Snake45

He wanted "original artist." Were they the original artist? I know it was written by either Randy Newman or Paul Williams (never can remember which). I'm thinking Randy Newman.

Okay, I did that last night, examining both bodies using an Optivisor, and I can tell you for a fact, with 100% certainty...nothing. I think it is entirely possible that MPC Cougar funny body began life as the AMT stock mold. I have never seen AMT and MPC bodies that were closer in size and overall shape than these two. In just about all areas of detailing, however, there are differences (besides the obvious funnycar ones). These differences could be explained by reworking the mold into the FC. If MPC didn't use the actual AMT molds, then it looks like they reverse-engineered an AMT kit to design their own body. If the mood strikes me, I might try to look at the insides of the bodies to see if I can find any telltale identical tooling marks between the two. I can imagine AMT selling MPC the Cougar body molds, keeping the chassis, interior, engine etc molds to be reworked for the '69. It would explain why we've never seen any reissue of the AMT '68 Cougar, even as a funnycar, custom, dirt tracker, etc. The next obvious question is, could Round 2 (or somebody) rework the Cougar funny body back to stock? Anything's possible, I suppose, but I imagine that with today's tech and tooling it would actually be easier to tool up a new body shell than to turn the FC back into a good, accurate stocker.

I'll bet everyone here could tell at least one such tale about a "holy grail" kit that slipped through one's fingers back in the day!

There's also an inexpensive 1/24 '69 Judge diecast. Not perfect, and it's got aftermarket wheels, but it fills the slot on my shelf (temporarily, anyway) until I can get a better one together. Well worth the $10 I paid for it at the gas station....

Shout it from the mountain on out to the sea, No two ways about it-------

Skynard's Simple Man.

I have an original unbuilt AMT '68 Cougar (the answer to everyone's next question is NO!) and the Model King Cougar funny. I'll try to compare the bodies in the next couple days and see if they seem to be of the same origin. (AMT and MPC shared some tooling back in the day--not much, but I believe there were a couple kits that started as AMT and ended up in the MPC stable.)

The Beswick funny body is AFAIK a completely stock (promo-type) body. It can be used to piece together a '69 Judge (or straight GTO) if you really want to do it. Others have done it and I'm planning to do such myself. The body is actually more accurate in shape than a few other "new" tools I could name....

Very interesting! I built one of these and never noticed. Will have to take another look at it. I did spot the shortness of the nose of the Revell tube-framed kit instantly. Some of us see flaws and errors better than others. The snapper '34 Ford didn't bother my eye at all, but Revell's '69 Nova and '67 Camaro drive me nuts with their errors....

Another way I've heard it said: "When you buy the best, you only cry once."

The only Tom Daniel kits I've ever owned are the Badman '55 Chevy and the Street Fighter '60 Chev SD. Unlike many of his later designs, these have some connection to reality and can be built into tasteful models (with a little work). Never been a fan of his cartoon-like "thingies." A few years ago I scored a bunch of early '60s Rod & Custom magazines at a flea market. TD had a regular "Sketchpad" feature in them, with custom and styling ideas. Having only been exposed to his thingies of the late '60s and '70s, I was absolutely stunned at how beautiful and tasteful some of his earlier ideas had been. In fact, I think a few of these ideas were actually picked up by Detroit and used on some of the late '60s-early '70s musclecars that we all love. Really nice stuff and I hope to someday build a model or two based on TD's early works.

Me too. In fact I think I might have two. Always wanted to do one in blue metalflake with the clear hood tinted candy blue to match. Come to think of it, this thread is making me want to actually DO it.

Dunno but I think the engine and chassis in the '69 were pretty much the same as '68. It's possible the '67-'68 body got modded into a funnycar or something.

Me too. I need it for my "Roy G. Biv Polished Unpainted Plastic" collection.

DEFINITELY get variable speed.

I was right. There are THREE photos of this car in the first (unnumbered) Street Rod Pictorial (2-page spread, and then two pics on the back cover including a closeup of the engine, uncredited). It's also in Street Rod Pictorial #2, in a group shot of a couple dozen rods. (It's easily distinguishable by the wire fronts, brass radiator, and FI SBC.) If one wanted to pick ONE car to represent the so-called "Fad T," this one would be a pretty good candidate.

Dunno but you can sing it to a couple of different tunes on country radio right now.

I don't think I've ever been able to sit through a whole Tom Waits song.

Very nice! I built the MPC '67 GTO about 20 years ago and I had something like 40 hours of work just straightening out and correcting that body...I had to fill, sand, or reshape every square inch of it. I've often said since that if I wanted to build another '67, I'd graft the assend of the MPC body onto a Revell '66. Good to see that that idea is working out for you. One tip: I'd look at using the MPC headlight/grille/bumper unit on the Revell body. The old MPC is actually more accurate--the Revell headlight bezels are too thick and chunky looking. I just finished restoring an old original MPC '66 I built back in the day and was amazed at how good that body looks compared to the newer Revell '66. It's actually superior in a few area (though the Revell is of course better in others). Good luck with your project, and Model On!

I go there sometimes when I have a 40% or more off coupon. I can usually find something to buy. If not, sometimes I'll grab yet another Revell Yenko Camaro or Z/28 just for parts.

Isn't the Lindberg '75 Buick 1/32 scale? I have a vague recollection that it is. I think there's an inexpensive 1/24 diecast of the '74 Pinto available. I seem to recall seeing it at the gas station a couple years ago. For some reason the brand name "Wild Cherries" comes to mind in connection with it. I think they had a Vega and maybe a Gremlin too.

Trivia question: What other fairly well-known rock song is, according to its own writer, pretty much a direct ripoff of Little Red Corvette?

Very nice--that came out great! I have this kit but have always been put off by the weird panel lines. You're inspiring me to dig the thing out and Snake-slap it together anyway!

It's there: http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_244865-Ford-Model-T.html As to who built it, I dunno. But I think I've seen it or something VERY much like it in the old Rod & Custom Pictorials or in Rod & Custom. I'll see if I have time tonight to flip through the pictorials and see if it's in there.

There's also the old Monogram ZZ Top car, but it's in 1/24 and I'm not sure it would work well for a fenderless. As to the Revell non-snapper '34, it's seriously undersized and the hood area in particular is visibly too short. It actually might work for the OP, though--stretch the frame a little and leave the hood off. (I've been trying to think of something to do with mine--at the moment I'm leaning toward using the body for a fuel altered and the short chassis for a T or Bantam street rod. But all that could change tomorrow.)