unclescott58

As noted I love facts. And one thing I learned in college always go to the most original source if can. So to clear up some info on 1968 Road Runners, I went found my Chrysler Plymouth Division 1968 Car and Equipment Prices book, revised edition. January 1, 1968. And below is some information some may find valuable about how the '68 Road Runners were equipped. Road Runner - V-8 RL21 - 2-door Coupe ................................ $2838.00 RL23 - 2-door Hardtop ................................ 3034.00 Extra Cost Options (as seen on AMT's model kit): 360 - Road Runner Decor Group .....................79.20 (2-door Coupe Only) 408 - Differential - Sure-Grip - With H.D. Performance Axle ... 138.90 (Req'd. With 4-speed Manual Trans. With 426 Hemi or GTX) 73 - Engine - 426 Hemi 2-4 bbl .................... 714.30 (NA W/Air Cond.) (NA W/Trailer-towing) (NA W/Auto. Speed Control) 533 - Head Restraints - Front - Left and Right ... 43.90 577 - Tachometer ............................................ 48.70 (NA With Clock) Options That Were Standard Equipment on Road Runners: 624 - Heavy Duty Suspension 478 - Heavy-Duty Brakes 62 - Engine - 383 8-cyl. 4-bbl 535 - Moldings - Roof Drip Rail 638 - Shock Absorbers - Firm Ride - Front & Rear 393 - Transmission - 4-speed Manual (Sure Grip - H.D. Performance Axle Req'd With 426 Hemi or GTX) Options Standard with 426 Hemi: 626 - Electrical - Battery - 70 amp hr. 589 - Windshield Wipers - 3-speed Interesting to note. Only one Wheel Option is listed for the 426 Hemi: 581 - Deluxe Wheel Covers 15". That's it. The wheels seen with the AMT's model are listed as option "580 - Styled Road Wheels 14" (NA With Wheel Covers) (NA 426 Hemi Engine)" No tires are listed as an option with the 426 Hemi. Regular 383 Road Runners came with F70 X 14 Red Streak tires as standard equipment. Option 46 - F70 X 14 White Streak (NA W/426 Hemi Eng.) is list as a No Charge option. Also note. Options 486 - Console, and 485 - Center Seat Cushion and Folding Armrest (NA With Console) were not offered on '68 Road Runners. Because '68 Road Runners were only available with bench seats. Most other options available on '68 Plymouth Mid-Size cars were available on Road Runners. I don't know if the above will help answer any questions for anyone else or not. But, I find them helpful.

I've driven Buicks for years. Other than problems with the tranny in my '73 years ago, I've had no major problems with the rest of them. The transmission problems were interesting on the '73. In cost saving measures, Buick thought they could put THM 350s with their 350 V8 in the the '72 and '73 LeSabres. In '71, and again in '74 they coupled this engine to the THM 400 in the LeSabres. The '71 through '76 LeSabres were big heavy cars. I rebuilt the Turbo 350 once. The second time I installed a THM 400. And guess what? I never had a transmission problem with that car ever again. By the way, my 2000 LeSabre with just over 125,000 mile on it, shifts rough only when the weather is hot. All summer long I'm feeling nervous about it. Fall and cooler weather comes along, it shifts fine and I forget about it. This has been going on for a couple of years now. One of the guys I work with at O'Reillys says that's normal with these transmission when they get old, and suggested throwing some Lucus transmission fixer in it. So for I've put in about half the bottle. It seems to have helped a little. But, not completely. When the transmission fluid gets lower, I'll try putting the rest of the bottle in.

Snake and Bill, I'm not as picky about the flaws with this kit as you guys are. Looking at Tim Boyd's pictures and review it looks fine to me. To the adverage person, I beleive they would not notice the flaws in the model. I feel the same way about Revell's '70 Cuda and '57 Ford. If the flaws were never pointed out I would not have noticed them. Heck, I didn't even notice the roof on Revel's '90 Mustang LX until it was pointed out. If they are not as off as old Palmer kits were, I'm pretty happy. Now I'm okay with people finding and pointing out the flaws in a kit. And I'm okay with people fixing them if they want. What I don't like is when people go nuts and claim the kit is nothing but junk because of them. And that manufacture should not have put out such trash. Now I'm not accusing either of you guys, Snake or Bill, of doing that. Both of you seem fair minded and more interested in fixing the problem. Which is great. It's just that I'm one who says if it looks close enough, throw a little paint on it, assemble it, and I'm happy. There is a thread here dealing with AMT's 1940/'39 Sedan kit. Again, I understand how it can not build into a correct '39. But guess what? I like the looks of the '39 Ford's front end. So, that's the reason I will be building mine as a '39. I like the looks of '40 too. But, I already have several of those. Will the adverage non car guy (or a regular car guy even) notice the problems with my '39 just by looking at it casually? I doubt it. And I'm sure they will not notice the flaws in AMT's '68 Road Runner. Where the old Palmer kits they would notice. Keep pointing out the flaws and fixing them if you want. I find it interesting. Just don't expect me to do the same with my kits.

Had a great day yesterday. Worker with two second graders who gave me no troubles what so ever. In fact their whole class was very well behaved. To the point that I was joking with the teacher at lunchtime that she had "Stepford" kids for a class. So far this school year has started off very good. Haven't had really any troubles with any of the kids so far this year. Let's hope it stays this way.

Bill, CapSat 6, a very good explanation of what happened to cars and trucks back in the 70's. I missed the Muscle Car era by a few years. I was old enough to be building models and lusting over the Muscle Cars. But, by the time I was old enough for my drivers license it was over. Still too, I did/do like the Personal Luxury cars of the time. Didn't care for the vinyl roofs. But, I like the Cordobas, Monte Carlos, Thunderbirds of the era if they were purchased clean (not too much junk, like vinyl roofs or opera lights, on the outside). By the way, in 1976 the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme knocked the long time best seller, the Chevy Impala, out of first place in sales. A sign of the times.

Decided I needed to add this kit to my collection. I really appreciate Tim Boyd's review on this kit. The kit looks good to me. My only problem is that with that interior, it needs the full rear trunk lid trim panel. By the way, that trim optional on the coupe became available when the hardtop version came out in January of '68. I beleive the exterior part of the package was standard on the hardtop for '68. So I guess I'm going to have to look at Keith Marks decals for this kit.

AMT's kit may not be able to be built into a true '39, but what other choices are there? I have a kit that I will be building as the "'39". It will not be right, but I like that front end. My dad use to have a '50 Olds fastback Club Coupe with a '51 Olds front end on it. It was even titled as a'51. The last year for the Olds fastback was 1950. A bodyman had put the '51 front on a wrecked '50 before my dad bought it. So if anybody questions about in correctness of my '39, I'll just claim it was a '40 that was in a wreck. And the person who owned it like the looks of '39 better. So that's how it was rebuilt. The best of both worlds. The convenience and modern new features of a '40. With the basic looks of a '39. By the way, I don't know if it's been mentioned. But, with everything wrong with the '39 Ford kit. I've not seen anybody here mention that the taillights are way too high on the rear fenders when building the '39 also. Still I'm going to build mine as the '39.

Roll over standards never came into effect. They were threatened in the early 70's, but never truly came about. Slow sales and the threatened roll over standards contribute to the convertible's short lived demise. To satisfy open air fans both sunroofs and t-tops were tried as replacements. The trouble is, especially with the t-tops is that they leaked. Convertibles came back, and soon t-tops were gone.

Is this thread about AMT's '57 Ford or their '50 Ford? I'm getting confused.

I thought the one I bought in the early 70's still came with the custom pieces. In I think every AMT '57 Ford I've ever purchased still had the custom parts in the kit.

Okay. I think you Engilsh people are having way too much fun over there. The shed is cool, but are the other things in the article.

I too think I need one. What a great idea.

Cute girl. And a fun project. I'm glad Hot Rod featured her in their magazine. It looks like she did a great building the car. And I love the color and her personalized license plate to go with it. Too bad I'm too old for her. I think I'm in love.

If Moebius does have them, I wish they would start doing something with them. Like the old kits Round 2 keeps reissuing, I'd like to see someone do the same with Jo-Han. Many of the old AMT, MPC, and others, Round 2 has reissued, I could not afford at the time. The same with many of the old Jo-Hans. I have a few. But, there are a lot more I'm interested in. And now I have more disposable income, so I could afford them. I hope the rumor that Moebuis has several of the old Jo-Han tools is more than just a rumor. I'll spend the money Moebuis if you bring back the kits.

I talk to Round 2 yesterday about preordering the Streetle Beetle. Two things, they will not take preorders on any kit until a month before it's ready to be released. Credit card issues. Second the Steetle Beetle may not be ready until December, rather than November as originally announced in their catalog.

Bill, can we see photos when you open this kit up? I keep hearing horror stories about this kit. Yet I don't remember it be all that bad.

I'm not a big fan of '57 Chevys, except for the Nomad for some reason. I'd still like to see someone do a modern tooling of the '57. As popular as that car is, I can't understand why it hasn't been done yet.

I'm still blown away by Steve Gunthmiller's work. Got to see the above Invicta last spring at the NNL North. A buddy and I were just about knocked over when we saw the car. Especially looking at the detail of that Buick badge on the trunk. If anybody knows anything about puts badges and scripts of models, it's Steve.

Reading the flier above it sounds like they are old kits found, and will only be at the two events mentioned. Darn. I'd love to see those old JoHan kits come back. I need, well okay want, the '69 AMX. $27 sounds like a fair price.

Very nice. I'd love to see more of them.

Very nice.

Yea, that's a very good site. Fun to browse. Lots to see.

Very nice Cutlass.

Like a couple of others, I really like the blue one. I think these maybe first Moebuis Venturas I've seen built.

Very cool. A very classy lookin Willys.