Casey

Call me Thomas, but what's the source which says these are shipping in two weeks?

This kit is your best starting point:

Sorry, I viewed it twice. Just not into '57 Fords nor four-doors, and the whole Ford/Mercury Canadian thing throws me for a loop. I'm sure once you start it, people will post the "where can I get one" question.

I think this would be the perfect build to use a set of those huge 23" Pegasus wheels and tires. The Matador body is massive and when it's lowered, any rolling stock smaller than 18" gets overwhelmed by the body's size.

This is what scratchbuilding is all about.

I like the idea you're using, but I think it would've worked better with the '67-8's more rounded, smooth lines, rather than the '69 more linear, sharper lines. It'll be interesting to see how this one turns out.

Lysol.

Can you imagine how top heavy this thing must be?

I agree. This kit is a mish-mash of big and small block parts, and the kit itself is based on a die-cast, with inaccuracies throughout. Pick up a 1/24 scale ex-Monogram '70 Dodge Challenger T/A from before '97-ish (when they modified the tooling to work with the then-new '70 'Cuda AAR) and build it right. The older issues of the kit are actually less expensive than a new $18.00 Revell kit, too.

I have a few extras from the Monogram 1/24 scale '69 Camaro Z/28 kits if they will work with the tires you plan to use. I think some of the 1/25 scale early '70s JoHan Pro Stock kits included Spyders, too, but I can't find a pic to confirm it. Maybe I'm thinking of a 1:1 Pro Stock Comet...

Different strokes for different folks. I consider the '53 Starliner hardtop the pinnacle of Studebaker design, so the '57 Golden Hawk seems like the same car with unnecessary fins and a pig-nosed hood to my eyes: The fins do actually work with the swept roofline, but they ruin the '53's tapering rear quarter panel lines. The formal roofline of the '62 GT erases even more of the original design IMHO, but if it's formal, squared lines you like, I can see its appeal. I would argue the ugliness of the Bulletnose, but I still think it's likable in the same way as a Gremlin- not the most fluid design, but still well-proportioned enough that it's not grouped with the Pacer and Pontiac Aztek/Buick Rendezvous. The front bumper on the '50 is horrible, looking like a complete afterthought, but I guess if you're going to go for broke (or eventually go broke ) you might as well put all your cards in a bet the house on the design:

Why add a sunvisor only to drill holes in it to allow the sun to shine through it? I'm all for quality craftsmanship and original ideas, but Rat Rods are a lot like some show-car Pro Streeters as far as driveability is concerned...and we know how the Pro Street thing came crashing down.

I saw this model Friday night while looking through your built models, and I can say without a doubt, this is my favorite by far. Everything about it is 'right'- color, stance, wheels. All perfect. Best model ever!

I guess if we're going down the list of Independent models which have yet to be kitted, a '50-'51 Studebaker bulletnose would be the best choice. The better looking '53 Starliner and Avanti have already been done, and the Kaiser Henry J, too, so we're getting down to slim pickin's as far as recognizability is concerned. The only problem is, I don't recall seeing a ton of '50-'51 Studes turned into gassers like I have with the Henry J, but it could always be made as a 2'n'1 kit with vintage speed parts. People eat up pie-crust slicks, reversed chrome steelies, and straight axles on leaf springs.

For value, it's hard to beat Revell's '68 Dodge Charger R/T kit, which includes two engines, extra drag type parts, and additional tires. Their '32 Fords (3-window, 5-window, and Sedan) also offer good value through multiple building options and extra parts. The recent AMT Double Dragster and 1925 Ford Double T kits also contain plenty of extra parts for various building options, and both have been updated with new parts and decals. If you're unsure, ask here about a specific kit and you'll get plenty of honest input before you buy.

Try posting an wanted ad in the Wanted section, as I'm sure someone here probably has on in their stash.

Steve is right, a new '68-'72 Chevy Chevelle/Malibu in 1/25 scale based on the current Revell '72 Olds Cutlass tooling would be a great idea, and quite honestly, Revell could pump out twenty years worth of "new" kits based solely on this shared tooling: (add your favorite up- and down-market options as packages as you see fit) '68-'72 Chevelle/Malibu '70-'72 Olds Cutlass (the ex MPC '69 tooling isn't horrible, so I'm leaving the '68-9s out for now) '70-'72 Pontiac LeMans/GTO (see above for '68-'69 GTOs- yes, the Monogram interior is incorrect for a '68...) '68-'69 Buick Skylark- I think the Monogram '70 GSX still holds up fairly well, but it's 1/24 scale, so...) '70-'72 Buick Skylark GS/GSX I have to wonder if, in twenty years, someone will be complaining about another Revell GM A-body kit coming out. If so, I think it's be a good problem to have.

Got this in a trade: ...soon to be de-Van-upped back into a van.

R/C vehicles usually have nice rubber tires, too, and I've found Maisto R/C stuff to be the best as far as parts donation is concerned. Some of the bodies are very accurate looking, too, which is a nice bonus.

What have you been waiting for?

Add this 'site to your links: www.hamtramck-historical.com

Yes, lots of things, but I am looking to see what's available in 1/8 scale, rather than to buy or have custom pieces made.

^^ link was not working. Fixed.

'75 was the first year for the larger rear window, so there are plenty of options for the old Monogram '70 T/A, but that kit is 20 years old, and outdated by today's standards. Personally, I'd rather see an all-new 1/25 scale '70-1/2-'74 Pontiac Firebird Formula & T/A 2'n'1 kit, but those '71 only fender vents and the new nose in '74 are not helping the cause.

There's always an exception.