pack rat

All of the tooling you mention still exists, although some of the older ones are getting tired. The '57 Chev in particular is still alive, but barely.

Yes, definitely go with the Spiderman kit. It has the wheels you need along with a few other optional parts. The pic shows the optional wheels, bumpers, mirrors and exhaust bits. There are optional seats as well, and possibly a few other parts that I can't recall.

False; it will use the hardtop body.

When originally tooled by MPC the bike represented a 68-71 Yamaha DT-1 250 Enduro with the lights removed and a motocross-style high front fender. The exact year could be determined by whatever color you chose to paint it (68-white, 69-metallic gold, 70-metallic red, 71-metallic orange). As reissued by Round2 the the same tooling is being used but there is no reference to any manufacturer (the joys of licensing). No manufacturer nameplates will appear on the bike. Below are pics of a '68 DT-1, an MPC DT-1 from a Dodge pickup with lights added from the scrap box, and a Suzuki T400 from the same pickup (unfortunately the Suzuki is not being reissued).

It will contain two identical bikes.

Two identical bikes; no Suzuki (the Suzuki was the one with the "snowflake" wheels)

Due to licensing concerns, Round2 doesn't mention a manufacturer......but it sure looks like a 1968 to 1971 Yamaha DT-1 250 Enduro.

Some info from John re the upcoming dirt bike parts pack: http://www.collectormodel.com/#sthash.wbffMGce.dpbs

No kidding! The folks who don't like the '66 Mustang would really howl when opening a '58 annual.

I got the image from a friend....the above posts should answer your questions.

Yes....Playcraft. They also did the '59 Lincoln, another tool that was later reissued by AMT. Another "lost tool" rumor....anyone remember hearing about an AMT Chev Pickup promo tool that reappeared in the '90's in someone else's possession? IIRC it was a '66, and there were rumors of a reissue from someone (not AMT).

A stock version is listed on the box, along with a pic of a full-fendered Mod Rod.

Your answer....direct from John; You can indeed build it full fendered..

A little backstory from John Greczula: http://www.collectormodel.com/#sthash.qwPmM8YM.dpbs

Part of the story as I remember hearing it; Some time in the mid-70's AMT sent the tool out for repair to a toll and die shop. In the interim their financial problems led up to the Lesney/Matchbox purchase, and in the resulting upheaval the tool was either forgotten, or the shop wasn't paid, so the shop kept the tool. I don't recall where I heard this, and I don't think I ever heard the other half of the story (how Lindberg got the tool). Perhaps someone who was closer to the action can fill in the blanks.

Yes, it's a photo of the model.....retouched? Not that I can see. It's just the old '34 pickup with the PE parts and new decals added. Like Bill said; this is one of those kits you use as a jumping-off point for something a little more creative. As a stand-alone kit, it certainly has it's limitations.

The (simplified) chassis will be re-issued just as MPC originally issued it in the 70's/80's

The USA-1 kit contains the same aluminum wheels as the Retro Deluxe kit, Round2 used a photo of a 1:1 Vette with stock wheel covers on the pre-production box art, hence the confusion. The re-tooled wheel covers in the Prestige kits are OK, but the original AMT pieces are much nicer to my eye.

FYI...even if it's complete, some examples of this kit can be pretty rough (short shots, mold misalignment etc).

Yes, it has the correct hood. I think the only examples with the wrong hood are in the Ertl box with the red box art car. I seem to recall Ertl catching the mistake very early, and I know for sure Round2 knew to watch for the error.

You're both correct....almost. They're using the Fuzzduster box art, with a Graphic Red stock built-up on the corner of the box-top replacing the MPC "Golden Wheels" label. Pics of the red car will replace the original MPC Fuzzduster pics on one of the side panels as well. However...box art has been known to change at the last minute.

This IS the street machine kit from 2014. The street machine kit you refer to is a "2 in 1" kit; both the stock and the street machine parts are in the box. The box art shows both cars....the red street machine is pictured on the top and the stock version is on the end panels as pictured above.

Yup; it's this one....old news

Before everyone gets too excited re the original Ala Kart parts, to quote John Greczula:

Hmm...sounds like the '72 I have...almost. On mine just the bodyside molding and the vertical rear quarter trim are missing.