Mark

Some have optional lights in those areas, others don't. Count the number of cross bars in those areas to figure out which version the kit piece represents, and detail accordingly. Being an SS427, it does have the correct SS427 emblem in the center of the grille. SS cars with other engines (all were available, even the straight six) had the offset emblem, and flat hood.

I'd first find a photo of the 1:1 car that has no connection to the kit box art. The manufacturers are notorious for retouching photos to more closely match the contents of the box. The kit could be closer to the 1:1 car (or further off from it) than you might think.

If it was bought online or at a show, that throws a wrench into things. Some local hobby shops don't do returns either, they direct buyers to go to the manufacturer...

Round 2 isn't going to do it, but someone wanting a stock body could probably use this one as a starting point. It would be easier and probably cheaper to search out an original kit or promo though.

The length reduction makes the roof look a bit large. As I recall, the '61 and '62 are more obvious in that respect.

The reasoning behind those kits, at that time, was to wring one more use out of an item then thought to have little or no value in the years ahead. One more hit, then on to the scrap pile. Nobody involved thought there would be any interest in this stuff forty or fifty years down the road.

No. Fonzie never drove the ex-Monkeemobile on Happy Days, and the Vampire Van never appeared on Dark Shadows either...

The Coffin is 1/24, but as I recall the engine is almost exactly the same size as the 1/25 scale mill in the Ford pickup kit. I have not made a part-by-part comparison however.

The Sizzler kit had an early Chrysler Hemi in addition to the small-block Chevy.

The Jo-Han Cadillacs (the early ones at least) were "cheated" a bit, to look correct with the same tires that were used on other cars, and to fit in the promotional model boxes that the other cars used also. Actual scale might even differ in one aspect versus another (wheelbase, length, width).

Nope, the Ala Kart has a Dodge Red Ram (different engine, smaller than the Firedome and the Chrysler Fire Power engines). Chrysler made three series of Hemi engines, few parts interchange between them. The Monogram Li'l Coffin kit also has a Firedome engine. That's the only other one I know of.

Just one thing...the original 1973 kit did include side glass. MPC was hit and miss with that...the Vegas, Pintos, and Mustangs (the '72 as well as the Mustang IIs) had side glass. The '72 Butch Leal Duster doesn't have it, not sure about the other Dusters. The '73 Landy Challenger didn't have side glass either.

Nope...he got the message...the Great Unloading has begun...

No, the Sizzler (original version) was larger than the Slingster kit, closer to 1/20 scale. Monogram is said to have deliberately scrapped a number of early kit tools in the Seventies, thinking the subject matter was no longer saleable or the products no longer up to their standards for quality or detail. Kits mentioned included the Sizzler dragster, 1/20 scale '56 Cadillac, Uncertain T, Futurista, Ford Sport Coupe hot rod, among others. Not sure if this was done before the Aurora purchase or possibly around the same time, to clear storage space for the incoming Aurora kit tooling.

The Cougar chassis WAS used under the Color Me Gone early Charger, but the one in the Charger was slightly longer. The tooling for the chassis side pieces had a section spliced in to change the length. The Unswitchable GTO funny car used that chassis also, but it isn't correct for that car. The '68 and '69 GTO (but not the '70) used it also. Body interior parts are specific to each kit. I pieced together a Color Me Gone Charger from two incomplete built ones, was going to raid a Cougar for some small chassis parts but between the two Chargers I have all of the needed parts in good condition. I sold off the leftover body a long time ago, so no spare parts left.

MPC did reissue it once, in the early Eighties. Molded in black with different wheels, and minus the trailer. It was called "Demon Vette". The pinkish graphics didn't look particularly demonic, though...

The annual kit has Hurst mag wheels. Reissues have the K-H wheels. There is one issue '69 Cougar that has unplated K-H wheels. It is a Seventies issue though, all recent reissues do NOT have them.

AMT '66 Mercury has the best set. The '53 'Vette wheels do not have open backs as I recall.

I believe the early '64 cars did still have roll-up side glass. The early cars still had side trim and a bench front seat with the passenger side seat back removed. The Dana 60 rear axle did not yet exist in 1964 so it is wrong for the kit. Best combination of parts IMO would be Jo-Han body and related parts, and maybe some engine parts, interior and chassis from the Lindberg kit, aftermarket wheels and tires.

Maybe...I've never checked as I have been a subscriber since about 1981.

Back issues are often sold at higher than original cover price.

Yes, four-speed. The slant six version may have a three-speed manual (which would be correct for that engine) but all of the V8 versions have four-speeds.

No, the Petty version has a Hemi.

The Lindberg '64 Plymouth kits (all versions) have manual transmissions, all of the Dodges have Torqueflites.

Adams was briefly tied in with Revell in the mid/late Fifties. The first run of most of their kits were likely branded as Revell. When Adams and Revell dissolved their partnership, Adams marketed their kits under their own name. After that, it would seem that they either sold or rented the tools to other companies. Back in the Fifties there were a lot of different, sometimes oddball, scales used. This continued into the early Sixties. The British branch of Revell tooled a series of British and European cars that varied from about 1/40 to about 1/45. It finally hit all of these companies to start tooling their "series" to a single scale, as builders wanted to display them together and have them in the same size relative to the 1:1 versions.