Chuck Most

You're not the only one- I've been looking for good reference photos of just such an animal myself. Even online search results are shockingly few and far between.

It's called the Vaquero- http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/2014/163_news140130_1976_ford_f_100_vaquero_show_truck_trend_history/

I hope to someday finish this thing.

Very cool! This is only the second one of these I've seen built up.

I don't know if it's still in production, but it was reissued as a Revell kit not too long ago, so you should have no trouble tracking one down.

Nothing to do with the Sunny specifically, but it is amazing Datsun got a foothold in the Australian market, considering they got off to what could best be described as a rocky start. Scroll down to "The Australian Built Datsun 13"- http://earlydatsun.com/datsun13.html

What Dave said- I'd have to say the Monogram Model A Phaeton would be the one to start with.

Thanks Rob! I might be recanting what I said earlier about not building another of these anytime soon, after seeing Jim B's post on the GW Trucks mid and short length hoods I might just have to give this kit another go.

I've never built this kit, but I do like the engine from it- easily the best 385-series Ford big block ever done in 1:25 scale plastic. It could be used as a 429 or 460 engine, or even a 370, which was used in the heavier-duty F-Series, Louisville and C Series Tilt Cab trucks. I haven't purchased one (yet), but I hear the Calnaga Castings engine (which was based on this kit's engine) is even better.

I can certainly agree there - Revell seems to have a bigger presence in "big-box" type retail stores like Kmart and Meijer than Round 2. It has been ages since I've seen a Round-2 brand or Lindberg kit in such a store, but the few big retail outlets which still sell model kits seem to carry Revell kits exclusively. Now factor in the selection at dedicated hobby shops (both chains and "mom and pop" establishments) and online retailers and the numbers might even out, but I think given the audience Revell is going after with these releases, having them available in places such as Kmart would be a huge advantage.

Dual batteries were an option regardless of engine for buyers who used lots of high-amp accessories like auxiliary lights, a winch, or a plow. Diesels weren't available in the C/K Series trucks until 1982 or thereabouts. That's not counting the Olds 5.7 diesel, which was introduced as an economy engine for 1978, was only used in half tons, I don't know if those came standard with dual batteries or not.

Forgot- I built this a few years ago. Not a Crosley strictly speaking, but based on a vehicle formerly built by Crosley. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=33068

Beautiful!

My father actually owns a '47 Crosley- a wagon which was converted to a roadster pickup sometime in the '70's and used as a golf cart. He tried to buy a clapped out wagon which used to sit out behind a service station, in order to get parts to convert his back to a wagon, but the owner refused to sell it for whatever reason. The car literally rusted away where it stood- it was hauled off sometime in the late '80's.

Olds Vista Cruiser. The pic is a '69, but any '64 to '72 variant would work for me.

There is one thing the current Dart has that the original never did... Craig Robinson... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMi1rDIOvd8

And if Chevrolet replaced the Cobalt or Cruz or whatever they're calling their compact this week with a car called Nova, just imagine the outcry. "Oh, such a boring car, nothing at all like the old Yenkos or SS 396. Gah! How could they disgrace the Nova legend like that?"

Exactly. I just don't see why some people elevate an entire car line just because one or two performance models offered are remembered fondly.

The '60's Dodge Dart... was a dull, boring, bread-and-butter compact car that didn't look much different from any of its competitors. The modern Dodge Dart... is a dull, boring, bread-and-butter compact car that doesn't look much different from any of its competitors. Same as it ever was. And please, don't start rattling off all of the "exciting" Darts of the past like the GTS- those made up a tiny percentage of old Dart sales. The majority of them were basic transportation. You were more likely to see an earth-tone, low-option Slant Six driven by some little old lady than a performance model.

Indeed. Not as time-consuming as converting the Earnhardt T-Bird to a street version, though.

There you go. Guess this means I've met my "try to enlighten one person every five years" quota. See you in 2019, everybody!

I'm gathering parts to convert the old Monogram Dale Earnhardt Wrangler Thunderbird into a factory stocker- the chassis will be a modified Monogram Fox Body Mustang piece. The interior might be the "fun" part. I've got a Revell Lincoln in the works which will be quasi-stock, but that kit can't be built as an accurate replica stocker without a few body mods. (chassis and interior changes aside!) Revell made the body slightly shorter than it should be to fit an existing Pro Stock Thunderbird chassis. A lot of people think the body had oversized wheel opening, but they're actually pretty close to correct- they just look too big because the overall length of the body is shorter than it should be compared to a 1:1 MK VII.

The Monogram engine would be a good start. If you're really a stickler for scale, the engine from the Revell '70 Torino could be used too, it's also a 385-big block.

I love this set, I'm known to hoard them as I find them. I used the S20 engine in a Datsun hot rod, based on a BMW 3/15. This was a car based on the Austin 7, and I built the car based on the urban legend of the first Datsun being an illegally copied Austin. This model also uses the steering wheel and a few decals from the parts pack.

The Wrangler doesn't look like the Tomb Raider diecast/ "Trucks" series plastic release. It's tough to make out in the small pic, but the snap kit to be released appears to have stock wheels and tires, fender flares,front bumper, and a hard top- while the current Wrangler Rubicon kit has Mickey Thompson tires, custom wheels and fender flares, a front bumper with brush guard and winch, and no top. Assuming the photo shown is representative of what the kit will feature it might be worth looking into if the Tomb Raider version doesn't "do it" for you. The fact that the current plastic kit requires glue for several parts would lead me to believe it's a mostly new kit. The decision to do an all-new kit of the six-window Crown Vic when one already exists does baffle me a bit, but I'd like to get at least one of them, just to see how it stacks up against the Lindberg kit.