Motor City

The GP kit first came out as an '88 kit, when it was Motor Trend's Car of the Year, and the first FWD GP.

Quality control issues are nothing new. Think of all the promos you've seen with steering wheels mounted cockeyed and poor chrome plating. It's been the same way with kits. I have an MPC '68 Impala SS convertible kit that was shipped with a defective windshield. It has a burnt blob in the middle which can't be polished out since it's sandwiched between the inside and outside. Of course, the clear bubble top is perfect! Many chrome trees have important parts attached inappropriately to the sprue, which damages the part's appearance when cutting it off of the sprue to use it. I'd rather deal with a little flash than a warped body.

You should be able to get any of them in mint condition for a little over $100, and one that is slightly warped or has scratched up paint for considerably less money.

I have one of those Sebring convertibles with the operating top, but the mechanism doesn't work real well. I can't recall if I left the top up or down because it was too much of a hassle to mess around with. I put it back in the box. It's a great concept though.

1 Adam-12 ...

David, AMT's Ford promo from '49 to '51 was the Custom 4-door. Some of these warp, while others don't. They come with mirrored metal "glass" inserts. I know they were molded in red and dark blue. You might be able to find one in black like your parents' car.

Since Revell has done so many Chevelles and Camaros, how about: '70-'72 El Camino SS and/or '71-'72 GMC Sprint SP '73-'77 El Camino SS '74-'76 Laguna S-3

Mark, Thanks for the clarification on the Hornet kits. I couldn't recall anything but the promos. I agree with Eric that we need a Hornet kit. A '71 SC360, a hatchback or AMX would be cool.

This is a fantasy list, Eric. The Hornet sedan was made from '70-'72, and the hatchback in '73 and '74, by Jo-Han. Most, if not all, were promos. Gremlin kits were also made.

I think Alan needs to be forbidden from ever posting here again! I'm heading to the garage to try forgetting those abominable photos.

I sporadically bought kits from '65 to '70, then got out of it the next two years. I drove to the Sears store several miles from my folks' house for some Craftsman tools and saw model kits (it wasn't Christmas season). I ended up buying the original issue of the MPC '73 Cougar. Some of the local drug stores, dime stores and chain hardware stores carried a good selection. Those were the good old days.

looking forward to 1/25th coupe and convertible versions … eventually

"I even remember a fair number of cars being ordered in the 1970 Chrysler color "Plum Crazy"!" This was discussed on the Cadillac Lasalle Club forum a few years ago. It's a '76 Eldorado convertible special ordered in that color.

thanks, Rob; I'll have to see the movie; mine is almost the same color combination!

Does the El Camino have a 4-speed manual? That was the last year for it, and I saw one for sale several years ago at a car show/swap meet in the western Detroit suburbs. I had to settle for a 4-speed automatic when I ordered my '87.

Here's our family's '68 Wildcat and '68 Vista Cruiser. I took these photos in the Spring of 1971. Yes, I want 1/25th models of both! Grandpa's '71 Caprice is in the background of the first photo.

The taillights should be ribbed like the panel between them and this detail has never been correct.

I have never used model cement. Elmer's white glue has been my choice for over 50 years. If you need to disassemble, immerse in water.

I went to the one near me last Saturday and it looks the same as usual.

AMT also made a '61 Special wagon, which I presume was then modified into the '62. A '57 Nomad or '64-'65 Chevelle 300 would probably be a best seller since Chevies tend to be good selling kits. A Vista Cruiser would be really cool. Our family bought a '68 new and I drove it in college.

I didn't start this thread, so don't start crying/screaming/cussing. The most sorely lacking AMC has to be the '67 Marlin. Jo-Han made the '65 and '66 Marlin, and the '67 was the best looking of the 3 years. Next would come a '66 Rebel, or a '67 or '68 Rebel. The '66-'69 Ambassador hardtop and convertible kits and promos are not very difficult to find. I think many people on the forum would like to see new kits of these, but unfortunately probably not many other people would. Same with the Hornet SC and Matador sedans, the '69-'70 Rebel, and '69 American. Young people can't relate to these AMC models since none have been produced in over thirty years, and are rarely seen. Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros and Chevelles are probably the most common models seen at local car shows, so those are no-brainers for Round2 and Revell to produce. Low rider/donk cars are somewhat popular in some areas, so maybe kits that can be built that way AND stock offer some hope for obscure models. Remember the donk Cadillac coupe that came out a while ago? I would have bought it if it could have been built stock. Another one that would have done better was the '77 Monte Carlo if a little more effort was put into its execution.

Snake, I wasn't suggesting that the MPC '69 Trans Am was the original or only version of the '69 Firebird kit for that model year. I was wondering whether or not the first version of the T/A kit was the only one that was decent, but from what you're saying, all versions are identical. I never noticed the body crease issue before. I believe the '69 and '71 Trans Am kits came some time after the regular Firebird kits were released in those respective years.

From reading these posts, I guess only the original MPC '69 Trans Am kit is worth buying?

I picked up an MPC '66 Corvette assembled kit and a '71 Chevelle SS promo at a model car shop in the Detroit area decades ago. The Corvette had a nice paint job and interior, but the suspension was a gloppy mess and one wheel that wouldn't stay on. I recently picked up a '65 kit that was never completed, so it has the pieces I need to fix it. The Chevelle had silver trim sloppily applied to the windshield, emblems, and ram air door! It had a slight bow in the passenger side windshield post, and had a '72 rear bumper. I was able to get the correct bumper, straightened out the bent pillar very slowly and carefully, and was able to get the paint off. It also had the exhaust system painted, and the interior had been messed with. I used a variety of small polishing tips attached to arbors (in my drill) to clean off the chassis, polished the glass and put the interior back together properly. It now is a very nice promo.

Mark and Bill, Thank you very much for the detailed information. Jim