12 replies to this topic

[Casey]

Here are some pics of the 1/24 Monogram Chevy Luv High Roller kit. Just like the other kits in the High Roller series from Monogram, this one was given a taller stance via lifted suspension and big off-road tires, with the Luv's tires being Goodyear Tracker ATs:

Little attempt was made to provide an accurate, lifted suspension in this kit, as the front shocks would measure about about three feet tall on the 1:1 truck. I can't knock Monogram too much though, 'cuz this little truck looks pretty beefy on the box top:





Parts count and assembly both appear to be typical of early '80s Monogram kits, with a simplified V8 underhood, an accurate (though customized) body, and lots of crisply molded parts. I especially like the eight-spoke 'wagon' wheels (possibly Jackman?) and how well they work with the Goodyear Tracker AT tires. Unlike many of the other High Roller kits which included massive 44" Ground Hawg tires, these are more proportionate to the vehicle's size. The front airdam is a bit silly and the sidepipes even sillier (though accurate for the time), but the bed-mounted light bar (I dare not refer to it as a roll bar) with four large KC Highlights-knockoff lights hints at the the truck's off-road potential...until you see the rainbow stripes and "BOUNCE" graphics.

It's an interesting kit with lots of potential, and it's highly unlikely we'll ever see it re-issued, so if you get a chance to grab one, do so.

The cab and bed:





Chrome parts:





Glass:




Goodyear Tracker AT tires- note that these are not the same as the Tracker AT tires found in the Monogram Chevy Blazer and Ramcharger kits:





All together now:

Edited by Casey, 05 February 2013 - 11:52 AM.

[Casey]

Chevy Luv Street Pick-Up:

 

 

Here's the decal sheet for the Street Pick-Up:

 

 

 

Chevy Luv Stepsider:




Mojave Mule, a Tom Daniel design:

 

Decal sheet:

 

Edited by Casey, 09 March 2013 - 09:33 AM.

[Jello]

I have been begging Revell/Monogram to release the Luv truck kits for years! I bought all of them including the original one with a camper shell ( molded in red and white version) which I liked the best. I remember building them cause they actually went together pretty well. Also, asking them to release the Dodge Ramcharger and Chevy Blazer & truck kits ( not the High Rollers kits but that would be ok if they included the stock parts). My Dad bought the first Chevy Luv in our town and added fender flares, rollbar, bush guard, custom airbrush murals. The original color was a factory med. Butterscotch color. He traded it in a year later cause it was underpowered and even a Chevette could out run it! Cool truck and kit tho!
~ Jeff

[camaroman]

Ok guys the memory is failing... Who made the "Baja Beast" chevy LUV kit.
I believe it was molded in yellow. I remember building a street machine version from that kit "back in the day".

[plasticfrog]

Awesome truck to lower... thanks for showing it.

[paularfons]

CAMAMROMAN , I BELIEVE IT WAS MONOGRAM THAT DID THE CHEVY LUV IN YELLOW PLASTIC, BUT NOT AS A HIGH ROLLER KIT. I THINK THIS WAS WHEN MONOGRAM WAS OWNED BY MATTEL.IT COULD HAVE BEEN AROUND 1974?? ????????? PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REFRESH MY POOR MEMORY,SOMEONE? ANYONE? THE HIGH ROLLER KITS WERE OUT IN 1978-1982??? AROUND THAT TIME EVERYONE WITH REAL CARS WERE PUTTING THEM ON 4X4 FRAMES. IT WAS A SMALL AUTOMOTIVE TREND, SIMILAR TO THE DONK CARS NOW!!!! THE WEIRDEST REAL 4X4S I SAW WERE ,A 78 LINCOLN AS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, AND A FUNERAL FLOWER CAR AS 4X4.

Edited by paularfons, 23 February 2010 - 08:07 AM.

[gray07]

I have a built ford highroller kit and the white chevy luv with cap that i built they were cool kits would love to find all the luv kits

[camaroman]

The Mojave Mule was another Monogram version of the Chevy Luv, designed by Tom Daniel.

That it!! Sorry 'bout the wrong desert thing!! thanks Casey!!!

[jeffs396]

Looking at all of these cool old kits has got me wanting to dive into another 4X4 project. Darn you guys!!

Well Roger, get over here & get buildin'

off-road linky

[70elcamino]

I owned one several years ago, before me it was owned by a local radio station that left it outside at the bottom of a hill, and used it to drive up and work on their tower. It was painted with flat black spray paint. To start it, you had to pull a red wire that went thru the dash and connected to the carb. No heater core.It was a good truck always started and fun to drive.
Here is a picture of a picture of it.


And here is a pic of the model I did to resemble it, flat black paint, and red wire thru the dash It was an ebay glue bomb when I got it.


Thanks for looking.
Russell

[Casey]

Very cool, Russell.

Look what was on the cover of the 1981 Monogram catalog, but wearing different stripes and different (bigger, perhaps?) tires and wheels:

[Casey]

When I was looking over the second kit, I noticed the "Mikado" script on the glovebox door, and knew I had to find, scan, and post this vintage Luv ad:

[LVZ2881]

Thats it!!! I'm heaed to eBay for a Luv kit or three!!!

Who was it that built the LUV for Chevy, wasnt it Isuzu??