Revell '68 VW Beetle Reissue

[Snake45]

I bought this kit because I need a stock VW chassis to put under an old AMT ’68 Corvette body (somewhat inaccurate) and make a phantom “kit car” out of it. I thought this would be a reissue of the old Revell Beetle from the ‘70s/’80s. It isn’t. It’s a reissue of a much newer Revell Germany kit that seems to have debuted around 2013.

First thing I noticed was that although the kit’s in the “California Wheels” line, it does NOT have updated aftermarket wheels/tires nor flashy graphic decals, both of which are a hallmark of most if not all of the “California Wheels” kits I’ve bought. No special wheels/tires, no engine hop-up parts, no custom or racing or aftermarket parts of any kind. The only option seems to be to build it as either left or right hand drive--strictly stock.

Having already done the math, I was planning to have to stretch the VW’s chassis from 94.5” to the Corvette’s 98” (about .15”, not a big deal). However, a quick test fitting showed that the wheel arches on the VW chassis line up almost perfectly with the wheel openings on the Corvette body.  At this point I noticed that the Revell box doesn’t say 1/25 scale—or any other scale, for that matter—and neither does the instruction sheet.  A quick google search showed that the Revell Germany Beetle was originally boxed as 1:24. By happy coincidence, the 1/24 VW wheelbase is almost perfect for 1/25 Corvette. (The sides will need to be narrowed a bit, but no big deal.)

So, to sum up: If you want a very nice stock(-ish) ’68 VW in 1/24, this is your kit. If you’re looking for parts to restore a ‘70s-‘80s Revell VW kit, or want a true 1/25 Beetle, this is NOT the kit you want.

[Greg Pugh]

There.

[milo1303s]

I sure learned alot

NOT

[Foxer]

I had to check Greg's activity to find this post ... don't know why I missed it because I look at everything VW.

This new VW is a great kit, along with the '71 Cabaret which has all the pieces only on American '68 bugs. My wife had a '68 which I built, but this would have made it even better.

 

So Snake ... where's all the photos???  You know the saying here, no Photos, no Post! 

 

[shoopdog]

There.

x2

[Atmobil]

I have written about the new tool 68 from Revell AG before but I can write it her also. This kit (released in 2013 or 14) was when it was announced incorrectly said to be a 68 1500 however this is not a 1500, it is infact a 1200 "spar käfer", that means it is very much and entry level bug. It has the older style bumpers and taillights. It also has a simpler interior with a headliner that only covers the middle of the roof as one example.
However, the engine is a double port and is most likley modeled after a 1500 of a newer year than the 68. If one wants to build a 68,69,70,71 or infact newer than than that one has to combine this kit with the drop-top 1970 cabriolet kit.

Here you can see some photos of real "spar käfer"s: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=138698&postorder=desc

[Snake45]

I sure learned alot

NOT

Thanks for sharing. 

[stavanzer]

Thanks, Atmobil. That helps. Would this kit portray a 1966-67 Bug? Or is it something that never would have been seen in North America?

These kits are at Hobby Lobby now. Thinking of taking the Plunge.

So, Snake, how has the Chassis gone together? Any fit issues?

[Snake45]

 

So, Snake, how has the Chassis gone together? Any fit issues?

Haven't started it yet, but I don't foresee any problems I can't handle. Biggest stumbling block on my Faux-vette project is I need to find or make a hood for it. No other Vette kit's hood comes close to fitting. I don't have any of the front or rear end parts, either, but I can fake all that stuff. 

[Craig Irwin]

The kit in question is an accurate model of a 1968 EUROPEAN SPEC Beetle, an no, it doesn't look like any Beetle sold in North America.

 

[Atmobil]

On 25.11.2017 at 6:26 PM, alexis said:

Thanks, Atmobil. That helps. Would this kit portray a 1966-67 Bug? Or is it something that never would have been seen in North America?

These kits are at Hobby Lobby now. Thinking of taking the Plunge.

So, Snake, how has the Chassis gone together? Any fit issues?

The kit portrays a 68 but you may be able to fool someone in to thinking it is a US spec 67 (Hasegawa has a US spec 67) since the US bugs got the standing headlight one year before the rest of the world. If you want a 66, go for the Tamiya kit, a 67 you would go for the Hasegawa kit and for a 68 and up you can use this new tool Revell kit and kitbash with taillights and bumpers from the 70 Cabriolet.
They have made a strange way of designing the chassis for this kit as it has "double floors" but I do belive that it goes togheter very nicely.
I think it would look great as a "late looker", if you don't know what that is, google it. Basiclly a "cal look" style bug but later than 67 modelyear. A traditional cal looker must be a 67 or older.