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A modern tool of the now-classic '41 Willys coupe was long overdue when Revell stepped up to the plate in 2001, offering the all-new 1/25 scale '41 Willys Street Rod as kit number 85-2371:
This kit is aimed squarely at the scale street rod builder and contains many of the modern upgrades and the equipment a turn of the century street/show car would've had, while still retaining some parts which hint at (some not so subtly) the car's ability to get going in a hurry when necessary. You could call it Pro Street, too, and you wouldn't be wrong, but there's no doubt this is a hot rod through and through.
Let's look at some of the molded-in-white parts, starting with the rather rotund body shell, and some underhood components, including the Chrysler Hemi engine and auto trans halves:
The interior is platform style, with separate door panels, modern "sporty" bucket seats, and a now-outdated billet aluminum style "wings" two-spoke steering wheel:
The frame and suspension parts include and independent front suspension setup with the upper control arms molded with the frame, a Ford 9" rearend (hard to tell, so feel free to correct me) with a separate gear carrier/chunk, a full exhaust system with some very tiny mufflers, an electric fan, and separate, posable(?) front spindles:
There are plenty of chrome parts in this kit, as you would expect on a 2000-era street rod. Included are four wheel disc brakes, very nice big 'n' little 5-slot wheels of the deep and deeper variety, block hugger headers, the four link rear suspension setup, and a few parts shared with the race/gasser sibling Willys kit- the rear ballast bar/bumper and blower pulleys and belt (chromed!?!??).:
Big n little treaded street tires (Mickey Thompsin Sportsmans for the rear?), a decal sheet containing semi-restrained graphics, clear "glass" front and rear windows, and two small, clear red tail lights are also included:
Revell reissued the kit without any changes(?) in 2006 as part of the "Goodguys" rod and custom kit series, this time as kit number 85-2023:
A few months ago Revell released the kit for the third time under the Monogram brand's "Car Show" packsging, this time as it number 85-4909:
While the use of the Monogram brand name on a 1/25 scale kit is still a bit confusing, this kit could be seen as the logical evolution of the Monogram brand. The parts count isn't incredibly high, some parts are molded as one (lower control arms and crossmember, UCAs and frame), compromising a bit of detail for easier assembly, and from all the reviews I've read and builds I've seen, the kit goes together without any major issues, all of which were typical for '80s and early '90s new Monogram kits.
