StevenGuthmiller

I stand corrected! It absolutely qualifies! As far as I'm concerned, that looks like a model kit to me. Just a little unorthodox. Steve

As I understand it, X-EL was just an off shoot of Johan itself. Back in the mid 80s when, Johan started going down the tubes, X-EL was created to sell some of the old Johan promotional models while Johan tried to focus on saving the company. Just a way for Johan to try to make a few extra bucks. It wasn't until '91 that Seville took over those old Johan molds, & we all know where it went from there. Steve

Interesting & rare Mike, but it doesn't meet the criteria. It needs to be a model you built yourself. Steve

That is undeniably a rare bird Nick. It never dawned on me, but mine could have easily been included as one of my rarest. Although the '68 probably beats it. I recently picked up a good '68 as well. Steve

Another one that I didn't know existed Mike! I believe the only '69 Cobra I have seen is the AMT fast back version. Very cool & I wouldn't mind having one myself! Steve

I don't think X-EL was in existence in '73 & '74. Johan was still making models at that time, hence the '73-'79 Oldsmobiles & Cadillacs. As far as I know, X-EL didn't come into the picture until the '80s. I can't remember ever having any trouble getting what I ordered. Steve

That is without a doubt one of the rarest you'll find Ron! The '65/'66 Monacos are tough enough, but the '65/'66 880 & Polara convertibles are nearly impossible! I was watching an un-built '66 Monaco on ebay recently & I put in a pretty healthy bid on it. I couldn't believe it when it went for over $400.00!! I guess it just may be one that I'll have to scratch off of my want list. Steve

Nice stuff Mike! I especially like the Demon! I've tentatively looked around for one of these & they're definitely not plentiful. My dad almost bought a '71 Demon in Panther Pink for me to use while I was in school. Instead I wound up with a green '72 Fury 4 door sedan! Steve

Nice Ellen! I just picked one of these up a couple of weeks ago, & you're right, it took a long time for me to find a good one! Steve

I don't think I would want to compete against him! That is some excellent work! Steve

Correct. I've soaked bodies for up to a month with no ill affects. Steve

Please, no lawyers allowed on this thread! If it makes you feel better Bill, I'll allow one project car just for you, Mostly because I don't want the ACLU coming down on me! Steve

I have several continentals myself, but nothing that recent or built. I have a '59, '60 & '61 as well as the '65 that everyone else has. I've contemplated starting all 3 of them at some point, but something else always seems to wind up taking precedence. Steve

Very nice Steve! Great looking examples! To be perfectly honest, I didn't even know there was a '72 Toronado! & a beauty it is! Steve

I'm not sure I see it now! Well, half of it anyway. Steve

Now there's one I'd like to find myself Snake! Steve

Good one Chuck! Of the Continental kits, the late 60s are really tough to find. Steve

Thought that this could be a fun thread just for historical purposes if nothing else. Let's see what everyone has for "rare" kits that "they" have built. For the sake of this topic, lets not have any unbuilt, unfinished or kits built by someone else. You may post more than one if you're not certain which is actually more rare. This is nothing scientific, just your perception of which of your builds are the most difficult to come by today. Let's see some relics! I've built quite a few that are few & far between, but the '61 Plymouth Fury & the '58 Ford were probably the ones that I had the most difficulty finding of my built kits. Steve

Super Clean is basically the same stuff, but a little stronger. I buy it by the gallon at any auto parts store. It won't hurt the plastic at all, but depending on the paint used, it may take longer than a few hours. Steve

You could have MCW put any color you want in a spray can. Heck, you could save the postage & take a short road trip to pick it up! They are based in Massillon Ohio now, 25 miles from you! Steve

Works great with kit glass! I've saved some pretty grungy looking glass with Super Clean. Steve

They were, but I'd have a field day if you could find them for those prices today! You have to remember, these were a "niche" in the kit market back then. They could charge those kind of prices, & I'll bet that they did quite well. If you notice the kit prices on the right side of the second page, they were appropriate for the time, $7.60. Steve

If I had the "disposable" income back then that I do now, I would have all of them. As it sits, I only wound up with 8. The '58 Caddy, '59 Dodge, '59 Plymouth, '59 Desoto, '58 Olds, '57 Olds, '61 Dodge & the '68 Chrysler 300 convertible. Somewhere along the line, the '58 Olds went AWOL. But I did manage to "build" a few of them, which was my intention when I bought them. I also built the '61 Dodge & the '58 Caddy, but those are both slated for re-builds. It's there Bill, just no photograph. It's listed on the second page right below the '56 Plymouth Taxi. Steve

It's probably been a few years since anyone has seen one of these. I have no idea why I kept it this long, but I thought some of you might be interested to see what X-EL was offering back in August of 1989. Steve

Yes, that's the cost for the loose parts already stripped. Although, Bob told me on the phone that he has a customer who just ships all of his parts as is, with the old chrome still on & the mold lines intact, so he must strip parts if need be. I would rather do those steps myself regardless just to make sure that they are up to my standards. I've re-plated many parts that still had pretty good chrome on them just because of the mold lines too. Once you build a kit that has had them removed & the chrome looks better than a brand new kit, it's hard to go back! Steve