bisc63 Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 For a more accurate chassis, (I have a work-in-progress boxed up somewhere) the 65 Impala from revell is a good starting point. To get the correct length, I spliced the front portion of an AMT 62 Catalina, cutting just aft of the firewall to get a good glue surface on the Revell chassis pan. This insures you get the curved portion of the Pontiac frame rails just behind the wheel openings, which are shaped way differently on the BOP frames than the Chevy frames. I'll see if I can dig that sucker out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Just out of curiosity, would a Trumpeter 1960 Pontiac Bonneville frame work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 The '60 frame is an entirely different style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucky Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 5 minutes ago, Mark said: The '60 frame is an entirely different style. Okay...thanks for that info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 3 hours ago, Bucky said: Okay...thanks for that info. The '60 Bonneville still has the "X" frame. After 1960, GM went to a perimeter frame. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfhess Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 3 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said: The '60 Bonneville still has the "X" frame. After 1960, GM went to a perimeter frame. Steve Chevy kept the X-frame through 1964, The Riviera kept it through 1970. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 56 minutes ago, sfhess said: Chevy kept the X-frame through 1964, The Riviera kept it through 1970. Correct. For the purposes of this discussion, the long wheel base vehicles from Buick, Olds and Pontiac, all went to perimeter frames in '61 as far as I know. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Buick stayed with the X ("cruciform") frame for its fullsize cars through '64. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randyc Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Kinda late to the party, but this kit does make a beautiful replica when complete. I had no idea the interior was wrong, but I really liked mine. I put it on ebay for what I thought was an impossible price and it lives with someone else now. Maybe someday I will do another. And if you want just the base kit without the latest improvements, you can probably find on at an auction site for less. As I get older, I don't mind the one piece chassis, as most of my cars are never seen from the bottom once complete. I'm the only one that ever knows what's under there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledsel Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I am going to build it and put it on the shelf. Unlike many newer kits I have seen, when displayed it looks right. Dash is okay and if I want more correct door panels, I'll print some pics from google and glue them in. done. Not going to complain about a 50 year old kit/mold, but an incorrect new kit is ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 13 hours ago, Mark said: Buick stayed with the X ("cruciform") frame for its fullsize cars through '64. That I didn't know. Thanks for the info. There still may be some hope for a better detailed AMT 1963 Buick Electra! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motor City Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 20 hours ago, sfhess said: Chevy kept the X-frame through 1964, The Riviera kept it through 1970. The Riviera went to a full-perimeter frame for 1966. I pulled this picture off of Ebay to show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SfanGoch Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 (edited) Nope, Scott is correct. The Riviera used an X-frame from 1963 to1970. That's a Monte Carlo (used for 41 other models from '78-'88, according to the seller's own info) frame in that ebay listing, Says so: 1978-88 Monte Carlo Regal Grand National Nice Solid Frame The seller used the same photo in the ad describing this as a '66 Riviera frame, which it isn't. 1966 Buick Riviera Frame This is the frame from a 1966 Riviera GS Edited January 7, 2020 by SfanGoch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motor City Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 Scott and Joe, I sure was wrong on that! I read years ago that the '65 Riviera was the last to use the "X" frame. Obviously that was not correct. I always thought the "E" bodies from '66 to '70 (Riviera, Toronado and Eldorado) shared the same perimeter frame, and read that GM had considered making the Riviera FWD for '66. Buick felt that its buyers would prefer the traditional RWD, so it appears the Riviera had an "X" frame that was unique to the North American market. Thanks for correcting me on the photo, too, Joe. That's an interesting induction system on the 425 engine! For all you modelers, don't worry. AMT put a new "X" frame chassis under the '66 Riviera model car (I checked it against my '65)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 3 hours ago, Motor City said: For all you modelers, don't worry. AMT put a new "X" frame chassis under the '66 Riviera model car (I checked it against my '65)! Great!! That will come in handy for my '63 Riv build! That is if the '63 and '66 Rivieras were relatively close in engine and chassis configuration. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motor City Posted January 8, 2020 Author Share Posted January 8, 2020 Steven, The 401 was standard on the '63-'66 Riviera, with the 425 optional. The Super Wildcat dual-quad 425 was optional on the '64-'66, and standard on the '65 Riviera GS. The Formula Five chrome wheels were an option on the '64-'66. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the other Mike S. Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 (edited) On 1/6/2020 at 1:26 PM, Sledsel said: I am going to build it and put it on the shelf. Unlike many newer kits I have seen, when displayed it looks right. Dash is okay and if I want more correct door panels, I'll print some pics from google and glue them in. done. Not going to complain about a 50 year old kit/mold, but an incorrect new kit is ridiculous. I agree with you there. There's something about those old kits that look just right when displayed. What's the use of all that state of the art rivet countjng detail if when assembled, it looks all goofy and incorrect. Ugh! Edited January 8, 2020 by the other Mike S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCostello Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 34 minutes ago, the other Mike S. said: I agree with you there. There's something about those old kits that look just right when displayed. What's the use of all that state of the art rivet countjng detail if when assembled, it looks all goofy and incorrect. Ugh! I agree too. I like to build models that look like something you might see at a 1/1 car show, and of all of the 1/1 car shows I've been to, I've never asked the owner of a car to flip it over so I could see if the chassis looked right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 2 hours ago, Motor City said: Steven, The 401 was standard on the '63-'66 Riviera, with the 425 optional. The Super Wildcat dual-quad 425 was optional on the '64-'66, and standard on the '65 Riviera GS. The Formula Five chrome wheels were an option on the '64-'66. So which engine is in the '66 kit? I don't have one.......yet. When the time comes to build the '63, I'll be looking for one to raid for parts. I'll be using the original '63 wheels, but I will be looking for modern kit options for the engine and chassis. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the other Mike S. Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 (edited) On 1/7/2020 at 3:19 AM, SfanGoch said: Nope, Scott is correct. The Riviera used an X-frame from 1963 to1970. That's a Monte Carlo (used for 41 other models from '78-'88, according to the seller's own info) frame in that ebay listing, Says so: 1978-88 Monte Carlo Regal Grand National Nice Solid Frame The seller used the same photo in the ad describing this as a '66 Riviera frame, which it isn't. 1966 Buick Riviera Frame This is the frame from a 1966 Riviera GS Also, it's interesting to note, the '78-'88 G-body perimeter frame has one of the shortest wheelbases of any perimeter frame GM has ever produced. I read once, that if they had to go any smaller (less than 108" wb), it would have required a unitized body structure instead. I don't know if the latter is actually true or not. Edited January 8, 2020 by the other Mike S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledsel Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 11 hours ago, RichCostello said: I agree too. I like to build models that look like something you might see at a 1/1 car show, and of all of the 1/1 car shows I've been to, I've never asked the owner of a car to flip it over so I could see if the chassis looked right. Exactly... As long as it looks correct, I am okay with it. To many new kits just look wonky to me, so to see these old kits come out makes me happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisc63 Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 On 1/7/2020 at 8:46 PM, StevenGuthmiller said: That will come in handy for my '63 Riv build! That is if the '63 and '66 Rivieras were relatively close in engine and chassis configuration. Steven, the '66 box states a 425 engine, but you can change the induction system and air cleaner decal with parts box extras or aftermarket pieces to represent any of the available engines, since externally they appear the same, being based on the same block casting. The chassis is nicely done, but should be 2 scale inches too long for a '63, as I think they rode on a 117" wheelbase, whereas '66-'70 were on a 119" wheelbase. Easy enough modification, especially on a X-frame; just take it out of the center area, and shorten floor pan to match. If you want to see what's in the box, here's a nice video peek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Ellis Posted January 20, 2020 Share Posted January 20, 2020 This is one case where the Hasegawa 66 Buick dashboard is more realistic than the AMT version Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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