AMT Prestige '63 Corvette convertible

[FordRodnKustom]

I dug this out of my stash and thought I'd do a follow up "what's in the box" to my earlier post on the split window kit. For those interested, enjoy!

Drag Strip Accessories

This kit was open when I bought it and this photo etched fret was in it. I don't think it came with it new.

[unclescott58]

Thanks Ron. The above is very helpful. I think I'm going to have to hunt one down.

[FordRodnKustom]

Thanks Ron. The above is very helpful. I think I'm going to have to hunt one down.

You are welcome. Good luck in your hunt. This is a nice kit and worth it IMHO.

[unclescott58]

You are welcome. Good luck in your hunt. This is a nice kit and worth it IMHO.

Just found and purchased a sealed one on eBay for a little over $30 with shipping. Seemed like a pretty good deal. Your review with the photos, convinced me to do so. Thank you.

[Dominik]

love this kit! All the goodies inside...every penny worth.

[louie]

Please keep em coming. I am always looking forward to a PEAK IN THE BOX if you know what I mean. I think that I will add this kit to my ( someday ) list of kits to get. Thank you FordRodnKustom I appreciate the look. 

Jeff 

[Rob Hall]

IIRC, subsequent issues of this kit didn't include both the hardtop and convertible uptop or those hubcaps.  Would be nice to see a Round 2 reissue w/ all these parts.

[FordRodnKustom]

IIRC, subsequent issues of this kit didn't include both the hardtop and convertible uptop or those hubcaps.  Would be nice to see a Round 2 reissue w/ all these parts.

Agreed. I'd like to see this one as a Retro Deluxe issue with those parts.

[Snake45]

The '63 wheel covers and the hard top are both available from Modelhaus. The wheel covers are also in the Revell '63 Vette snapper kits--the ones that don't have the goofy big hot wheels in them anyway.

[unclescott58]

The '63 wheel covers and the hard top are both available from Modelhaus. The wheel covers are also in the Revell '63 Vette snapper kits--the ones that don't have the goofy big hot wheels in them anyway.

The Revell '63 snap Corvette are great kits. But, they represent non fuel injected models with a Powerglide and air conditioning. Don't get me wrong, if I could go back to 1963 and order a real Corvette, I would have gone for the air conditioning at least. Making it impossible to order the fuel injection.

I have one of the of Revell snap kit coupes. I also have the Revell '63 promo coupe and convertible that were released a couple of years ago. I love the Revell Vettes. But, I still also like the AMT kits. After all their model cars have engines, with the coveted fuel injection set up, a 4-speed and on their coupe for sure, aluminum wheels.

Are the Revell '63 Corvettes better than AMT's? I can't say. I also love Revell's more full detailed '67 Vettes. My all time favorite Corvette is the '67 convertible. Followed by the '63 coupe. So I'm very lucky to have several different kits representing two of my favorite cars.

[Rob Hall]

I wonder why the A/C wasn't available w/ the FI.  

[Craig Irwin]

I wonder why the A/C wasn't available w/ the FI.  

The old 8 cylinder A/C compressor wouldn't live with the higher RPM's the Fuelie engine would turn. Also the engine lacked the low RPM torque to idle with the load of the A/C on. Driveability  nightmare.

 

 

Edited November 23, 2015 by Craig Irwin
added info

[jefropas]

I built this for my dad about 5 years before he died. He owned a triple black 63' convertible with a 327, 4-speed, and the whitewalls and wheel covers. He always used to tell me he had to get rid of it in 67' when I showed up... funny guy until the end, great kit that evokes lotsa good memories...

 

Jeff

[Edsel-Dan]

I have the Prestiege kit too

Need to dig it out and plan on her!!

 

And NO the Photo-etch was Not included in the kti

A Previous owner added that to it. You got lucky that way

[Mr Stock]

I have this Prestige kit, I got it from Ebay earlier this year very cheap and I was pleasantly surprised at the kit contents and the drag strip stuff.

[unclescott58]

I wonder why the A/C wasn't available w/ the FI.  

GM and others for years would not offer air conditioning with engines with solid lifters. Solid lifter engines could spin higher RPMs than cars with hydraulic lifters. Enough to easily spin belts off of compressors. This is the same reason Chrysler would not offer air with their Hemi back in the 60's.

[pharoah]

I've had this great kit too. love the 60's TV camera!

Too bad they couldn't retool it back to 63 with the operating headlights and all of the custom goodies. 

Oh well.

[Pete L.]

Ron,

 Thanks for the great review, I never knew the kit had so much to offer !!!

[Bob Ellis]

The Prestige Corvette kit has a lot of good parts. I believe the TV camera was part of a parts pack AMT used to sell.

It is worth buying for the wheel covers and 2 extra tops.

Last of the whitewall tires from ERTL, though some are mis-printed.

[stavanzer]

Yeah, I've got Three decent White Walls and one lousy one.

Ah, well, an AMT Tires pack will fix that problem.

[charlie8575]

GM and others for years would not offer air conditioning with engines with solid lifters. Solid lifter engines could spin higher RPMs than cars with hydraulic lifters. Enough to easily spin belts off of compressors. This is the same reason Chrysler would not offer air with their Hemi back in the 60's.

I thought with the Hemi it was because the compressor wouldn't fit?

Charlie Larkin

[charlie8575]

I think I have one of these downstairs from when they were new and I was in high school, but I'm not sure. I really wasn't into Corvettes (I know, I was a weird kid in high school, now I'm just a weird adult.) My friends used to dream of Ferraris and Lamborghinis. I wanted to order a full-size Ford or GM wagon. 

I'd like to see this come back, too, especially if I don't have one. If nothing else, Round 2 might want to do the drag strip pack with stuff like that TV camera and some of the other odds and ends. I don't even build drag cars and I'd buy it for the assortment of weird and cool stuff that I might want to use someday.

Charlie Larkin

[MrObsessive]

I thought with the Hemi it was because the compressor wouldn't fit?

Charlie Larkin

I thought that too. The Hemi went to hydraulic lifters in '71, but I believe they still didn't come with air. Those heads make things mighty crowded to fit in even those large engine bays back then.

Edited November 26, 2015 by MrObsessive

[MrObsessive]

The '63 'Vette Convertible Prestige kit is on my "someday" build list. I've had this kit for years, but the biggest turnoff is that too basic chassis. I'd kitbash mine with the Revell '67, and fab up some other bits and pieces. I've always liked the standard wheelcovers with whitewalls over the finned aluminum wheels.

Yeah, I guess I'm weird too!

 

[unclescott58]

I thought with the Hemi it was because the compressor wouldn't fit?

Charlie Larkin

Solid lifters has always been my understanding. I may be wrong on this concerning Chrysler's Hemi. But in Chrysler's B body cars there looks like there would be enough room for both the engine and the a/c compressor. And true, they did switch the Hemi over to hydraulic lifters in the end. I don't know why it was not offered then? Then again, how many hydraulic lifter Hemis were built in '71?

By the way, Chrysler did offer air conditioning with their Hemi engines from 1953 - 1958. And those Hemis have big heads, just like the 426. Yet air was offered there. The more I think of it, the I'm inclined to think space was not the big reason.

I do know, Chrysler for space reasons would not offer air conditioning on '70 and '71 E body cars with the shaker hood option. No matter what engine. This is one of few examples I know of were space was the consideration.

The solid lifter issue is the reason you could not get air conditioning in Chevrolet's Camaro Z/28 until 1973. The first year for hydraulic lifters in the Z/28. All solid lifter factory built Corvettes were not available with a/c

Edited December 2, 2015 by unclescott58