blizzy63

AMT's 1940 Ford Sedan kit was first released in 1960 with optional '39 parts and was first modified in 1969 ('Gasser', T278) with new exhaust headers, 5-spoke mags, and drag racing scoop and blank nose. The 1939 Ford Tudor Sedan kit was first released in 1974 ('Street Rods Series', T144) but was a re-release of the same '40 Ford Sedan kit. Rather than a '39 Deluxe, I think the kit best represents a '40 Deluxe or a reasonable '40 Standard (minus a Standard dashboard).

Wow. You fooled me. Great job! You’re a styrene magician… 👍

I had that in mind about the Revell '32s not buildable as stock. But I appreciate Revell's efforts so I left that fact out. I also kept in mind that the AMT '32 Fords can be built as stock but they aren't perfect. When I say "purists", I'm thinking of the modellers I've known that want to build '32 Ford street rods in the same way 1:1 hot rodders build their cars: high realism, separate suspensions, exhaust, seats, etc., etc. (The rear-view Roadster in your picture above would be an example of this; It's certainly not one of the early kits!) Nice models, by the way!

Totally respect your position, Bill. I just think that, in 1959-60, hot rods were in vogue and AMT was just putting out a hot rod model kit for the hobby market with limited basis to an actual '32 Ford car.

I believe that AMT designing their 1932 Ford Model "B" Roadster back in 1959 with a built-in 3-scale-inch section through the body was done to produce a cool looking hot rod model (the stock-version accuracy just had to suffer). The design of the '32 Ford body needed to be close, not absolutely perfect. Remember, this was the first time AMT went outside of producing model car promos and kits for the U.S. auto manfacturers (the 1958 and 1959 model car kits didn't have engines and opening hoods yet). Yes, Revell out-did themselves in the '90s in producing their superb hot rod/street rod '32 Ford kits. But while Revell got on the ball to satisfy the modeling 'purists', at the same time, there also lurked the 'nostalgists': the hot rod and model kit historians and rat-rodders who have an eye for the style, spirit and flavor of the early days of hot rods and drag racing. AMT was there at the early years of styrene plastic model kits to give the kids a taste of the hot rod scene. These same, early kits survived four decades pretty much intact to give the old-timers their 'nostalgia' and the younger generations a taste of history and the style of the past. I agree that with some restoration, some additional "speed equipment" parts, and some appropriate 'vintage' decals, these early, surviving kits can maintain a decent fan base.

...And there's the question: WHERE is the AMT '32 Ford Coupe kit now...?

The new AMT/Round2 "Craftsman Plus" '65 Pontiac GTO hardtop kit (AMT1410) has only an engine plate but the hood does open. With the help of the readily available AMT '65 GTO convertible kit (e.g., AMT1191) as donor kit, you can add the engine and engine compartment detail to more fully complete the kit.

Lots of shared parts trees between the AMT '66 Ford Mustang kits. After all these years, it's nice to have a variety of '66 Mustang flavors. (Not to mention the AMT "Super Boss" Mustang GT Funny Car kit...) [Below: AMT704, AMT1305, AMT1491 boxart]

Note that in 1967 the FX class was replaced with the Experimental Stock Division (XS). All supercharged cars in this division ran as S/XS. For your model, you’ll need to decide what racing year it represents.

According to the 1965 and 1966 NHRA rules, adding a supercharger (not manufacturer/factory available equipment) would automatically advance a Factory Experimental (FX) class car to the Gas Coupe/Sedan class. A supercharged 427-equipped FX car went from A/FX to A/GS (‘65) and AA/G (‘66).

'Glue' and 'breathe' has me flashing back to the early '70s when I was a kid building WW2 airplanes. I discovered to my bemusement around my elementary school that some neighborhood kids were "breathing" model glue out of paper bags (!?!). I got to a point that I couldn't purchase model glue at my local drug store without a parent...

The AMT '34 Ford Pickup kit (as well as the Lindberg re-issues) came with an all-chrome 1961-62 Ford Thunderbird FE 390 V-8. Below is my Ford FE 390 that I de-chromed and painted in stock colors. The FE 427 in the '32 Vicky kit is behind it for comparison.

I'm liking those TIRES! Anyone know if they were issued in any other kits?

Not the prettiest look for this model...but typical of the 1960s (I still like the box art). The 1965 re-issue (2334) of this AMT kit with (?) '64 Corvette wheel covers. Plus some real 1:1 '64 Corvette wheel covers for comparison...

I built my chopped AMT '36 Ford 3-window coupe using the stock '36 engine block with the addition of heads and intake from the Revell '32 Ford Sedan kit (85-2062). The Revell '37 Ford pickup kit (85-4516) also has a very nice hot rod '40-48 flathead ripe for the pickins.