fun9c1 Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 I don’t remember if I was trying to fall asleep or if I was lying there waiting for the alarm to go off, but a couple months ago it came to me while lying in bed- Nothing from Chrysler ever made an “El Camino” version of anything, and I thought a ’69 Super Bee would look perfect with a bed behind it. So I bought this on ebay- And proceeded to cut it up. This is the most aggressive modeling project I’ve taken on, and at first I wasn’t sure if I should post knowing it may be beyond my capability. I’ve chopped some tops and done some lowering, but I’ve never taken on something like this. I decided I will finish it and finish it well, so I’m posting it! I bought a Dodge Deora to use the bed, but the bed won’t fit right, so the only thing I’m taking from it is the back half of the roof and C pillars, with some modification. The rear quarters had a pretty good down slope to them- too much for a normal looking bed, so I cut lengthwise and opened them up to make the top of the bed more horizontal. The back and tailgate is the most challenging part so far and I’m only at the conception stage. Not 100% sure how to do it. It would help if I could draw like Chip Foose but I can’t. I can do some really half-assed Microsoft Paint work, however. Not decided on this, but this is my 1st idea, using tailamps from the Deora and the middle of the tailamp piece (The "Dodge" part) from the Super Bee kit- The following image gives me wood and keeps me going when I get discouraged. I have bare-metal foil from the back of the doors to under the masking tape to keep the door handles from getting built up with paint. However these wheels and tires that came with the kit are not correct for an A12 so I need to find some steelies to paint black and make some redline tires for it. More to come! Full time job and a kid, but chipping away at it a little at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypower Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 That's blasphemy an A12 chopped to pieces oh the pain in my heart. lol It is an interesting idea looks like a great start. I had an A12 car in the early 80's I sure miss that car now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun9c1 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 I hear ya! It was very hard to make that first cut- but if it makes you feel better, this kit is not an accurate A12- wrong wheels and wrong # of leafs in the springs. I envy you having had the chance to own an actual A12 before anyone knew it was worth anything. I'd kill to have been born about 20 years earlier.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skypower Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 I often wonder who had it best the guys who could buy the classic 60's and 70's cars new or us who could buy them 10 years old with low miles and no rust. My first car in 79 was 1970 challenger 340 4 speed pistol grip 8 3/4 3.23s plum crazy in near perfect condition only needing a clutch, I paid $400 for it. I have been lucky enough to own some very nice and rare Mopars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ1971 Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 (edited) Actually mate Chrysler DID make "El camino" styled cars... Down here in Australia. We call them utes, short for utilities ?? If you do a quick Google image search for "Valiant ute" you'll see what I mean ? It might help with your project ( dimensions/style etc ) Good to see someone attempting a build like this ? Cheers Cliff Just an example for ya... Edited February 23, 2014 by CJ1971 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun9c1 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 I've heard of a Ute but never knew that's what it was! Cool! Pretty neat that Australia has a whole 'nother world of muscle cars. Looking at them is like hearing a new version of an old song. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun9c1 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 I often wonder who had it best the guys who could buy the classic 60's and 70's cars new or us who could buy them 10 years old with low miles and no rust. My first car in 79 was 1970 challenger 340 4 speed pistol grip 8 3/4 3.23s plum crazy in near perfect condition only needing a clutch, I paid $400 for it. I have been lucky enough to own some very nice and rare Mopars. 10 years old and no rust- HA! No such thing up here in New England! I can't imagine walking through a Dodge dealer's lot among a sea of brand new musclecars. Of course at the time it was probably just normal. My goal with this build is to make it easy to picture this thing sitting on the Dodge dealer's lot in '69. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun9c1 Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 I thought I'd post a couple more pics after taking the tape off and getting ready to glue the back half of the roof on. Still a little work to do before gluing it on, but getting closer. The back, concave part of the roof around where the back window will be is cut from around the back window of this kit, flipped backwards. Still racking my brain on the tailgate. I think I'm going to have to build the tailgate and install last, after the chassis is in the body, otherwise I'll crack the rear 1/4s where I cut and filled. Anyone know of a kit that would have plain steel wheels that are 1:24 of 15" (.625")? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToyLvr Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Reminds me of a build which Tim Boyd did many years ago. Still, I think it's really awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Very cool project, I will be watching this one.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ1971 Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I've heard of a Ute but never knew that's what it was! Cool! Pretty neat that Australia has a whole 'nother world of muscle cars. Looking at them is like hearing a new version of an old song. Thanks! I hear ya! ?? The Revell 68 Charger has plain steelies, as does the 70 Roadrunner kit... Or you can get them on-line seperately in resin ?? Here's an option for the tail-gate... Maybe try using the Dodge Ram or Sidewinder kit's??? Cheers Cliffo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyrichard Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 cool ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun9c1 Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 I don't get the house to myself too often, but tonight I was alone for about 3hours so I cranked up the Jerry Reed station on Pandora as loud as it would go (mine goes to 11), cracked open a "couple" Sam Adams and got to work. Got some more done on the roof and this is the first time I ever took a drill to a plastic motor. The PCV hose came out pretty good I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmer1 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 It's looking good, I think the changes you made in the rear quarters really helped the proportions of it, looking forward to more of this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun9c1 Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Not a whole lot of progress lately, but the roof is glued on and in the process of being smoothed out. From what I understand, the A12s were available in four colors: bright yellow, bright green, bright red, and Hemi Orange. I'm leaning toward bright yellow with a black vinyl roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyrichard Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 yes very very nice !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam I Am Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Now THIS I like !! Back when I was a teenager I attempted this same conversion....lets just say it did not go anywhere near as good as yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun9c1 Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Now THIS I like !! Back when I was a teenager I attempted this same conversion....lets just say it did not go anywhere near as good as yours. No kidding? And I thought I was the first! Do you still have it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Not a whole lot of progress lately, but the roof is glued on and in the process of being smoothed out. From what I understand, the A12s were available in four colors: bright yellow, bright green, bright red, and Hemi Orange. I'm leaning toward bright yellow with a black vinyl roof. IMG_7468.JPGIMG_7465.JPGIMG_7466.JPG Yellow would look great..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun9c1 Posted March 9, 2014 Author Share Posted March 9, 2014 Still a Loooooooong way to go, but I love it when it gets to the point where I can put it together just enough where I can start to picture it finished. The grill is from a "junkyard" '69 Super Bee I put in just for the pics. I'm psyched that I can put the chassis in without cracking the filler in the rear 1/4s. I was worried about that. Again, I plan to do gloss black steelies with chrome lug nuts and redline tires, but I don't have those yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun9c1 Posted December 27, 2014 Author Share Posted December 27, 2014 So it's been about 9 months but I finally cracked this baby open again to get some more done on her. Today I got the bottom of the bed cut out and fashioned a piece to go behind the back window and got that glued on. Also decided in hindsight I should not have cut the trunk completely off, but I should have left a little on in the back for rigidity, especially since something would need to be there anyway- shoulda left some on. So I cut a strip off the back of the trunk lid and glued that on. Woulda been better if I left it on in the first place. Live and learn. As I mentioned almost a year ago, plans for this one are to be a factory stock (albeit a phantom one) A12 with a bed (still need to come up with a "phantom" name), factory yellow with a black vinyl top, and the black steel wheels and redline tires that an A12 should have. Nice to have some time to get back at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 What a great project you've got goin' there Rob, as I just love dem Mopars! And yes back in the late 60's it was great walkin' through a Dodge, Plymouth, Buick, Oldsmobile, Chevy, AMC, Ford, or Pontiac dealership and checkin' out all the new muscle car and high performance vehicles available. All one had to do is sign on the dotted line. Heck I was stop light draggin' the very same night I brought a car home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunkypeanutbutter Posted December 27, 2014 Share Posted December 27, 2014 How about "Loadrunner" instead of Roadrunner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbill Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 this is beyond cool! I can't help but wonder if you could graft in the bed/side walls from a 66 elcamino, or the 65 elcamino to help ease the transition from bed floor to back window? just tossing it out there as it popped into my mind. the addition of the bit of deck lid on the rear rail of the bed is pure genius, looks awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kruleworld Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 This is cool. i did the same thing to a 68 Dodge Charger myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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