters on a model with so much interior on display.
The Mantis guide covers another early concept car with a distinctive cockpit.
