Motor City

Maybe Okey Spalding will do something with it. ?

looks like globs of glue on the bottom of the decal sheet; is that supposed to be simulated rust?

it depends on the car; for example, the '65 Special and Skylark have it on the passenger side, while the GS has it on the driver's side; the best way to know is to examine engine photos for cars advertised for sale

'66 Fury convertible; regarding another person's comment about muscle cars being "rubbish", I guess a lot of people like rubbish because they must know something about them that you don't

I thought of just ignoring the guy and asking Ralph directly, but decided it wasn't worth wasting any more of my time. It's not like he had another speaking engagement that evening. There was still daylight, so he could clearly see me if he had bothered looking up. I was so close, l could have stepped in the limo!

Back when I was attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn in the 1970s, Ralph showed up for a lecture. After the speech (which I don't particularly remember), I hurried over to the black limousine. There was Ralph sitting in the middle of the back seat looking over some papers. I had my Corvair model car and a marker for him to autograph it. One of his boys sniffed that he didn't do such things!

"Are these old Palmer kits worth anything to a collector?" just a lot of laughs ...

Hi Brian, What is SC community? There is a guy about an hour from me who installs remanufactured CRTs for the late '80's Rivieras and Reattas. I'm thinking of dropping the car off with him since the cluster is flaking out sometimes. The CRT screen was made by Zenith, and looks like a miniature TV picture tube from the rear. I think I am one of the few guys on the forum who enjoys cars from all eras, from buggies to the latest Corvettes and Challengers. I understand where younger people (I'm in my sixties) can't relate to cars that came out decades before they were born. Dad and Grandpa used to talk about cars of their youth, and after seeing some in person, it made me better appreciate them. I have never driven a car built before the 1960s, but would sure like to get a '48 Pontiac Streamliner fastback like Dad and Grandpa both had.

I have several old cars, and plastic interior parts are difficult to find if molded in a specific color to match the interior color. Newer cars tend to have molded pieces in only two or three colors. My '68 and '77 Eldorados will never have the collectability of a GM intermediate from the 1960s or early 1970s, so I don't expect reproduction parts to be made. I'm somewhat surprised that parts aren't available for Steven's '69 GP. That car was very popular when new. I also have my late parents' Rivieras. The '89 has an electronic dashboard (CRT screen). The newer one has a more conventional dashboard, but both cars might as well be junked when the electronics fail. Eventually, there always seems to be some demand for cars of all eras. Whether it's because a person's relative had one, or a neighbor or family friend, someone will want something that most wouldn't want if given to them. With all of the electronics, armrests molded in to the door panels, parts meant to snap into place one time and damaged when any attempt is made to remove them, and engine compartments impossible to work on for the average person, most people won't want to bother preserving or restoring the majority of newer cars.

Maybe the interest in brass cars is due to the boring cars we have today. I like cars of all eras, but very few built after 1999. That seemed to be the end of cars with interior colors other than the black, tan and gray. SInce most cars today are 4-doors, and the designs are mediocre for the most part, I'll be gone before these boremobiles are collectible!

As some of you know, China doesn't want it referred to by that name since it possibly originated there. Anyway, I wonder how this will affect model car shows over the next few months.

Tom, What's the story on the truck with two Consolidated Freightways trailers? What manufacturer made those? I worked there one summer. I guess the candy apple red 442 convertible is a resin kit? Thanks, Jim

Ha ha! No, I just have a lot. I really haven't had time to build since an '82 T/A kit I bought that year. I did put together a snap kit Mustang a few years ago, but hope to get back at it when retire. I wish I had the woodworking skills that you have, Hugh!

that's beautiful workmanship, Hugh! I could have that cabinet full within an hour! Jim

come on, Mark, what about the '65 Bonneville made into the 2+2 ?; I know, that was a disaster! The '64-'67 Cutlass was on a 115" wheelbase, while the Vista Cruiser was a 120" wheelbase. The '68-'72 VC had a 121" wheelbase vs. the 116" wheelbase on the Cutlass 4-door and wagon. I agree that our only hope for one is probably a resin conversion kit.

I actually sought out the convertible version of the '64 Cutlass since I already had hardtop versions of the '64-'65 Chevelle and GTO. As someone once said, "variety is the spice of life". The '64 442 emblems differ from what was used on '65-'67. Now to start another rumor … maybe the new station wagon is the '64 Vista Cruiser! If the "new" Cutlass sells well, maybe Round 2 will consider fixing up the '65 Dynamic 88. Think of the bodies that could be done with the basic chassis and engine: '65 & '66 Dynamic or Delta 88, '65 & '66 Starfire, '65 Jetstar 1. All of these were available with a 4-speed. Regarding convertible versions with top up, I haven't seen any that looked quite right. The top doesn't fit onto the windshield header properly, even if the sun visors are cut off. A detachable windshield frame with molded-in up top would work.

Besides what was already mentioned (4-barrel, 4-speed, dual exhausts, front fender and trunk emblems), the 442 had a dual-snorkel air cleaner and a rear stabilizer bar. What we don't need are decal emblems like Revell has done with so many of their releases.

thanks, Rob!

Hi Snake, How about posting photos of the '65 442. Does it include chrome grille and bumpers, and the correct interior? CUT-65ht 1965 Olds 442 Ht. (1/25th scale) $40.00 (stock body, hood, grill & bumpers, interior, wheels, & vacuformed glass) Use Lindberg '67 442 kit for chassis and engine.

well put, Tim! Maybe there is hope for a '64 442 variant as well. It wouldn't be too difficult to also tool up a '65 442 body and interior for another kit that is sorely lacking. Possibly they will consider doing the same with the '65 Dynamic 88. That kit has the optional wheels used on the '64 Cutlass auto show concept car.

Those 1/64th look to have nice detail. Hopefully they'll start doing 1/25th diecast instead of 1/18th (there's only so much room for displaying and storing 1/18th). I like the Eldorado, and would like to see a '77 Biarritz version made in several of the factory colors.

Unfortunately, the last Thunderbird promo was from AMT in the early 1970s.

John, Other than the Corvette, I don't recall any GM cars coming standard with disc brakes in '67. In fact, special 15" wheels were used on the intermediates that had that option, as did large Chevy and Pontiac models. I believe the 4-piston calipers were used for all of the GM disc brakes in '67 and '68 except possibly the Corvette, which I think were made by Delco. The 4-piston caliper brakes were made by Bendix, though Delco made some of the master cylinders. My '68 Eldorado came standard with these brakes. GM went to the more conventional brakes starting with the '69 model year.

GM in North America did not offer disc brakes until 1965, and only on the Corvette, but drums were still available that year for a reduced price. Other models didn't get discs until '67 (intermediate, full-size, Camaro/Firebird, Eldorado, Riviera, Toronado).