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"1968 1/2" Camaro SS/RS Restomod (MPC)


Snake45

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This build is the result of a happy confluence of a number of factors that crossed my bench about the same time.

1. I found some cool looking “modern” 17 or 18 inch wheels and tires, and wanted to use them on some sort of restomod. But I'd have to find something with smallish wheel openings so they wouldn't “get lost” or otherwise look silly.

2. I remembered I had one more MPC '69 Camaro in the stash, and was able to find it. I thought the thing had small wheel openings and I was right—and I figured out why. When MPC tooled this kit from the molds of their fairly nice '68, they didn't raise the body side character line a couple inches, as Chevy had done. They just squared off the tops of the wheel arches and left that character line running down the center of the body sides, where it doesn't belong.

3. I found an extra resin repro of the MPC '68 Rally Sport/SS grille, which can't really be used on any other '67-'68 Camaro body (AMT, Revell) because the whole MPC body is noticeably narrower than it should be. Interestingly, it fit the MPC '69 body just fine (as you'd expect once you realized that the '69 body was made out of the '68).

4. I had a can of Testor Mystic Emerald lacquer I wanted to use on something. The color is very close to '68-'69 Camaro Rally Green but of course is much too sparkly/flaky to use on any kind of factory stock build. It's a great color but it doesn't look good on just anything. But we ARE used to seeing this color on '68 and '69 Camaros.

Mix these four elements together and I thought they'd make a perfect “1968 1/2” Camaro restomod. It's somewhere between a '68 and a '69—not an accurate model of either, but with recognizable elements of both.

I made the disk brakes from some random metal washers from my Dad's giant junk drawer in his wood shop, with the calipers from red plastic. The interior is kit-stock (I didn't even paint the black plastic), except for the seats. I forget what they're from, but thought it would interesting to paint the inserts red to match the brakes. Too much? I can always paint them black later. (I think the interior bucket and console might actually be from a Firebird. MPC put some Pontiac parts in some reissues of the '69 Camaro, including the engine.)

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So there you have it, my “1968 1/2” SS/RS Camaro restomod.

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Here it is next to my Revell '69 Yenko, which is painted with authentic Model Car World '69 Chevy Rally Green.

MPC69Camaro58.jpg.4dd640576b4ed6d9328bd11793a0d64e.jpg

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Here you can see how much wider the Revell '69 Camaro body is than the MPC. I think the Revell might be just a touch wide. In fact, the original AMT '67 annual, and the “new” AMT '67-'68, and the new Revell '67, and the Revell '68 Firebird bodies are all virtually the same width. The Revell '69s (both snapper and full kit) are a bit wider, and the MPC '68-'69 Camaro is notably the narrowest of them all.

MPC69Camaro64.jpg.08023a5b42e381db5ba31109067694c5.jpg

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And here you can see the difference in the body side character line between the MPC body and the Revell. The Revell body has it right; the MPC...not.

MPC69Camaro69.jpg.08ce9f76312b738e8d884d9af485b25a.jpg

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The MPC edition does have a weird look to the body but after you explain why I can really see it. I like the color and the hood. You might consider having the bucket seats match the rest of the interior or change the interior to match the seats.  Very clean looking build and the wheels and tires or perfect.  

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19 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Here it is next to my Revell '69 Yenko, which is painted with authentic Model Car World '69 Chevy Rally Green.

MPC69Camaro58.jpg.4dd640576b4ed6d9328bd11793a0d64e.jpg

MPC69Camaro59.jpg.133d5955e9f635e230a63ba5df92b037.jpg

 

MPC69Camaro61.jpg.a547e4b17689d256f84d66fea6008977.jpg

MPC69Camaro63.jpg.4ddab4b81e15cc7f819047cadccdf521.jpg

 

Here you can see how much wider the Revell '69 Camaro body is than the MPC. I think the Revell might be just a touch wide. In fact, the original AMT '67 annual, and the “new” AMT '67-'68, and the new Revell '67, and the Revell '68 Firebird bodies are all virtually the same width. The Revell '69s (both snapper and full kit) are a bit wider, and the MPC '68-'69 Camaro is notably the narrowest of them all.

MPC69Camaro64.jpg.08023a5b42e381db5ba31109067694c5.jpg

MPC69Camaro67.jpg.0420e98335585dfab9b272e21177f8c8.jpg

 

And here you can see the difference in the body side character line between the MPC body and the Revell. The Revell body has it right; the MPC...not.

MPC69Camaro69.jpg.08ce9f76312b738e8d884d9af485b25a.jpg

That's why I wish AMT got the promo contract and not MPC. 

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Interesting looking Camaro .  At first it looked like a '69 with the '68 grille installed , but then it looked more like a '68 with '69 wheel arches and belt line . Yep that's it , a '68 with '69 taillights and hood installed too !  Very confusing . . . nice work Snake ! :wacko:

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2 hours ago, Lovefordgalaxie said:

Very nice.

Are the tires from a GT90? they look a lot like them. 

I don't remember exactly, but I don't have that kit. Pretty sure they were from one of the AMT "Restomod" reissues, maybe '66 or '69 Mustang. 

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On 12/19/2017 at 3:59 PM, TooOld said:

Interesting looking Camaro .  At first it looked like a '69 with the '68 grille installed , but then it looked more like a '68 with '69 wheel arches and belt line . Yep that's it , a '68 with '69 taillights and hood installed too !  Very confusing . . . nice work Snake ! :wacko:

I see you are completely clear on the concept. Thanks for "getting it!" B)

After reading your description again, I think it might be a '69 devolving back into a '68. B)

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On 12/19/2017 at 10:57 AM, Bob Ellis said:

That's why I wish AMT got the promo contract and not MPC. 

If I'm not mistaken, AMT had the Chevy promo contract back in '69. At least their '69 models were huge improvements over the '68s. 

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That turned out really cool considering the issues with the body. I actually really like the 68/69 grill mash-up. That and the whole car for that matter has a unique flow that in my eyes says factory styling study for the '68 to '69 transition.

Edited by Phirewriter
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23 hours ago, Bob Ellis said:

MPC got the 68 Impala Promo . I think AMT would have done better.

MPC got all the '68 Chevy promos--Impala, Camaro, Corvette. These were okay--I have a Camaro and a Corvette, and had an Impala convertible as a kid, long gone, sadly. AMT got the promo contract back next year and produced all-new (and superior) kits. 

Not sure where the Chevelle fits into this story. AMT's '68 Chevelle was a midyear or late-year kit, which as we all know became the '69 which is still available to this day. Were there '69 Chevelle promos? 

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58 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

MPC got all the '68 Chevy promos--Impala, Camaro, Corvette. These were okay--I have a Camaro and a Corvette, and had an Impala convertible as a kid, long gone, sadly. AMT got the promo contract back next year and produced all-new (and superior) kits. 

Not sure where the Chevelle fits into this story. AMT's '68 Chevelle was a midyear or late-year kit, which as we all know became the '69 which is still available to this day. Were there '69 Chevelle promos? 

Yes, AMT '69 and "70 Chevelle HT and vert promos.

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On 12/22/2017 at 2:58 PM, Phirewriter said:

That turned out really cool considering the issues with the body. I actually really like the 68/69 grill mash-up. That and the whole car for that matter has a unique flow that in my eyes says factory styling study for the '68 to '69 transition.

That's another way to look at, and I like your interpretation. Thanks for "getting it." B)

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