Motor City

I wasn't aware of a kit version that could be made stock. Any comments on how decent the stock build is?

Yes, it was a promo in a white box. I think I've listed all of the plastic promotionals. Brookfield Collectors Guild made diecast Suburbans, so you might want to check those out too. 1988-1990 C-1500 standard cab 1991-1992 Silverado Sportside 1993-1995 C-1500 extended cab 1996 C-3500 Dooley

There was a Teal Green Metallic C1500 extended cab promo in '93. See the information in the Truck Kit section:

This Teal Green Metallic was also available as a '93 promo.

A cool and rare car for sure, but a convertible kit with this top as an option would make more sense than trying to cut the roof off of the hardtop.

I've got Dad's tan version which had some minor damage. Monogram sent me a few parts many years ago to restore it, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. These kits are really nice.

I think there is a market for at least some of the '63-'70 Coupe deVille and deVille, '67-'76 Eldorado, '66-'72 Tornado, '65-'68 Fury III, and Chrysler New Yorker and 300 models.

I think it's a great collection of kits and diecast models. One correction is that the '70 GSX was only available with a black interior - not white.

same with the '57 Bel Air 2-door hardtop that Dad ordered (also no radio)

Do you still own this '55 or know what happened to it?

Tim, I had to look at the brochure again to see what you were talking about regarding the moldings. I agree, it looks better going all the way around. I'm more knowledgeable about GM and Ford vehicles, and remember being disappointed when the Barracuda, Challenger, AMX and Javelin were dropped after '74.

thanks for the correction, Tim; I don't recall ever seeing one past '72 and made a bad assumption; I just looked at my '73 brochure and it came standard with all-vinyl bucket seats, wheel covers, 318 with single exhaust, and three-speed, column-mounted shifter; the brochure is dated Dec. 1, 1972 and still lists the 340 instead of the 360, which must have been introduced later in the 73 model year?

The literature posted above showing the optional and standard wheels, wheelcovers, hubcaps, and steering wheels mentions what was available for each model. One of the models mentioned is the Satellite Sebring Plus, a model only available in 1971 and 1972. Either the literature wasn't updated for the '73 model year or what was posted earlier is for '71 or '72. The Judge was originally intended to be a stripper model like the Road Runner. I think Delorean changed the marketing for it just before he went to Chevrolet as its general manager. The early Trans Am also came without trim rings. My El Camino has trim rings, but I'd rather not have them since the wheel paint gets scratched up whenever they have to be removed/replaced. My Regal had Buick's chrome-plated rallye wheels, which I thought were much better looking.

I'd rather see the standard wheelcovers than hubcaps on the '65 or '68. At least around the Detroit area, I don't recall seeing hubcaps on anything other than a stripped Tempest. You would occasionally see the wire wheelcovers, but most drove down to a tire store and bought aftermarket wheels such as Cragar S/S, Appliance or (rarely) Hurst. Poverty caps are all the rage on Mopars. Back in the day, those were usually seen only on taxicabs or Valiants. Like the GTO, no one around here drove a GTX, Coronet R/T or 500, Super Bee, Road Runner, Charger, Challenger or Barracuda with those. I had a teacher with a Sport Satellite that had the standard wheelcovers, and they looked okay. I think it's a generational thing. Those who weren't alive or too young to remember how the cars were back then tend to be the ones who prefer hubcaps.

I think it looks pretty good, Snake. Back then, if you didn't have access to a brochure, how would you know better unless a real one "lived" in your area. I did a '69 Grand Prix and painted it all black. The paint job came out poorly for my 14 yo standards and ended up being sold at a model car show.

yes, '65 442 and GS, clone the '66 GS from a promo or original kit to restore that, then do a '67 GS.

That was the first 1/25th kit I bought back in the day. I still have the body and hood and sold off the rest in the 1970s since the chrome was shot. I eventually picked up an unbuilt second issue, then a busted radio version, a built kit, a promo, and a nice radio version. Maybe Round2 will clone it or a Jetstar 1 (same rear end) or Starfire. The custom version is really nice.

The seat and door panel patterns are different, but what you are suggesting is probably along the lines of what they will end up doing. The chassis, glass, engine and a new interior tub could be shared. Separate interior side panels and seats would differentiate each year in addition to the exterior differences.

Steve, These will both be successful. I hope you can justify the expense of creating the proper taillight treatment on the '65 since it was never correct, and also offer the exposed-headlights grille for the '68 so it can be built either way.

I had a '76 Regal coupe in Continental Blue (the color I posted earlier and below). The Century versions were sportier looking: The '77 Can Am, '73 GTO and Grand Am, '75 and '76 Century Indy Pace Cars, and many others would be of interest to model builders. The cost to do any of them would be astronomical, so you would probably have to take a poll, do one and see how well it sells.

My thought was to reverse engineer whatever is correct on the promo, then create 3D files so you could use the latest injection molding technology. Scanning a real car would be even better.

1973 442 and 1976 Regal S/R:

Steve, Maybe Round2 can make an offer to buy the assets and name of Johan/Jo-Han Models since Okey Spaulding hasn't done a lot with it. They made the '73-'75 Cutlass coupe, though only the '73 was an accurate model. You'd have the chassis, interior, and could make the '73 442 body, hood, and then a Cutlass Supreme coupe body as a starting point.

nice work, Emmanuel!

How about a stock '74 Laguna S-3, Steve?