Motor City

Okey Spalding was at the recent Macomb Community College Show in Warren, Michigan. He had a nice finished '59 Rambler wagon on display, a variety of parts, the '55 Pontiac Star Chief hardtop, and possibly other cars. He didn't have anything I was interested in. Some of you may want to contact him for '66 Cadillac taillights. I asked about updating his website and he mentioned that it had expired and that he was working on a new one. I didn't ask him any other questions as I didn't know where to begin!

Millwrights unpack, set up, and move heavy equipment (machine tools, computer hardware, etc.). A tooling department would be involved in modifying old tooling, such as adapting the Jo-Han tooling to more modern injection molding equipment.

GM used the 'A' body designation on all regular intermediates through 1981. The Grand Prix and Monte Carlo were considered 'A Special', as I recall from the shop manuals. When the downsized front-wheel drive models came out for 1982, they were then called 'A' bodies, while the older style rear wheel drive models (Malibu, Monte Carlo, El Camino, Grand Prix, Regal, etc.) were then called 'G' body. The G bodies were never versions of the A bodies as the platforms were different (front wheel drive vs. rear wheel drive), and the RWD models came out first. The old RWD cars were still selling well, probably because people didn't like the smaller interiors of the new FWD replacement cars. GM continued producing the RWD platform for several years. The 1988 Monte Carlo was the last RWD model as the others intermediates went to FWD for that model year.

Banthrico made metal 1/25th promos of the Cadillac 4-door sedan from 1952-1955. The '54-'55 windows look more accurate than on the '52-'53. A few years ago, a metal pre-painted '53 Eldorado model was made. The box said it was 1/24th and 1/26th scale on different sides, so maybe it's 1/25th . Some of the early AMT models have no warp, while others are terrible, and I'm referring to the same model year of a given model car. Be patient and you will find them. Banthrico made a metal '54 Mercury, and I think they also made '50 and '51 models.

I just saw the Polar Lights kit at Hobby Lobby a couple of days ago, but didn't want to buy it without checking here first. From the pictures I've seen here, it looks like the GTO and 6.5 litre emblems on the sides are just decals. I won't get into the discussion of which looks more accurate as I haven't owned either version. I saw the original AMT '64 kit years ago and it looked nice - about like the '65 model. Is the AMT version issued several years ago the Polar Lights kit mentioned here? Is that a hardtop or post sedan? Wasn't the Revell/Monogram GTO a 2-door post sedan in 1/24th scale? Thanks.

The AMT '65 and '66 Wildcats used the same interior. Besides the differences in front and rear styling and exterior side trim, the interiors on the real cars are quite different. It has already been mentioned that the '66 dashboard on the real car was changed. The '66 seats and door panels had a new pattern, and should have had the slimback bucket seats GM started using that year. The Wildcat Custom had cool, round Wildcat emblems in the seatbacks - front and rear. Hopefully Round 2 will eventually correct these errors or someone will make these parts in resin.

As I recall, the L60-15 was standard on the '70 Buick GSX. I don't believe it was standard equipment on any other muscle car.

I would have to say some of the Trans Am kits because of the complex decal sets that need to be applied. Practicing on some newer kits with decals would be better than risk damaging an original decal set. Also, some kits have remained unbuilt in case I ever decide to buy the real car. Then the kit could be painted in the same color combination.

Back in the mid-80s, Pontiac would have an annual show in May at their Pontiac headquarters. I think there were 10-12 vehicles in their collection at the time (Banshee, '64 GTO coupe, '78 Trans Am station wagon, '61 Tempest 4-door sedan, the very first '26 Pontiac produced, and others I can't recall now). Oldsmobile's collection was at the R.E. Olds Museum in Lansing, which also had many experimental, exotic engines, as well as 1 of the 4 1897 Oldsmobiles, which was on loan from the Smithsonian Institute. Buick's collection went to the Sloan Museum in Flint. Cadillac's collection was stored in a warehouse in a Detroit suburb. I saw a number of cars and trucks from the Chevrolet collection 20 years ago at the GM Building. I don't know if the vehicles were on loan to the museum or donated to them, but the collection is quite good. Unfortunately, GM did not keep key cars such as the first Corvette, the 50 Millionth Car, and more of their concept cars, but the worldwide collection includes over 600 vehicles. I don't remember where I read that.

Whether you care for GM or not, they have had the most variety of models of any automaker over the course of a century. A real car enthusiast would appreciate the styling of at least some of their models over that period of time. I've seen a good part of the collection, which is open to car clubs and for other special events. It is definitely worth seeing. I have not seen the Nissan Museum, but I surmise it has a lot of racing-related cars on display, which is great if you like that sort of thing. Everyone has different tastes, that's for sure. I'd like to see the Mercedes museum some day.

There sure are some unusual shapes - especially with the non-boxy Volvos and a few other European models. Is it just me, or are that '49 Packard and '54 Studebaker just goofy? The late 30s and early 40s Packard wagons were gorgeous. The '49 looks like someone had extra paneling around the house and decided to add a few pieces to his car. It doesn't actually look as bad in person, but that photo made it look odd. The '53 Studebaker looked nice, but they really glopped the chrome on the front of the '54. Maybe AMT could make a '53 Studebaker wagon out of their tooling for the Starliner. What I would like is the '68 Vista Cruiser my family had. It looked sharp, wasn't boxy like most of the others at that time, and rode and handled well. I can't find pictures at the moment. Another neglected category is hearses. My former manager's father rode to the cemetery in a '39 Packard hearse for his funeral. The body was made by Henney, and is one of the most beautiful vehicles I've ever seen.

Mike and Art, Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Would there be an easy way to make an impression of the "OLDSMOBILE" lettering off of a Cruver model to make lettering for the hood and trunk on a '50 Olds?

I noticed the Revell '50 Olds 88 kit is missing the "OLDSMOBILE" lettering on the hood and trunk, and the "88" rocket emblem on the trunk. None of these are molded into the body. It's disappointing to just get decals. Cruver's '49 Olds sedan has the "OLDSMOBILE" lettering front and rear, so I'm guessing those could be made easily? The Revell '66 Impala SS is missing the molded-in "IMPALA SS" trunk emblem. The AMT '69 Hurst Olds is missing the molded-in "H/O" emblems on the front fenders and trunk. Does anyone make any of these emblems? Thank you.

yes, that's probably what it was; I never was a fan of that car, and saw a few of the Torinos with that color scheme in the Detroit area; a Ranchero GT would have been much cooler, but would have had traction issues!

I must be hallucinating. Okay, but there was a Kojak 4-door Buick Century model, right? Looking at the box art of the S&H Torino, I've seen it before somewhere. I'll have to read that post. The '72 Torino was made in a pale blue promo, and, I think, butterscotch.

I'd like to see the '58 Olds wagon (first photo) as a kit. I drove a '68 Vista Cruiser through part of college. The first kit pictured, a '40 Ford Sedan Delivery, is listed as a woodie? I guess it's like people who don't know the difference between a hardtop and a sedan, or a roadster and a convertible.

Anthony, This is based on the 1971 Impala Custom Coupe model (a convertible promo was also available in Sunflower Yellow, but never issued as a kit). The kit was updated annually and has good detail. I have the 1973 Caprice kit, which I built exactly like the Caprice Classic 454 Coupe my Dad ordered and I reluctantly sold in 1991. The chassis has good detail with a separate exhaust system, and it came with a detailed trailer, too. I'm not sure if the trailer was still included in the 1976 kit. I don't think you will be at all disappointed, and it was the only full-sized American model car offered that year, so you are really lucky there.

I remember a Starsky & Hutch Torino. It was 1/25th scale and I think it was made by AMT or MPC. A Ranchero GT would have been a cooler choice, but the show was popular at the time.

I didn't know Jo-Han had any radio models. Was it also made by Philco? I remember seeing a mid-60s Thunderbird at the local hardware store. I believe the list price was $29.95, It might as well have been $299.95 since I didn't have the money either way! On a related topic, I think the remote-control promos were made by AMT from 1949 to 1958, and Jo-Han in 1956 and 1957.

Another model to consider would be the 1970 to 1972 Buick GS. It's been done in 1/24th scale, but not 1/25. You could make all three years of this with a simple change of the grille and front bumper. The GSX was available all three years, and a Sun Coupe (folding sunroof) was available for 1972. A Pro Stock version similar to the Red Alert Chevelle could be kitted. Another car that younger people might like would be the 1995 to 1999 Buick Riviera. I still see many around here and some are tricked out with DUB-type wheels, altered suspension, etc. The same is true of the boxy 1977 to 1989 Caprice, coupes and sedans. These are really popular in Detroit right now.

How about multiple versions of the 2000 to 2005 Monte Carlo? You have the regular SS, the Supercharged SS, the V8 SS, at least 3 Special Editions, and the regular Monte Carlo without the rear spoiler? The 2006 to 2007 had revised front and rear ends, and some interior modifications, but nothing that would be difficult to tool. The emblems could be separate toolings to keep body modifications down. Decals for each Special Edition shouldn't be too difficult. There could also be a DUB version. I agree with what you are saying, Art, and I have a business degree from U of M, too .

Tony has some great suggestions. For something different, start at Michigan Avenue in downtown Detroit and head north. It won't be bumper-to-bumper traffic, and you'll get some appreciative looks since most cruisers ignore Detroit. If you like Mustangs, walk along 9 Mile in Ferndale. The parking lot behind the northeast corner there also has a lot of cool cars. Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church at 12 Mile has a good display, as does the west side of Woodward in front of Roseland Cemetery. You can usually get some speed north of Big Beaver, but it slows down again in Pontiac. The parking lots and medians there are full of great cars. I turned around in an old Pontiac neighborhood several years ago. This kid about 10 runs into the street after me yelling to his buddy (hey, it's a 'Rado!). I was driving my '77 Eldorado Biarritz with the wide whitewalls and Astroroof. I think he was in Heaven!

I owned my folks' '76 Regal coupe, and my brother also had one. They were more expensive than the Cutlass, but looked better without the wrapover grille of the Cutlass and Grand Prix. It was very formal looking and there wasn't a bad line on the car. The Century had a slanted grille and looked sporty, and was also the Indy 500 Pace Car that year. With an emblem and grille change, you could get three kit variations. Out of the '73-'77 "A" bodies, I would think the '73 SS, El Camino, GTO, Grand Am, 442, and Cutlass Supreme would sell well. Variations on all of these could be made for '74 and '75 models. A '77 Can Am should also sell well. I think the Big Three were too busy at that time trying to meet emission and bumper crash standards to bother with model cars, but it is time to see some of these done.

Hello Dave, Thank you for all of the great kits that Moebius has issued and will be issuing. It's great that you are not doing the same cars as everyone else (variations of Impalas, Chevelles, Camaros, etc.). My wish list: '41 Buick Special or Century fastback, '48 Pontiac Streamliner sedan-coupe (fastback), '53 Skylark, '53 Fiesta, '53 Caribbean, '54 98 hardtop, '54 Eldorado, any Hornet hardtop, '57 Bonneville, '57 Adventurer, '58 Skyliner or Ranchero, '59 Super 88 hardtop, '61 Starfire, '62 Grand Prix, '62 Starfire, '63 Grand Prix, '63 Wildcat, '64 Starfire, '66 Starfire. '66 Catalina 2+2. I better stop as I'm getting writer's cramp!

Hi Randy, Thanks for the link to the other site. Your work is awesome. Jim