Dave Darby

The big problems with both both the 58 Edsel and the Ala Kart were out of scale engines and misshapen bodies. The Ala Kart was too square, and the Edsel's body looked like it was sectioned, a look exacerbated by the too fat front bumpers. Round 2 has the better portion of the original Ala Kart, and I believe at least the body portion of the original Edsel tool. Both far superior appearance-wise than the new tool kits. I'd like to see what kind of restoration they could pull off on those two.

Bob Johnson went into further detail (and perspective) on this subject via Facebook a little while back, but the late Tom West described what happened to the Aurora tools here: https://culttvman.com/main/aurora-faq-6-what-is-the-story-about-the-aurora-train-wreck/ In a nutshell, Monogram (then owned by Mattel) acquired the Aurora tools to keep them out of the hands of competing or upstart companies. Mattel financed the acquisition via a loan to Monogram, which would be repaid (as I understood it) by scrapping any tools that were not considered to be viable sellers, or were duplicates of existing Monogram products. Not that many tools were actually damaged in the train wreck. When does this book come out, and what is it called, Tim?

Well.... Not all of us. Some of us like that old "clunky" tooling. besides, much of that old Revell stuff is not only not all that clunky, it's as good or better than some of Revell's newer stuff. And besides - where else are you going to get a 62 Valiant, Lancer, Dart, etc? Direct from a 1959 era Revell mold.

I guess everybody is supposed to think alike. Imagine the creativity and progress in a world like that...

Exactly. Usually such models are rare because nobody wanted them when they came out. I used to collect record albums. Some of the rarest and highest priced ones I owned were cut-outs. (Marked down for clearance via hole punching or clipping the corner of the cover). That said, the Big Drag would be a welcome reissue. I'd like to see it as a build option for a Big T reissue. But my guess is Revell still has that tool.

I think they tooled up some visors for the newer reissues. (Ertl).

I saw that gorgeous beauty in person at Spartanville this past January. I'm looking forward to you posting your amazing 1/12th scale 57, and the equally gorgeous Corvette (among others) you had on display. Your work is very inspiring. On another note, thank you very much for your generous gift of the AMT Classic Chevrolet set box that I had built the box art models for. That gift was very timely, as just a few months later, I was able to re-acquire the 58 Impala that was the center piece for the cover. Here's the story... http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/153081-amt-1958-impala-biography-of-a-box-art-model/?tab=comments#comment-2259952

Very cool build. I like that you used the old Revell multi-piece body kit as a starting point. They call it a 60, but it's really a 59. Of course, without the stock seats, as you have it, it could be called a 60. Anyway, a very creative and tasteful build. What did you do for the tail lights?

Love it! Very cool revive. I do miss the bed rails though...

I know you knew. I was just backing up what you said.

Looking at the parts layout on the bottom of the box there's only one engine. There was always only one.

Here's a survivor 62.

But wait, there's more....

That actually wasnt the very last Model off the assembly line. According to Henry's Wonderful Model T, by Floyd Clymer, the last Model T off the line was number 15,007,033.

That's tasty! I'd say you nailed it.

Looking good Steve!

Looks better, but just like its 57 Chevy stablemates, the top is too high. Nice job on the build though.

LOL, good one Paul! It would sure appear so. The mid 70s were a bad time for Monogram. Some of the AMT stuff was pretty clunky around that time also.

He wasn't was paralyzed, he had muscular dystrophy. There are photos of him holding models with his hands. But he was still quite ahead of his time.

It's an AMT 1960 Ford F100 cab section sitting on the top of the front clip of an AMT 1961 Ford F100.

Some very cool Woodies in this thread! Here's one of mine. Not an original, this was built from the 2007 Revell reissue, with rolling stock from the Blue Bandito.

Super nice. I came really close a number of times to buying the Lindberg "Bull Horn" reissue a few years go. Now I'm kicking myself for not doing it. Yours is gorgeous.

Thanks Tom, The really cool part of this story is that this model was one of Richard's prized possessions. So for him to sell it back to me - at cost, no less, was truly generous of him.

Very cool as usual, Dennis. And I love the Y Block Ford in it. One of my favorite engines. Somewhere in Michigan, a Tim Boyd will be smiling.

It would only say Corvette on the valve covers if it were using the optional finned aluminum valve covers. The standard stamped steel covers would still say Chevrolet.