John Goschke

Very interesting thread even though this car isn't on my build list for this lifetime! Nice work on the refinements, Steve!

Amazing work on the design and execution of this project! Very exciting!

Thanks, Sam! Yep, '58 was the year of "more is better," especially at GM! Thanks, Ron! I'd like to see your '58. Thanks, Zoom! Thanks, James! Thanks, 'Saurus! You should build yours! The wheelcovers were available in a number of AMT 1960 annual kits as a custom option. They're supposed to resemble the '57-'58 Dodge Lancer wheelcovers. Thanks, Peekay! That's a perfect description of how I like my customs – as a refinement or development of the factory design.

Finally to the paint shop for some primer! Now you can see the full effect of removing the excess chrome gingerbread, especially the "pitchforks" on the quarter panels...

You sure lucked out finding one with no skirt rash! The color looks great – classic color combo for these cars. Just one note – The white piping on seats on the restored car in the pics is non-original. The factory piping was silver.

Beautiful fades! Don't know what you've got planned for wheels and tires but some 2 1/4" wws and Chrysler wire wheels ('55-'56 300) would be just about perfect! Maybe narrow WWs like Cliff Inman had on his '57?

Outstanding work on this one, Steve! The posable front wheels are a nice touch that brings additional life to a beautifully detailed model.

Cool, indeed! But I think it's screaming for 3" chop!

Engine looks amazing, Steve! Those early Mopar cross-rams have to be one of the most impressive motors ever.

Monogram 1/20th '56 Cadillac and Ideal 1/20th Continental Mk-II!

GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!! How the..... could they let that out the door! Moldlines, sinkmarks, flash, things molded in halves, are nothing compared to this. For similar irksome examples see the AMT '51 Chevy series, Monogram 1/24 '56 and '57 BelAir hardtops, and '57 Nomad.

This thing, and the fact that they keep reissuing it! And any other kit in this day and age that has a body that doesn't look the prototype. I don't care if it's a "full detail" mega kit or a glorified promo with 18 parts, four screws and two wire axles, the BODY needs to be right!

Wow! That dash is amazing, Steve! Do you happen to remember what the blister pack was from the you used for the "bubble"? Brings back fond memories of the dash in my old '60 Windsor.

Factory and vintage photos seem to show it being black. The design also makes more sense that way. Restored cars are often not the best reference. Love this SS/SA drag car! Also notice the ultra-rare '62 Dodge Custom 880 ragtop in the background!

Beautiful build!

Beautiful work so far!

Wheelbase discrepancy and two other little subtleties aside, what is really impressive about this shot is how closely Jo-han's rendition captures the real car! This is why their stuff is so sought after!

Now THAT is cool! Would love to see you take this one a little further, Bill! The concept is definitely working!

Basically a reissue of the SMP '60 Corvette convertible annual. The original SMP '59 kits didn't have an engine and had the correct '59 seat pattern. Whether original or reissue they need a fair bit of cleanup, particularly getting bumpers and splash pan to fit well. Windshields are best replaced with clear packaging plastic and the windshield frame benefits from being thinned down. Watch wheel/tire lineup in wheelwells – when I built my '59 I had to move the driver's side front wheel forward and the passenger's side wheel back to center them in the wheel opening. That said, these can be a fun build if you don't take them too seriously!

Bill is correct about the wheelbase on this kit. The Johan '60, '61 and '62 Chryslers all share the same wheelbase with their '60 Desoto. The short 122" wheelbase in these kits is correct for the '60 Desoto (and Chrysler Windsor) and the '62 Chrysler 300s (and '61 and '62 Windsor and Newport) but not for the '60 and '61 New Yorkers (and 300s and Saratogas) which should be on a 126" wheelbase. The extra four inches were in front of the cowl, so on the kit the hood, front fenders and chassis would need to be extended .16", if my math is correct, (just a hair over 5/32"). An admittedly subtle difference, but if you have a spare body and chassis from any of these kits the conversion should relatively easy due to the high level of uniformity and interchangeability between Johan's Mopar kits. The sections needed for the extension can simply be cut and spliced in from the spare body for the fenders and chassis. The hood's a little more complicated since it tapers. But even if you don't do that, these Johan kits always need a track width adjustment to push the wheels out farther for a better stance that gets rid of that tippy narrow-track look! Just add a spacer between the wheel back collar and the chassis. Just one more note, the original 1960 Johan Mopar annual kits have incorrect full-frame chassis without wheelwells, a situation that was remedied in the '61 kits. When the '60 Desoto was reissued in the "USA Oldies" series it gained the correct unibody chassis and engine from the '62 300. For this reason gluebomb USA Oldies Desotos and Chryslers are worth picking up to retrofit their chassis into the other '60 annuals (they just need to be shortened for the Dodge and Plymouth.)

Glad to see this one back on the bench, Steve! Looks beautiful. Great idea on the wheel covers! I forgot all about those.

Here you go. Contact Dale Horner at Little Motor Kar Company <lmkco@outlook.com>

Love it! Very crisp detail work on this beautiful build! Great looking little car.

Very authentic weathering!

Perfect!