PowerPlant Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I just bought this kit, but I cannot find the production year (of kit, not car) anywhere on the box, instructions or the plastic itself... Why I ask is because I read the thread about Jo-Han molds here on the forum and realize these kits are quite rare nowadays, and unlikely to ever be re-released due to mold wear or some such thing... The 60's Jo-Han Cads are practically an enigma here in Europe, so I was wondering how rare this 68 really is? I know it's hard to say with certainty, but is it commonly seen at shows/swap meets etc, or is it somewhat elusive nowadays? Another reason I ask is, even though I really like this sort of subject matter and they are relatively rarely advertised for sale online, I was put off by the price they go for, especially having read they are promo-based kits with little detail and whatnot... So, when I recently found this one at what I thought was a reasonable price of just under 34 bucks shipped, I decided to bite the bullet and get it anyway, only to be very pleasantly surprised upon finally opening the box... Save for the lack of a decal sheet and a fairly crude chassis with molded on components, the kit is laden with assembling options and looks to me like it should build up into quite a nice scale representation of the 68 DeVille. Is the 64 DeVille equally detailed? Thanks, and kind regards MATIJA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I have one of those kits in my "stash" and for 34 bucks you got a steal. Yes, they're hard to come by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 (edited) Matija... an old kit like that, from a now-defunct company, will never be re-released. And there are only so many of them still out there unbuilt. You bought this one for $34 including shipping? That was the deal of a lifetime! Very well done! PS: Be sure to post photos of it when it's finished! Edited November 11, 2015 by Harry P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtx6970 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Thats about half what they typically sell for And the 64 is nearly the exact same quality level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowerPlant Posted November 12, 2015 Author Share Posted November 12, 2015 (edited) Yes, EUR 31,50... Or just under 34 US dollars, from a Dutch classified advertising site The same seller also has the ambulance version listed for EUR 50, if I remember correctly, but I did get the DeVille for pretty much half the asking price This one will definitely be built, but not any time too soon... Still have to hone my skills on some more common kits before I dig into this one... Plus, I have "stage fright" to get over before I actually show something here Edited November 12, 2015 by PowerPlant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Plus, I have "stage fright" to get over before I actually show something here No way! Don't be afraid to show us your work. We're all friends here, and we have people posting their work here from the whole range of skills, from absolute beginners to "pros." Don't ever be afraid to post your work here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowerPlant Posted November 12, 2015 Author Share Posted November 12, 2015 Thanks for all the replies and encouragement so far, but what I'm really curious about is whether anyone knows the actual production year of the kit? Also, there are not many pics of this kit online but, curiously, most are different color plastic... Yellow, light blue, beige - mine is dark brown, all in the same exact box, not a different release... I wonder why this is so? Maybe something to do with them originally being promo models? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Irwin Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 That kit's origins were in 1968 as an annual, but the box size and art of yours date it to the late '70's to mid '80's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowerPlant Posted November 12, 2015 Author Share Posted November 12, 2015 That kit's origins were in 1968 as an annual, but the box size and art of yours date it to the late '70's to mid '80's. Thanks for the reply I've heard of promotional models, but what is an "annual", if you don't mind elaborating slightly? And, speaking of box size, I was surprised how small the box is for such a "large" car... Noticeably smaller than most AMT or US Revell boxes I've ever seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Irwin Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 An "annual" is the term we use to describe a kit that was originally released when the subject was a current automobile, so this kit was tooled when the '68 Cadillacs were selling as new cars. The original box for this kit was a larger "flat" box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Yup, pretty sure I bought one of those sometime in the 80s.I think they were available right around the same time as the "USA Oldies" series.Maybe a little before or after.I remember buying it right around the same time that I bought a Johan '68 Chrysler 300 & a '70 Eldorado. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 That is a good kit builds very well....you got it at a good price too. Johan was one of my favorite companies loved there kits and promos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg K Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 That is a good kit builds very well....you got it at a good price too. Johan was one of my favorite companies loved there kits and promos.same here. you made out on that one. keep us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Now days id be happy to find parts to restore the old ones I have but finding a un-built kit of theirs is a treat. They made kits of cars no one else did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclescott58 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Very nice find, at a very good price. There is nothing wrong with JoHan's Caddys from the 60's. They look great built up. And they look great where it counts, in my opinion. In the body, interior, and under the hood. The detail of the chassis may not be what it is in today's kits. But, it's as good as most kits were back then.I have both the '64 and '68 deVille convertibles. I need to build the '64 one of these days. And I need to find a '68 Lincoln to go along side my '68 Cad and '68 Imperial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hall Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Yup, pretty sure I bought one of those sometime in the 80s.I think they were available right around the same time as the "USA Oldies" series.Maybe a little before or after.I remember buying it right around the same time that I bought a Johan '68 Chrysler 300 & a '70 Eldorado. SteveSame here...I got it in the 80s, same box art, molded in tan.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBcritter Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Is the 64 DeVille equally detailed? Thanks, and kind regards MATIJA The '64 was reissued around 1974 as a stock-only kit in the USA Oldies series; however, the front seat mold was apparently missing so the bucket seats from the '67 (IIRC) kit were substituted. Other than that it's correct, but slightly undersized so the promo it was based on would fit its box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel-Dan Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Also, The 64's No longer have the Steering as on the 68 that the Original Annual hadI have Both Coupe & Convertible DeVille 64 and Both have the straight axlefront.. The Ambulance is Probably the Most Sought after Jo-Han kit!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Same here...I got it in the 80s, same box art, molded in tan..I believe so.I know the '68 Chrysler was molded in tan. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteski Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 I've heard of promotional models, but what is an "annual", if you don't mind elaborating slightly? Here are couple of useful threads: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel-Dan Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 The 68 Convertible I bought new and built was also molded in tanBut the 68 Chrysler 300 was Orange!!.Similar or same as Both of my 62 Dodges!!Jo-Han used what ever color they had available when running toolingI had 2 of the USA Oldies Marlin. 1 molded white, and still had the wire axleother Molded red, and had the heavy plastic axle!!The 70 Eldorado I bought new was almost white, 1 I got a couple years ago is Orange to PinkOne person called it "Pink-Lemonade" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowerPlant Posted November 12, 2015 Author Share Posted November 12, 2015 (edited) Thanks for all your replies, guys... This is now probably the rarest/most valuable kit in my stash of around 50 unbuilt models I think I'll have to look a bit more into Jo-Han kits, but it's a shame they are so few and far between... Therein lies the allure, I guess Edited November 12, 2015 by PowerPlant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motor City Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 The '64 was reissued around 1974 as a stock-only kit in the USA Oldies series; however, the front seat mold was apparently missing so the bucket seats from the '67 (IIRC) kit were substituted. Other than that it's correct, but slightly undersized so the promo it was based on would fit its box.That's correct, the re-issue used bucket seats in the pattern of the '67 Cadillac. The original promos from '63-'70 all had a bench seat. It's still a great model and the '67-'68 Cadillacs have great styling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepp Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 A clue that confirms the '80s production date may be the "Boss Man" name -- it's clearly a reference to the Boss Hogg character from the Dukes of Hazzard television show who drove a white Cadillac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 That's correct, the re-issue used bucket seats in the pattern of the '67 Cadillac. The original promos from '63-'70 all had a bench seat. It's still a great model and the '67-'68 Cadillacs have great styling. True...my 2 67 Cadillac Coupe Deville HTs have a bench seat in them...I got to restore them both they got damaged during one of pour stroms here...bummer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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