106 replies to this topic

[Yahshu]

The AMT 71 Duster chassis & dog house are great for the AMT/MPC 67 - 69 Barracuda, same goes for the AMT 71 Charger for the MPC 73 - 74 Road Runner.

[southpier]

[gtx6970]

this could very well be a very subjective list - it all comes down to taste / build styles.

What may be one persons #1 doner kit , very well may be someone elses  #1 holy grail kit.

 

For my primary doner kit it's s probably the Lindberg 1964 Dodge/ Plymouth kits and/or the AMT 1968 Road Runner kits .

Edited by gtx6970, 04 January 2013 - 02:10 AM.

[Futurabat]

ANY kit can be a donor kit. That's why many of us have multiples of the same kit.  

[Ace-Garageguy]

Somehow, all my kits end up being donors eventually. I never build ANYTHING with what comes in the box.

[High octane]

As mentioned above, Miss Deal Studebaker is great chassis, engine, suspension etc. donor-kit. Basically everything except the body can be used well with other body, too. I built the '59 Simca Gasser, I've seen it also under couple of Impalas, Fairlanes, Chargers etc.

 

Another one is either Revell's '67 Chevelle (The California Wheels release) where you can get the stock taillight panel for the Pro Street kit, or then just the Pro Street kit for the engine, interior and chassis to fit inside the stock body.

 

Revell Pro Sportsman '55 and '57 Chevrolets (And of course other tube frame Drag Cars like the Jukebox Ford, Christine ProMod, Pro Stock kits........), their chassis and drivetrain is nice to fit under another body to make unique Drag Racer...

 

Revell's Chi Town Hustler is also great for wheels and tires, especially the wheels are excellent. Of course the engine and frame can be used, too.

 

...And there are so many more.

 

The frame from the Chi-Town Hustler??? The Chi-Town Hustler was the ONLY funny car to have tha offset frame from what I understand.

[W-409]

Why not? If you use the tires and wheels and the engine from that kit.....Why not to use the frame too? Of course it don't fit to a Funny Car which has 1:1 car to replicate, but a car that "Could Have Raced" could be built well with the Hustler's frame. Or at least I could do it.

[MsDano85gt]

I agree with futurabat. I always have a few kits available right now I am plugging away on my fox body capri and mustang kits. Here's what I'm doing..... The revell 1-25 scale turbo cobra mustang is the same flare fendered body as the mer capris and the mclaren mustang sizewise it is compadable with the mpc-amt fox mustang kits I'm using the mpc chassis pans with little modification beside front frame rail trim and relocate, on 1-24 scale the revell monogram chassis are not very detailed, yet they are far supirior to he u.s. Airfix "snapfix" mustangs I have I am carving out the engine bays on those kits and borrowing my revell-mono interior tubs and dashes and chassis plates to make a way better model so I play the shuFfle game with my collection I'm constantly swappin stuFf back and fourth on all myu models. Cheers!

[mikemodeler]

The AMT 66 Nova Pro Street is another kit that is a good source of parts to use on other models. I have some Revell Camaro kits that I have pirated the engines and wheels out of (Yenkos especially) and the 66 Chevelle Wagon ( soon to be re-released) is another kit that has some nice wheels and engine to kitbash.

[Tom Geiger]

I've grabbed up a number of AMT '58 Plymouths cheap over the years to use as donors for several Johan '59 Plymouths I have and an Excel '59 Dodge. I've also hoarded a bunch of AMT '41 Plymouth kits for the flathead six to use in the same kits. My cousin had a green '59 Belvedere with a six in it I intend to build someday. I also have some of the '67 Mustangs to put that chassis under early Mustangs and Falcons too.

[Craig Irwin]

Years ago a local toy wholeseler went out of busness, andI bought a bunch of AMT 69 GTX kits for the chassis and engines. They are  the best way I know of to update an old Jo Han Mopar, or old MPC and AMT Mopar kits easily. I think I bought every one he had, and I still have some left.

 

But they aren't donor kits only, they build up into a great GTX too.

[sjordan2]

I have all kinds of kits that I use as donors for others -- the 1/16 Rolls Phantom II has provided a lot of parts that are accurate and not included in the Mercedes SS and Rolls Phantom III kits, from chrome parts to wheels, etc., and the same for 1:24 Rolls kits that supply parts for my Mercedes 500K and Bugatti Atlantic.

[Tom Geiger]

Awhile back I bought a bunch of incomplete / started 1930s classic car kits to use for parts.  I've robbed parts from them for my rat rod builds as well as a 1930s car made into a truck build. I believe they were 3 for $10.

 

[MsDano85gt]

Kit bashing is soooooo awsome mix it and match it that's what makes this such a great and creative hobby!

[Tom Geiger]

Kit bashing is soooooo awsome mix it and match it that's what makes this such a great and creative hobby!

 

 

A while back I got the reissues of the Double Dragster kit and the Tony Nancy dual kit at the same time. I looked in those boxes and realized I could build a million different versions from the stuff in those two boxes!   And that's what it was like for kids in the early 60s when those appeared!

[zenrat]

AMT '70 Pro Street Bee as above.

Revell '69 'vette - for a gorgeous big block.

AMT '70 Monte Carlo Fast & Furious release. Contains all the stock parts plus all the low rider parts plus the big wheels plus a second rear end and a second set of seats and a BBC that's nearly as good as a Revell one.  It's just a shame that they put no tuning parts in.

Revell '41 Willys Gassers for the running gear & blown hemi.

[jaydar]

I just bought the AMT 69 Hurst Olds as a donor for my 68 Chevelle 396. I will use all runnng gear and chassis. Will shortly have the remains for sale.
joe.

[Deathgoblin]

I consider a "donor kit" as something that I picked up relatively cheaply that I'm not too terribly interested in building out of the box.  I've got a 64 mustang convertible I'm using for just that sort of thing, kitbashing the engine compartment and front suspension into my Gremlin kit. 

[johnbuzzed]

ANY kit can be a donor kit. That's why many of us have multiples of the same kit.  

Yep, what he said.  And, it depends on what one is building and what kind of parts one needs.

[Tom Geiger]

I consider a "donor kit" as something that I picked up relatively cheaply that I'm not too terribly interested in building out of the box.  

 

Agreed!  I'm fortunate to be in an area that has clubs and shows so I'm able to find those $5 kits, started kits and old built ups that I buy because they're cheap and I think I may be able to use them for something someday.  I don't hesitate to crack one open when I need a part. I love 50s pickups so I never hesitate to buy those on the cheap.  I have a large 1950 Ford pickup parts box that I just dumped another two kits worth of parts into.  I love having extras of the same part. Recently I was working on a sectioned pickup and blew through three cab floors until I got it right. Knowing I have extras gives me the confidence to dig in and cut plastic!