Bob Ellis

After all this discussion, what is the chance we will ever see this 84 Cutlass as a 1/25 model kit?

Ron, it is virtually impossible find overhead photos of the 1971-1976 GM big body convertibles. I did find a photo of an Impala but here is one of the El Dorado. You can see a shallow "V" in the center. It is really subtle.

Will look nice.

I like the Caddy tail lights

My approach to making a big body GM convertible windshield was build a complete new frame. The MPC and Johan models have hardtop windshield frames that are incorrect for a convertible. First, I cut off the roof and the front windshield frame. I used the kit glass as the basic shape. After studying 1:1 photos, I decided the windshield frames were rounded on the top ends and have a shallow V at the top center. Using Evergreen styrene, I built a frame around the kit glass gluing it to the glass. I then shaved and sanded the shape around frame edges. I made a slot in the body so the A posts can slip into the body. My original '71 Impala (Green Vegetable) shows how the frame fits into the body.

Chris, it's interesting that you mentioned the '69 Lincoln. Apparently, it's not the same tool as the '61-65 Lincoln. The '65 came back in '69 as the Beard of Paradise along with the '69 annual. I am guessing the '66-69 was a different tool. It had a complete chrome engine.

Good idea about chroming the dash board. I think your glass better than the kits glass.

Tonio, that 71 Impala is sure a lot nicer than the one I started with. Yours should look good.

The above instructions are the 1969 annual blueprint style. One year only. All the AMT annual '69 kits were like that. Good advice on saving items of interest downloaded on your computer. I am constantly surprised on how many items that I have gone back to research, as recently as 2009, are simply non existant today. I can only guess that the servers or sites hosting the information have updated, purged or closed down.

Where did you get the chrome wheels? That is a nice touch.

I started building that '68 Coronet for that contest. It turned out awful and I can't remember what I did with it. I guess it went to the trash. I wish I didn't enter the contest because I kept the '68 Impala, Bonneville and Corvette.

Ron, both convertibles look great. Since you posted the pictures, I now have a couple of questions. How did you make the Caprice convertible windshield? Any details on fabricating it? I have 2 more 71-75 Chevy convertibles to do and maybe your method is better than mine. Where did the simulated mags on the '69 Galaxie come from. They look correct as an option that year.

I decide to cut up the '69 Galaxie interior tub and make a convertible pit. Now it looks a little better.

That 65 is looking good. I find the humidity conditions have a great deal of affect on the paint job.

Ron, I would make a convertible out of that '72 Impala. But, I have to admit a Caprice is a good idea.

Thanks Tonio and Micro!

I would like to see a 77 TBird version done later with all these common parts.

I guess because GM offered that 215 with the turbo charge in the Buick and Olds. The 215 in the Johan kit is simple and a carburetor version that is boring.

The red tail lights can be found in the other 66 mustang kit. I love the blue tinted glass. You have to admit Round2 is doing a great job bringing these kits back.

I want to to do this car as the red Cougar in the Bond film This is an AMT '69 body over a MPC '73 chassis?

Fixed the convertible roof and changed the wheels

This is the old GM aluminum 215 ci V8 sold to British Leyland back in the '60s? I mean it should fit into a Johan 1962 Cutlass, right?

How did you make / get extra door handles?

Originally in 1969, this kit had "390" on the fenders and as said earlier, XR7 trim.

That resin roof looks great particularly the part near the windshield. The kit roof is really awful.