Bob Ellis

I know Hanover, PA pretty well. So when I saw the sticker on the '61 Ford box, I had to see where it was. There are still in business. I wonder if they sold it new?

The Opel was called a Kadett that GM imported to USA. I am sure there were a lot common parts.

The paint work is great

In the '60s, AMT was heavily subsidized by the auto companies through the promo business. When that dried up, the flow of new models slowed down. Today, you have to pick a winner.

Next month I will have had this model in my possession for 50 years. This model is not a contest winner. It's not even a rare kit, except it's the AMT 1964 Impala convertible version that has never been re-issued since 1964. However, it is the oldest kit that I have and built by me when I was 9 years old. I got it on a trip to the North Shore Mall in Peabody, MA from a store called Jordan Marsh. I remember having lunch with my mother and playing with the parts while waiting for the food to arrive. This was August of 1964. Originally, it was brush painted testors turquoise on the body and white top. The lights used to work, but no more. I glued the up top on and probably used too much glue around the windshield. I rebuilt it in the early '70s. It was kind of a mess. The glass didn't come out easily. I ruined the cowl and the windshield frame and visors. The 409 engine lost pieces. I went to the local 5 & 10 where they had the 1969 re-issue of the '64 Impala. It was gone. They tried to get another, but no dice. I repainted and glued the convertible back together as best as I could. I was stuck with the up top and I decided to tint the windshield to hide the glue marks. I don't know where I found a '65 Chevelle wagon, but I robbed the 327 V8 and stuck it in the engine compartment. I painted it a gold lacquer color like the Chevy Autumn Gold. AMT's T408-225 '64 Impala kit arrives after I fixed this old convertible in 1972. Before that, it was about impossible to find a '64 Impala kit. Speed up to 1990 and this old Impala convertible was rebuilt again. This time I decide to make it look like a brand new Chevy I saw at the dealership. It was yellow with a black roof. Had no wheel covers as they were stored in the trunk until the sale to the customer. I BMF this job unlike before. Third and last time working on this model. It has been stored in a box since 1990 along with original instructions and a childhood sketch from the '60s.

Wow, built 44 years ago. I don't have anything built and untouched that many years old. This inspires me of a new thread........

This car reminds me of the Opel that Buick used to import from Germany into the USA. It was a nice little car. Good luck on the project

Nice work on the Mustang. I agree Everegreen is different than the plastic in the kit. I can't say anything about density, but Everegreen is much softer. When you sand, it wears away faster and you have to be more careful. Not always good in a structural application if thin. MEK, aka methyl ethyl ketone, is sort of nasty stuff. Be careful about breathing it. It was a HAP according to the government before 2005.

om617, my father bought a brand new 1981 GP Brougham with the 350 diesel. It lasted 28,000 miles before sending pieces of the engine into the street and literally exploded. Didn't even last one year. He immediately ran to a Cadillac dealer and ordered a new car. Good choice, as it was the last car he ever owned. Charlie, those are good ideas about the interior.

This is a really beautiful kit. I made one too when it first came out. How does it compare to the AMT '67 Chevelle?

gearhedjon, I have two possible routes; darken the windows (and add side windows) so nobody notices it's a Monte Carlo interior or attempt a GP interior. The dash is the big problem. It is really different. I can work with the rest of the interior. I thought about printing a dash and gluing it in? For a one car deal, etchings would be expensive. Any thoughts from others more experienced with this problem?

A nice Pinto wagon and Caddy too

This is probably the last time this kit will ever be issued. Just my gut feeling. It isn't just economics, it's demographics as well.

That is really nice. 2nd to last year of real stock bodies from Holman Moody. Did you make Fred Lorenzen's car too?

It's nice you can restore an old model you built years ago.

Nice project, the '70 is my favorite year of '68-70.

The engine and chassis detailing is nice

Charlie, thanks. I think it will be a two tone of maroon as my real Grand Prix was. The sides were a different color. Sure, I can bring it to a meeting.

So, one is the regular Johan chassis, and the other is the upgraded ERTL/AMT chassis? They both look great but that new chassis really makes the model.

I have 2 or 3 of these kits. One of them has the promo glass with loops attached to the front glass. I guess you can turn the loops on, or off? The loops can be easily removed the way you cut glass. Ford Motor Company paid for the first issue in 1965. Round2 only has a small amount of buyers compared to 1965. so I think they are doing great considering what they have to work with. 50 years is a long time for a tool to hang around traveling all over the world.

am73grand, Thanks, my 1:1 '84 Grand Prix was a Brougham. The seats were fantastic. You are lucky to have one. Last time I saw my GP was in May 1988. I am sure it is junked by now. Funny, I can't find any photos of it.

If you are looking for stock 1/25 1984 Pontiac Grand Prix tail lights, you won't find them. I went threw my leftover kit parts and found some '76 Caprice red tail light material. I cut, filed and fitted new ones out of material. The right side is about done.

I re-did the side chrome after redoing the side crease. It's looking pretty good now. This will be a Lowrider. This gives me a little artistic license to stray from absolute bone stock. The bumpers had to be cut, in some cases stripped of chrome, and then re-glued to the body. There is not a lot of true chrome on a '84 Grand Prix. A fair bit of the NASCAR bumpers, though look stock, should be painted body color. At this point, you can see that the '80 Monte Carlo chassis and interior fits very well. While not in place in this photo, the glass also fits in place too. The NASCAR roof A posts were all wrong. I sliced off the Monte Carlo A posts and attached then to the Grand Prix.

I wasn't that happy with the side. The Grand Prix has a unique crease along the side. I made a new one using a thin strip of Evergreen and putty above and below the strip.

Primer is a good way to find defects. Still needs a lot more work.