My take on the Revell '64 Fairlane 2'n1 Kit

[Ron Hamilton]

A Quickie Review of the Revell ‘64 Ford Fairlane Street Machine 2' N 1

I recently purchased the Revell ‘64 Ford Fairlane Street Machine 2' N 1 kit, hoping that the manufacturer made some significant changes to this kit. A few changes occurred, and while I am not surprised that one of the versions was a true “replica stock†version of the car, there were a few changes in the kit that made it worth a look.

There were a few parts added to the kit, which are:

A set of 14" Steel Wheels with a-c-c-u-r-a-t-e ‘64 Ford Dog Dish Hubcaps, and 14" Tires.

A flat hood with no hood scoop.

A low profile oval air cleaner to use with the 427 Engine.

A set of glass-packed mufflers with side exit exhaust pipes which attach to the exhaust headers.

A new set of decals, with a fictitious racing team theme, and “Flames “

Inboard Headlamp lenses and buckets.

Fortunately, the parts to build an accurate “Thunderbolt†race car are still there, as well as the three wheel styles, and the two different transmissions, which has been a part of the Revell Thunderbolt Kit since its inception. It is also moulded in crisp, white styrene plastic.

With the limited amount of capital a company has to work with these days, I have to ask the question:

Why would this company devote additional tooling dollars to a kit that has been in continuous production in various liveries over the past decade, and end up with this result?

Don’t get me wrong, the parts provided in this kit are very welcome, and will build into an interesting street machine, but most modelers I have been in contact with wanted to see the following changes happen with this kit:

Taking the concept a little further, and adding a bench seat, a 289 V8 or dare I say, a 6-cylinder engine, with the appropriate interior and chassis modifications to this tool to make a “Main Stream Replica Stock “ build possible with the parts provided from the kit.

- Or -

A newly tooled 2-door hardtop body as either a Fairlane 500, or Fairlane 500 Sports coupe, with the aforementioned modifications.

Neither of which happened, and the true “main streamerâ€replica stock builder will be disappointed in this kit. To build this kit as a true “Replica Stockâ€, it will take a lot of work, aftermarket parts, and parts box raiding to make it happen. The dog dish caps, and steelies will have a home for me. Can we say full size ‘64 Ford Galaxie 500 “R†code from the old AMT kit? Why yes we can. The rest of the kit will be built as a Thunderbolt with some aftermarket decals, or as a “As Delivered†race car.

Is this a nice kit? Yes indeed, but I feel that Revell missed the mark on this one.

Ron Hamilton

[bigphoto]

I agree that they they only got a double while swinging for the bleachers but a bench seat is available from Modelhaus

and a 260/289 is available in the AMT 67 stang kits. but they are not truly a good representation for a purists smallblock

as in 64 the smallblocks only had a 5 bolt bellhousing where it attached to the block.

On the plus side you could sway the 67 stang smallblock for the big block from the Fairlane and have a wicked street machine stang and a mild street Fairlane!!!!

I am happy with the kit as I can now build a replica with some minor swapping of a car I once had!

[lrlocke01]

Did they re-tool the body? Is the chrome molding on the side of the body seperate like the 58 Impala or is it part of the body and needs to be BMF'd?

[Casey]

Did they re-tool the body? Is the chrome molding on the side of the body seperate like the 58 Impala or is it part of the body and needs to be BMF'd?

It's still molded as one with the body.

[Darin Bastedo]

I Bought one myself, and I was quite happy with it. I was not hoping to build a stock fairlane, but having the flat hood and inboard lights added is a huge help for those of us with little interest in building another T-bolt. If you ask me these are parts that sould have been in the kit from the beginning to widen it's apeal, but alas it was tooled during the one version per box era.

Thankfully the kit manufacturers have realised that having several build options in one box sells more kits.

[Zoom Zoom]

I built one, love the fact that it looks "relatively" stock. The flat hood and poverty caps made it a kit that I'd own, I'm not at all interested in drag cars but this type of mild street machine / pro-touring look does interest me.

[Duntov]

Sounds like the stock parts that were added are worth the buy in for this one.....the 289 would have been a great addition too.....then maybe a station wagon....and.......oops got a bit carried way there!!!!

[charlie8575]

For those not wishing to rob other kits, MCW makes a 260 to put in this kit. I think it's with a Ford-O-Matic. They also have some other bits and pieces to use with it, too. Kitchen Table resins has the six-cylinder engine for those so inclined.

I remember reading that the rear wheel-houses were still tubbed. Is this correct, and does anyone have some ideas on how to fix this without making a mess of the rest of the chassis?

Charlie Larkin

Edited May 19, 2010 by charlie8575

[Red88lx]

I want to start a nice early fairlane, has anyone built this kit? Wondering if the details in the castings are nice.

[Casey]

I want to start a nice early fairlane, has anyone built this kit? Wondering if the details in the castings are nice.

It's a very nicely molded kit IMO, one of Revell's best. It was released in '88 or so when Revell's rebirth was at it's peak, and they put out some very nice kit in that time period, this T-bolt included.

I don't know how well the molds have held up, but the earlier maroon- and orange-molded kits are great, with very crisp details, especially on the bodyside spear trim. This kit also included three sets of wheels, and IMHO, the nicest 14" and 15" Keystone Kustomag Klassic and Radir wheels done in bi-scale.