Mark

The lower tank (upper one is for fuel) and gauge panel would be for an air compressor. The engine runs on four cylinders, pumps air with the other four. The cylinder heads appear to be items manufactured for such a conversion, but a lot of home/farm built compressors were constructed on the cheap, without aftermarket parts like that.

The AMT '70-1/2 Camaro promo and kit have vinyl roof detail molded as part of the body. AMT did not re-box the Camaro kit for '71, they sold it in the same box two years straight (they did this with their Corvettes also). AMT's Camaro had the full-width bumper, non-Rally Sport front end. MPC's '70-1/2 Camaro kit (no promo) also had the full-width bumper, but did not have vinyl roof detail. For '71, MPC altered their Camaro to the RS front end with the split bumper.

The '70-1/2 promo was made by AMT, and has vinyl roof detail and low-back bucket seats with headrests. It also has the single, full-width front bumper. '71 through '73 were made by MPC. '73 promo was a Rally Sport 350 (kit was a Z/28 with oversize front fender emblems). By process of elimination, you're down to '71 or '72, and I don't think there is any difference between those two except the date on the license plate...

The only thing that bugs me is that eBay lets this stuff "roll over" time after time after time, and you've got to plow through that flotsam to get to anything decent. Every once in a while, I do a search under "Pyro" to look for a couple of kits. I've seen the same four dollar instruction sheets turn up in every search I've done in the last three or four years. I guess eBay wants to keep the "available item" count up there...

Not for precision work, that's for sure. I have the X-Acto version, though in the past I made one by sawing a notch into the end of a cheap soldering iron. A machine screw held an #11 X-Acto blade in the slot, through a hole drilled perpendicular to the notch. For straight cuts on sheet plastic, I'll either use a saw or do the "scribe and break" method with a box cutter. But I still use the X-Acto piece once in a while, usually to cut odd-shaped parts from sheet plastic or for rough cuts on radiused wheel openings.

The big cars still used the early engine in '66. Jo-Han tooled it for the '66 Marlin, which turned out to be the only kit they did that was correct with it. The next-generation V8 was used in some of the smaller Americans in '66, because the older V8 was bigger and couldn't be installed on the assembly line. Jo-Han never did a 100% correct second-generation V8; most had later parts (valve covers, water pump, front cover) cobbed onto the old block. Jo-Han never did a late block, exhaust manifolds, or decent cylinder heads.

The wheels have been changed a couple of times over the years. Early issues used compact car tires (the ones used in Corvair and Opel GT kits for stock). Most of the early variations (Covered Wagon, Topless Pick-Up) had the same parts in different boxes, with instructions for cutting the top. I've heard those versions were done because the Deora was a slow seller. The slant six engine is cool now, but kids buying kits back then probably weren't too crazy about it. At the very least, AMT should have made the engine cover a separate piece molded in clear, so you could see the engine from up top. The Alexander's Drag Time was a DIY project in a box. The engine was the Hot Rod Shop (AMT parts pack) 392 Hemi, unplated. The whole tree was tossed in, so you got the Corvair engine along with it. The builder was supposed to radius the rear wheel openings, trim out the molded-in engine cover, and cut off the top. Trim lines may have been added to the inside of the body for the wheel openings, but you were on your own for the rest (and that plastic was pretty thick). I don't know what was included for tires, but if I remember right you were supposed to use the slant six engine's U-shaped display stand to make a roll bar. I've got an early Seventies issue with larger wheels and tires. The two sets of compact car wheels were replaced by the reversed/baby Moon set that is still in the kit, and a set of "Flag" mags that appeared in a few other AMT kits in the late Sixties. These were later changed out and replaced with the four-slot wheels that are still in the kit. This issue still has the clear canopy, and has a couple of surfboards that AMT put into a few other kits around that time The flat tonneau cover for the bed area is still included also. The next issue after that was the mid-Seventies "Vantasy" with the camper shell. I don't think the clear canopy reappeared from that point on.

The tires in the original were two-piece slicks, in two sizes. The fronts were a slick that replaced the vinyl slicks in the AMT annual kits of the day, and the rears were the largest slicks AMT had, the ones they used in their funny car kits (Mustang II, Monza, "Dragray" Corvette, "Mopower" Plymouth Satellite). Both were branded Goodyear. The AMT/Ertl reissue used vinyl, one-piece tires: AMT non-treaded NASCAR tires for the front, ex-MPC 16" wide dragster/funny car/Pro Stock slicks for the rear. Did the 1:1 employ "stagger", or use a floater on the front? If so, then you'd have to look to the aftermarket, or try the Monogram sprint tires...

DTR took, shall we say, considerable "artistic liberty" with the box art on their reissues. Their '32 Ford "jalopy racers", for example, can't be built anything like what is shown on the box with what is inside the box. I'd assume the tires are the same...

Shirley Shahan (Judy Lilly stayed with Mopar well into the Seventies). As for the AMX kit, it doesn't have stock engine parts (Jo-Han AMC engines weren't all that accurate anyway, with some later parts cobbed onto a '66 long block). The interior is a 1970 unit with high-back seats molded as a unit with the bucket. (The instrument panel is correct '68-'69.) The chassis has no molded-in exhaust detail. The Jo-Han USA Oldies issue is closer to stock, though it still has a '70 interior bucket and also has Hurst mags as the only wheel choice (the Oldies issue has no optional parts or decals). Like the Shahan reissue, it has thick plastic rods replacing the wire axles used in the annual kits and original Shahan drag car issue. The annual issues were Jo-Han kits, sold by AMT. (The first two-seater AMX kit issued by Jo-Han in their own packaging was the original issue of the Shahan drag car, in '71.) Besides the '68 and '69 annual kits having more correct interiors, they also included stock "turbocast" wheel covers (promos had Magnum 500s) and a complete Logghe funny car chassis! The USA Oldies kits can be found far more reasonably than the annuals, though. Like many Jo-Han kits, the chassis have everything molded in, and the interior is so-so, but Jo-Han's excellent proportioning and fine detail work on the body save the day...

The Cyclone was converted to NASCAR trim after the '71 kits (annual and funny car) exited the MPC catalog. The NASCAR version (reissued by Model King a few years ago) uses only the body and trim parts from the annual, on a generic two-piece adjustable-wheelbase chassis (that was used in all of the kits in the series). Every Cyclone part is altered in some way except the windows (and the rear spoiler, if it is in there; I don't have one handy to check). The body is largely stock, though (no reshaped wheel openings) and can be brought close enough to stock. The stock hood, bumpers, and taillights can be had in resin. The Model King issue has stock 1970 and 1971 Spoiler decals ('71 annual didn't have stock decal stripes) as well as the stock wheels on the plated tree. The Revell '70 Torino GT/Cobra underbody is an incredibly good fit for the ancient MPC body, and that kit's separate door handles and side markers (cut from the body) will swap onto the Cyclone. The interior is the sticking point; I'll probably pull molds off of some MPC parts for mine. Mine isn't very far along, but I have seen one combination Model King/Revell Cyclone Spoiler finished...

Are you referring to currently available (Dirt Track Racecars) issue kits? AMT's 1975 catalog shows three (then) new sprint car kits, all credited to Grant King. These were called "Grant King Sprint" (no wing), "Pole Cat Winged Sprint", and "Drifter Super Modified". These differ in detail (injector stacks, hood, wheels, side pods, wing) but all use the same chassis. The '76 midyear catalog includes a fourth variation, the wedge-bodied "Groove Boss Supermodified", again credited to King. This one uses the same chassis, but has the wedge-shaped body. The original Seventies issues had no optional parts, and could only be assembled as the version illustrated on the box. The tires included were two sizes of drag slicks, the two-piece "neither plastic nor vinyl" things that virtually no cement known to man worked on. I built the original Grant King Sprint years ago. The small-block Chevy engine is on the crude side, the chassis was a bit fiddly but as I remember the pieces did fit together pretty well. AMT even included a jig to help assemble the frame. When you clean the parting lines off of the tubular frame sections, the tubes do appear to be round unlike a lot of funny car or dragster chassis back then. There was a 1986 AMT/Ertl reissue (called "Grant King Sprint Car") which included two building versions: the original "Grant King Sprint" and the "Groove Boss Supermodified". The wing and side pods from the other variations aren't included. Tires were changed to Eighties AMT NASCAR tires (front) and MPC 16" dragster slicks (rear). I didn't build that issue, but I remember reading the reviews on it. Supposedly the fit of the chassis and body panels was cleaned up (not that I had any trouble to speak of with the first one). If DTR commissioned a reissue prior to Round 2 taking over, I would presume that the DTR issue(s) would have the same combination of parts as the AMT/Ertl reissue. Even with different names, illustrations, and decals, I'd bet that if they have more than one version available, the parts inside the kit boxes will be identical. They've got a number of reissue AMT kits like the '32 Fords and Early Modifieds out in more than one box, all with the same parts inside. You'll need to check the aftermarket to see if better tires can be had.

The only "official" reference to a '68/'69 Coronet was a listing in an RC2 catalog. I think there was an illustration of an MPC 1969 hardtop annual kit box. Until/unless someone can produce a picture of a test shot, the catalog listing is all that ever existed...

I picked one up last Wednesday (8/28). Never thought to try it until now, but the grille is a good fit on the AMT wagon. The hood needs to be "shimmed" a bit at the sides, but matches up well also. So a '78-'80 wagon is workable...

2004 was smack in the middle of the era when the AMT and MPC brands were run by non-hobbyists, without any of the engineers or other people that had solid knowledge or information regarding what still exists and what doesn't. They announced a bunch of items including that Coronet, and a stock '71 Mercury Cyclone. One catalog even listed a reissue of the '61 Ranchero, with the accompanying box art being a copy of the annual kit box. The Coronet still exists, but as the 1970. A '68 would have to be all-new.

The Chevelle is now the Modified Stocker. Many of the racing team kits can't come back because one or both of the cars underwent major alterations later...

Most of the racing team sets were issued in '67 and '68, including that one. Not many department stores carried the sets because of the higher price. A lot of the ones I have seen on eBay have been messed with (cars or trailer replaced with later issue items) but this one appears to be all original. The decal sheet in this one is unique. Sometimes one or both of the cars in a set were available as individual kits alongside the set. In those cases, the set usually had the sheet from one of the separate kits. Good score!

The 304 V8 was an option for the Pacer in 1978 and 1979. The raised hood not only allowed for the V8, but provided more of a sight line for drivers (apparently there were some complaints about that on the earlier models). A handful of 1980 Pacers were built, all with the 258 six. No 1980 AMC cars were offered with a V8. The Levi's interior option wasn't available in AMC cars after 1978 (Jeeps may have had it longer), so MPC's Pacer kit would have been incorrect for '79 without an interior update. Too, the X package was renamed "Sport" during the '78 model year. MPC probably didn't update the kit beyond '78 for sales reasons. More AMC trivia relating to Round 2 reissues: the '76 Gremlin kit depicts a pretty rare car. The V8 option for the Gremlin was dropped early in the '76 model year, with fewer than 1,000 '76 V8 Gremlins having been built. AMT announced a '77 Gremlin kit, but as with MPC's Pacer, the cost of updates (engine, front clip, bumpers, taillights) probably prevented AMT from going beyond 1976. AMT was getting away from annual kits anyhow ('77s were the last until Ertl rebranded MPC's annuals, with the elimination of the MPC brand).

I've spent $150 once or twice (one being an AMT Grand Prix racing team; '53 Ford pickup, trailer, and AC Cobra). I haven't got any of the drag team kits; I'd like one, but won't pull the trigger because every one I've seen close up has been messed with in one way or another. The same goes for promo models now; most of the ones I see at shows have been doctored up (repaints, Future applied over scuffed original metallic finish, replacement plated parts but dull original wheels, things like that). I was fortunate enough to get the good ones I do have when they were only a few years old, before the prices went through the roof. I did get a couple of AMT '58 (and Jo-Han '59) annual kits in below the $150 mark, but that was a while back. I'm down to looking for a handful of kits now; anything else I buy usually gets resold at some point. I almost spent $280 for an AMT Nova Crew Wagon kit (last issue before the Boss Nova). It was described as (and guaranteed to be) complete, but was somewhat less than that upon arrival. The seller didn't want to take it back, and offered to knock it down to $100. I took the offer, as I had the missing parts. I didn't need another builder, but I did want the mint condition box. I can still sell another builder kit and bring the cost of that one down a bit.

Haven't built the Revell Deuce highboy roadster yet, but when I do I think I'll stick a 350/350 in it. Red highboy, small-block Chevy, 9" Ford rear axle, four-bar suspension front and rear, maybe a set of steelies...can't get much more generic than that.

The Eliminator kit has the Pontiac V8 that was in earlier issues of Monogram's '34 Ford. The Eliminator was a decent enough curbside kit, but most of the chassis was wrong for it. The later Thom Taylor cabriolet kit (further alteration to the Eliminator) has the chassis cleaned up (molded-in exhaust cleaned off, 9" Ford rear end). Right off the top of my head, though, I can't recall if they changed the engine for that version.

Some swaps are done because the chosen engine fits better than others. The small-block Chevy fits early Fords better than most Ford engines. The Chevy has the oil pan sump at the rear, starter on the passenger side, distributor at the back where it lines up with the firewall recess for the Ford fuel pump. Early Buick engines were also used; same configuration as the Chevy except for the starter being on the drivers' side. The engine-to-transmission adapter would move the starter to the other side, and get it away from the steering box. A lot of these early swaps were done with little or no welding, so reversing the sump on an oil pan was a big deal back then. If you look through the old Rod & Custom or Street Rodder magazines, you'll find the occasional Forties Mopar or Chevy running a small-block Ford engine. The Ford is narrower/longer than a small-block Chevy, so it was used in situations where an inline six was being replaced. I was looking at one of those old Petersen Publishing Chrysler books the other day. Nearly all of the Mopar street rods were running Chevy engines! This was before Mopar Performance got aggressive with advertising to the street rod crowd (anyone remember the "Bored with Ford?" ad campaign?). It seemed like, after that, more rodders started using same-make engines in their builds. Some guys still don't care what name is on the engine though...they go with what they like.

Not the original King (red) or Queen (green) Daytona. Big Willie had several of these cars, this one supposedly has a few parts from the King. The red King Daytona is said to still exist as a shell (it was acid-dipped but not properly neutralized). The green Queen Daytona was wrecked years ago.

There was also the "Novacaine" funny car, which used the stock Nova body but with different front fenders. On those, the wheel openings are so far forward the front edges are off the fender...

Most post-1980 NASCAR stuff doesn't sell. Nobody cares who won what race in 1993, they only care about who won last week. Even if you are in the small group that wants to catch up on some of the "forgotten" stuff, you can pick up individual kits for as little as $2 each. A while back, I decided I should pick up a couple of the early Monogram kits. I found one of the Mountain Dew Buick Regals (one of the first group of cars issued), sealed, for $3. I know where I can get one of the Thunderbirds, but it's priced over $10. I know I can find one of those kits in single digits. The AMT NASCAR kits, being 1/25 scale, have a lot of decent parts in them if you aren't into NASCAR. The Fords (both the cars and trucks) have Cleveland engines that, while not 100% accurate for some other applications, have a bunch more detail than any of the ones in earlier kits.