Jim_Kampmann Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 5 hours ago, tim boyd said: Superb model builder Jim Kampmann had a 1/1 scale Vega Panel Delivery with a 350 SBC back in the day...maybe someone can get him to tell more.....TIM Wow Tim, I’m speechless! It was a real sleeper, fun to drive and the engine was pretty much stock. It had a Turbo 350 trans and 10 bolt rear axle. Plus it got 20 mpg! Best, Jim Kampmann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 46 minutes ago, gtx6970 said: Back about 1979 or so. I worked in the lawn and garden dept and a local retailer. One day had to go load a couple bags of mulch for a customer. We walked up to a dark green Vega hatchback,,,maybe a 72 or 73 maybe .. I commented about the 5 lug rallye wheels and he just smiled. So we talked for a few minutes. Guys parents had bought it new and it was a hand me down to him with a very tired 4 cyl.. So he decided to turn it up a notch for a street toy. Turned out the car had a smog motor 454 stuffed in it. I remember he told me the car actually handled fairly well for being that nose heavy. Was actually very decent on gas. But,,,,,, was quite the handful if you even barely leaned on the gas to much,,. he said you better have it pointed where you wanted to go because you were gonna get there quickly. weird part is there was no huge tires under it ( maybe a G60-14 ) wasn't real loud when running. And just a small hood scoop to clear the carb and air cleaner. Ultimate sleeper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 I had a pal in the late 70's who owned a 427 '68 Camaro. Tuff car! He lined up at a red light against a buddy of his who was in a VEGA hatch with a 350 in it. Light turned green...they launched...cop saw them...my pal in the Camaro got the ticket, because the cop got to him, first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motor City Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 Back in the early to mid 1990s, someone my grandmother knew from church had visitors come up from North Carolina. They all decided to come over to my folks' house to visit. I happened to come over later that day and saw their vehicle. It was a '71 or '72 Vega GT in that nice green color shown above. I complimented them on their car. It was in nice condition, and was driven from the south all the way to Michigan. For someone to drive such an old car seemed kind of gutsy to me. I was tempted to make an offer for it, but I kept my mouth shut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 On July 14, 2019 at 5:49 PM, Snake45 said: You must be a youngster. Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I saw a Vega on the road. Probably not in this century. The last Vega I can DEFINITELY remember was, in the early '80s I dated a girl whose brother was a serious gearhead who had a hot rod one with a heavily built SBC in it. Never saw it on the street but it was complete and I have no doubt it was running. Last one I remember was at the local drag strip. They make sharp race cars... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 On 7/13/2019 at 12:29 PM, Daddyfink said: The chassis under the Funny Vega is a shortened version of their Logghe Chassis and can be lengthened back to "stock" length I just thought to check and discovered that both the Vega and the '68-'70 AMX had 97" wheelbase. I suspect that the funny chassis--at least its shorty main rails--originated in the JoHan/AMT annual AMX kits, which included a full funny car option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddyfink Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 22 minutes ago, Snake45 said: I just thought to check and discovered that both the Vega and the '68-'70 AMX had 97" wheelbase. I suspect that the funny chassis--at least its shorty main rails--originated in the JoHan/AMT annual AMX kits, which included a full funny car option. So, could a Gremlin Re-issue be far behind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 8 hours ago, Snake45 said: I just thought to check and discovered that both the Vega and the '68-'70 AMX had 97" wheelbase. I suspect that the funny chassis--at least its shorty main rails--originated in the JoHan/AMT annual AMX kits, which included a full funny car option. The AMX kits were produced by Jo-Han, from Jo-Han tooling. The AMT chassis is totally different. I never checked, but heard it uses a lot of parts from earlier AMT funny car chassis like the '69 and '70 Mustangs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted July 18, 2019 Author Share Posted July 18, 2019 11 hours ago, Daddyfink said: So, could a Gremlin Re-issue be far behind? That seems likely (again, IF Round2 is reissuing the early Vega F/C) since both share the same chassis an tinwork: AMT Vega F/C: AMT Gremlin F/C: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Ellis Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 On 7/14/2019 at 10:33 AM, Motor City said: Guys, The Vega promo is dirt cheap (under $50.00). Okay, let me rephrase that for those who complain about $50.00 being a lot of money. You could probably buy two for that price if you are patient. Aside from not being able to open the hood, it makes a great model. I have the ugly Mesa Sand '71 (an orangy tan) and a dark green '73. There are many out there with scratched paint or molded plastic, broken bumpers, scratched glass. You can do a lot with these for little money. It's the same situation with the Monza, Cavalier and Beretta. I am building a 1971 V8 Vega using a $20 promo. Easy to scribe the hoop open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Van Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 That Gremlin body and grille(s) look very different than the stock version...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 5 hours ago, Dave Van said: That Gremlin body and grille(s) look very different than the stock version...... Same body: it was updated through '74 as the funny car, then converted to the stock version. I've got an early body and bumpers stashed for a Wally Booth '72 project... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Van Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Even the molded in hood with blower cut out??? Different mold insert at very least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Different, or reworked, the closed-hood body has not been issued since the last ('74) funny car "annual". The first "stock" issue (Mini Muscle Car) was a '74 also. The reworked cowl had vent detail but no windshield wipers, which were added for the '75 annual. I'd bet that if a Round 2 Gremlin funny car ever appears, it will include the separate-hood body with instructions telling the builder to cut it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in Berwyn Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 While it is hopefully the almost stock Vega Wagon FC we are getting, the chassis for this kit was recently released in the Trojan Horse FC. So they have that chassis ready to go and would only need to get this body mold working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 8 hours ago, Chris in Berwyn said: While it is hopefully the almost stock Vega Wagon FC we are getting, the chassis for this kit was recently released in the Trojan Horse FC. So they have that chassis ready to go and would only need to get this body mold working. Round 2 has disclosed that they do not have the tool for this body. Seldom does a manufacturer admit something like that, but for some reason they did in this case. No great loss IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iBorg Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 So is the Vega canceled? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavanzer Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 I would think not. However, I would think that the Astre/Vega Body shown in that box may never be seen again. It looks like Round2 is working from a clean slate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 No, the one that will be issued is the shorter one with the somewhat stock looking body and short Logghe style chassis. It's the stretched version that no longer exists. Different kit altogether. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 20 minutes ago, Mark said: No, the one that will be issued is the shorter one with the somewhat stock looking body and short Logghe style chassis. It's the stretched version that no longer exists. Different kit altogether. Possibilities: 1) What Mark mentioned above is what they'll reissue 2) MPC Vega F/C kit in AMT packaging (seems unlikely to me, but...) 3) All new replacement body for the now-missing Vega/Astre kit's body. Maybe Round2 had a replacement Vega body shell 3D printed to use as a master? 4) ??? I guess I am still leaning toward #1, and hoping Round2 was able to dig out the vintage F/C molds/inserts, and if a Gremlin version is possible as a second kit, even better. I don't see a ton of money making potential in a new Vega body paired with the existing longer/correct wheelbase chassis, but if Revell's F/C molds went to Atlantis, then I could see it making some business sense for Round2. #2 doesn't seem to be consistent with what Round2 has done in the past with AMT and MPC kits, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iBorg Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 I went looking for the Pontiac/Astre on the famous auction site. Noticed several people trying to unload their originals. I also found this completed auction of the double car blob.....If those molds are lost, let's hope they're not found. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-AMT-Pontiac-Astre-or-Chevrolet-Vega-Funny-Car-1-25-Model-Kit-T244-/183783353403?hash=item2aca576c3b%3Ag%3AbcEAAOSw23dcvQk7&nma=true&si=UM8w%2FRY3lgxspZpWqSpgsLVG%2FDI%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavanzer Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 I wish somebody could save those pics in this thread. Or Casey could get them for his site. They clearly show exactly what is in that kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrObsessive Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 Here ya go! Pics courtesy of eBay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 16 hours ago, Mark said: No, the one that will be issued is the shorter one with the somewhat stock looking body and short Logghe style chassis. I'm sure this is the case because last year I paid $25 for a rebuildable one (with some work). Soon I'll be able to buy a new one at Hobby Lobby for under $20 with coupon, or, possibly, if I wait awhile, for under $10 on sale. Ain't it always the way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavanzer Posted July 21, 2019 Share Posted July 21, 2019 Thank You, Bill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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