charlie8575

Today was a little like Christmas in August. My parents usually give me some money for my birthday, which was the 5th, with instructions to get something fun. Having a thing for full-size Buicks, and Buicks in general, I was originally looking for a 1964 Riviera...then I stumbled across this. A 1964 Wildcat! It does need some TLC, and some parts replaced, but what a lovely model of a rather pretty car. I'll be ordering a hood and steering wheel from The Modelhaus, I have a goofed-up '66 Wildcat downstairs that will supply wheels, tires, and at least parts of the engine. What's really nice is that the car is only screwed together for the chassis/body, making disassembly pretty easy. I paid a bit more than I'd like to have, but this is a bit of a scarce model and will be well worth it when done. The only real problem I see with it is where some part (exhaust, I'm betting), fell off the chassis plate, and left terrible glue marks. I'm wondering if I might be able to modify the Revell 1963-64 Impala frame/floor as the worst-case scenario. if anyone else has any ideas, feel free to share. Next up was the '57 Ford police car. I got a VERY good deal on it. Although not modeling-related, strictly speaking, it will be used for a lot of modeling photography. This is an Olympus IS-2, a 35mm SLR with a built-in lens. Olympus uses the same basic body for some of its digital cameras. What makes this one handy is the magnificent macro lens that's built into it, really good for up-close and details. I'll be running some Fujichrome Velvia 50 through it this fall to photograph plants and flowers, and other autumn items. Charlie Larkin

Well, I got mine in the mail yesterday afternoon, and I must say, it's a very nice model. I'll be doing mine as a Mass. State Police cruiser, so I won't be using a lot of the decals, but the decals are well-done. I took some pictures of the parts of most interest to this model, as the rest of the model is Revell's standard-issue (and really good) '57 Ford Custom. The "prehistoric P-71" as I've taken to calling it (yes, I know the Interceptor package in '57 wasn't code P-71), will make a lovely addition to any police car (or general) modeling collection. Charlie Larkin

Sorry, Mike, I thought you were a member?! One fellow always comes to MassCar from it, his name is Jim Athens and lives in Wibraham or Longmeadow; I know the meet somewhere in or around Springfield, and as I'll be in Amherst for my MBA in Sept. '14 if all goes well, so I'll need the information, too. Charlie Larkin

Hi, Dennis. Where are you located? I'm in Marlborough. There are two clubs in eastern Mass- Classic Plastic in Lowell, and MassCar- and we're not sure where we are right now! Our temporary quartering was needed back by the man who owned the facility, so we're looking for a permanent home again. There's a small club in WMass, too, but I can't recall the name or any contact details. If I think of them, I'll let you know. We generally meet the third Wednesday and second Saturday of each month. If you'd like to stop by, let me know and I'll message you the meeting location for this month (and probably September). Charlie Larkin

OUCH! I'll bet that's one job you're glad you didn't take; if they were that bad off, and you landed it, your first assignment might well have been to package the office supplies. Charlie Larkin

I know exactly how you feel, Andy. Stable employment has been long in coming for me, too. Good luck with this. Charlie Larkin

It was called a "Chromesobile" for a reason. Nice job on that, Rich. Charlie Larkin

One thing I just realized I overlooked... Depending on the model, you would see Chevy 350s in other lines. I know for fact that at least one 1977 Delta 88 (I know because I almost bought the car) had a rare "G" code 350-2bbl. installed in it from the factory. I also have seen quite a few Delta 88s that were sold here running 4-bbl. Chevy 350s, presumably to meet the demand from emissions areas where the Olds engine was the best choice. The installation of the Chevy 350s in Oldsmobiles, from what I remember reading, is what triggered the massive fraud class action suit that brought light to the mix-n-match engines. Where people were paying for an Olds and getting a lower-priced line's engine, it was viewed by the court as not getting what you paid for. I suspect that had Oldsmobile used the H-code Buick (later X) 350, as Olds and Buick have long been seen as near-equals in many respects, I suspect the suit would never have happened. This also led to the disclaimer in the brochures that "(Insert Make) are equipped with engines produced by General Motors or one of its subsidiaries (i.e., GM, GM Canada or GM Mexico generally), based on availability and what is scheduled for your car" or something like that. For example, you bought a Delta 88 and expected a 307, if the plant ran short, you might end up with a 301 or 305. Charlie Larkin

First, the main subject- GREAT build. I always thought the Ventura, Nova though it was, had a little extra touch of cool with the front end. Now....engines. Starting around 1974-75, in order to meet surging demand for several brands (Pontiac and Buick had both skyrocketed in sales) and more to meet the needs of emissions controls in California and the newly-introduced "high altitude" emissions control systems, GM began mixing and matching engines amongst the divisions to meet not only sales demands, but smog requirements. For example, California and high altitude cars had one of two 350s, regardless of brand: either a Chevy or an Olds. The Chevy because it was so common and easy to work on, and because of its great adaptability, could be made to work acceptably with the emissions controls. The Olds 350 was, by its nature, a very clean-burning engine to start with, and would have the most effective control of smog with the least amount of strangling. Pontiac engines were, as noted, generally used in Pontiacs only, because of sales needs and the unique performance characteristics Pontiac V8s had. However, in 1974-75, quite a few Olds Delta 88s were assembled with Pontiac 400s as an intermediate step between the 350 and 455. Similarly, with the introduction of the 301 in 1977, those were very common in Buick LeSabres and starting with 1978, seen fairly regularly in Regals and Centurys. The 1978 LeMans, curiously, got Chevy 305s, leaving 301s for Grand Prixs and the 1978-79 Grand Am. Buick engines were usually Buick-only, with the obvious exception of the 231 V6. My 1979 Catalina had an "X" 350- the Buick engine, as Pontiac's 350 was discontinued after 1977, leaving Pontiac to supply Buick engines for low-altitude states and Olds engines for high-altitude states and California. Pontiac installed 403 Oldses in those states as well, if you ordered the "6.6 Litre" engine here in Massachusetts, you most likely would have ended up with a "Z" code 400. Buick 350s were used in the Apollo in 1973-74, from what I remember reading, and would periodically appear in Skylarks starting 1975. It is quite possible, therefore, that a few Venturas were equipped with them. Charlie Larkin

Clean, nicely-executed, and that color...it looks really nice on this. Charlie Larkin

Good to hear from you again, Clay, and good to see you're safe and sound. Charlie Larkin

Nick, did you acquire a Magnum? I'm also trying to figure out what that other taillight is off of? Charlie Larkin

Looking forward to a Falcon wagon, especially an early one. Charlie Larkin

Find pictures, real cars or both. Sometimes, while on the road or what have you, ideas will come to me and I'll start to design something based on them. I try to remember to keep a camera with me while traveling. You never know what you're going to find. Charlie Larkin

Thanks, Gregg. With all my mags packed away three years + () after moving home, I forgot about this article. It's a very useful-looking little rack. Charlie Larkin

It's so good to see someone else who gets that. In my entrepreneurial pursuits, here in Massachusetts, there are two very distinct trains of thought. The Boston crowd is a bunch of zit-faced hipsters (or people my age or older who act the part) and think "ewww...dirty, yucky making stuff...give us our little virtual world and trashy little trinkets." Then there's my group- the Worcester crowd. While I've gone to Boston for some presentations and programs and people simply poo-poo me and those of us outside of Rt. 128 (the major outer beltway that essentially demarcates where Greater Boston starts or ends, depending on the direction you're traveling). As I've started my group and a lot of the Boston people saying..."this is Worcester, we make stuff!" (Usually bit stronger than "stuff", but you get the idea). Those of us in Central/Western Massachusetts are proud to carry on a part of our production heritage, and plan to do so for a long time to come. Charlie Larkin

For those not easily offended (or if you want to take chances), this definition is hilarious! Charlie Larkin

Well, it was a fair bit more than I was hoping to pay, but it's mine. My parents gave me some money for my birthday, and where I have a thing for full-size Buicks... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-AMT-1964-Buick-Wildcat-Hardtop-Customizing-model-kit-Junkyard-Display-/221263111941?ViewItem=&item=221263111941&nma=true&si=RryZz7eP7sE0S5E68sKgCtfLUaE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Charlie Larkin

That looks great. Red/red looks nice on the early 'Birds, and that rocketship styling looks especially nice in it. I'm toying with doing mine in green. Charlie Larkin

Well done. Charlie Larkin

A Ford Custom wasn't fancy or flashy, and the model shouldn't be, either. Your work, however, is finely detailed and well-done. Charlie Larkin

Nice color pick. I have an unbiult full-detail kit downstairs I need to do something with. For curiosity's sake, what color was yours molded in? Mine's purple and I'm trying to figure out how to paint it without have a big problem on my hands. Charlie Larkin

Icky green? Check. Gumball machine and dog-dishes? Check. Yep, unmarked. And you did a great job with it. Charlie Larkin

Nice Torino, Al. My mother had a '72 (I think) that was dark green with a white vinyl top and a green interior with the command-back (tall integrated headrest) bench seat. My dad remembers trying to clean the white vinyl top, and he did not have nice words to describe that chore, especially considering they ended up parked under a tree. Charlie Larkin

I like it. Charlie Larkin