1972coronet

I've contacted him via this forum and via his eBay account --- haven't heard back from him . I would love to support not only a fellow forum member , but also an independent manufacturer . Hopefull he'll be back again soon .

Thank to all for your replies ! I was under the impression that it was a 1984 model because of its 1983 release-year . I'll check into those links , @Rodent.

One-of-two which were exported-to France ; the other convertible is GW3 Sno-White [sic] . IIRC , one could order a Dodge , Plymouth , or Chrysler through a Simca dealership (back when the U.S. owned foreign companies , unlike these days...) . I saw the Sno-White car in person in 2005 . It was parked --top-down !-- under a tree at the annual Chrysler show at Woodley Park in Van Nuys . Other than a metric speedometer and lack-of radio ( wouldn't get reception with a U.S. radio in Europe anyhow ) , they're pure Americana .

I picked-up a Buy It Now 1984 Mustang Convertible ( one of my favourite kits from back in the day ) , which I will someday build OOB and close-as-possible to correct . factory stock form . My question is , Does anyone make factory-stock decals for this beauty ? A set with gauge decals would be great , too , but aren't a deal-breaker .

Perfect examples , @gtx6970! And , yes , the Los Angeles Assembly did have an exclusive-to-that-plant black / charcoal primer . A common 'mistake' builders make when replicating Chrysler's A , B , E , F , M , J , R bodies' undersides is painting the front frame rails black ( some times the rear 'rails as well ) . The only exception to this are the 'D' and 'C' body platforms ( e.g. , the full-sized cars --- not mentioning nameplates , as that gets confusing due to 'badge engineering' from c.1975-onward ) , which have a subframe or a perimeter-frame ( 1965 & earlier Imperial ) . Special-built models such as the 1968 Hemi Dart & Barracuda , 1969 Daytona , 1970 Super Bird , can't be used a "true" guide for chassis overspray , as those cars were modified outside of the factory ( Hurst-Campbell , Cars & Concepts , et al. ) , and their special exterior parts painted even sloppier than the factory . The 1968 Hemi Dart / Barracuda left Hurst with a gloss black painted engine compartment .

Re-read the box -- you may've got the super-rare " ' Moulded'-in Black Mold " edition .

Even Jackie Childs knows that !

I'd hate to see you pitch that sweet 440 Six Barrel after the work you've completed with it ; however , that Air Grabber-destined air cleaner likely won't clear the underside of flat bonnet . The AMT 340 engine is a lovely piece --- but it's 1/25 scale vs. the Monogram , et al. , Satellite / GTX's 1/24 scale . That 340 was all-but-disappear in the boiler room of that GTX . If you're not averse to it : the engine from the 1971 Satellite-come-Dom's GTX has an aftermarket intake manifold with a single four barrel and aftermarket air cleaner . If you wish to go the small block route : the 340 from the early Monogram 1970 Challenger T/A could be substituted . Separate the 727 from the GTX's big block and put it in-place-of the 4-speed behind the T/A 340 . The only 'hanging modifier' would be the induction : no one to my knowledge makes a single four barrel induction for the old Monogram 340 . I'm really digging on what you've done thus far ! Lots of research ; artistic licence ; wonderful modifications of / corrections-to the body ; and , most importantly , fun . BTW -- Hamtramck Historical is your friend when it comes to anything Chrysler . Here's the 1971 Satellite pages ( see link ) . You may peruse via navigation the entire site . The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1971 Plymouth Dealership Data Book - Satellite (hamtramck-historical.com)

Failing-with-age eyesight has been a problem for me for the last ~7 years ( I'm 51 ) . I have 'dollar store' reading glasses ( I'm a skinflint Celt ) which help some , but really only masque the real age-related problem . I've got to get my butt to an Optometrist , pronto ! As far as frustration with attempting to assemble fiddly and or small parts --newer tooling or otherwise-- is concerned , I'm right there with you , @larman . Conversely ; many of the ages-old simplistic , promo-based kits are oft fraught with flash and / or "core-shift" of the tooling ( e.g. , the MPC 1976 Dart Sport et al. and its stock chassis plate's off-centre left-front wheel mount ) , which is another source of frustration . Another cause of my own frustration is having an aging parent who's always bustin' me bollocks over why I have my bedroom door closed : "Are you okay ? Are you sleeping ? Are you sick ? " , and so on . Then there's the main reason for the closed-door : that bratty Barn Cat love bug kitten of mine ! Haha ! It's like having a kid around who's going through the "terrible twos" , and starts messing around with my work area . Keep your kits , even if you never get around to building them .

Just got mine this afternoon --- totally worth the (brief) wait ! I love the custom wheels ; they'll definitely find their way onto my build . Does anyone know if those custom wheels represent "1:1" items , or are they an AMT-exclusive-design ?

I'd be keen on some Malaise Era decal racers : - Chevette - Monza - EXP - Cavalier Naturally , with all of their stock parts as well ( and the new-tool chassis from the Grumpy's '72 Vega to replace the moulded-on-exhaust Monza plate ) . With the exception of the Monza , these weren't really issued but once ( the Chevette was issued under a few guises , however ) , so their tooling --in theory-- should be in great condition .

Truthfully , I'd be VERY happy to see some of the MPC 80's promo / annual kits again ; mainly , the excellent Celica & Supra kits ( with NEW tyres , please... the c.1989 Gatorbacks would be passable ,and certainly better than the ad nauseam B.F. Goodrich tyres in 99.9% of MPC's 80's offerings . The E-150 kit hasn't seen the light-of-day in at least 40 years . It's a great companion to the AMT E-150 ; each offering presented unique changes . The C/K Pickup ( Dust Devil et al. ) would be great to see again . Round2 would "have to" backdate the front clip to represent a 1973-1979 model ( yes , there are year-to-year grille changes ) ; the original bench seat interior tub would be a great option in addition to the later buckets & console arrangement . Oh , and DEFINITELY a two-wheel-drive suspension as well (and maybe some newly-tooled plain steel wheels with hubcaps like the 1978 D-100 and 1977-1978 Monaco) . Those early-mid 80's MPC offerings have a deep sentimental value to me . Seeing them reminds me of Saturday morning grocery shopping with my mum , when I'd burn my weekly allowance on the MPC kits at the Alpha-Beta ( and video games ,too ). Certainly , those weren't the best kits ( pitch-black glass ; and miles-deep plating on the chrome tree ) but they were OUR generation's kits --- and they left an indelible marque on our minds as a representation of fun and freedom .

Now I can't un-see those side mouldings' shape and incorrect transition ! That original c.1962 ad seq. 1957 Bel Air Hardtop has never been on my bench . Maybe it was that insanely bland late 70's box art that turned me off --- brown ?!? The Pepper Shaker iteration has fascinated me since I saw it in c.1973 in a high-end department store ( ostensibly , they didn't sell many kits ) . I'm sure that my mum either didn't have the funds and / or didn't think that I'd be able to assemble a glue kit at age 3... Another member of this forum is building a customised version of that ol' AMT '57 . They sanded-away the side mouldings ( must be tedious ) and modified other custom parts to fit better . Unfortunately , I don't recall the member's name . ** ADDENDUM ** Here's the car I'm referring to in my final statement : 1957 Chevy 60's Street Custom - WIP: Model Cars - Model Cars Magazine Forum

They ( Round2 ) could fix the windscreen and its fitment while they're updating those iconic trucks .

Tæo does the same thing ! What is it with those black & white 'Barn Cats' ??? Does your Olly talk when he's in / around 'is Almond Rocha factory ?

No disappointment here , brother . It's your build anyhow --- it's a splendid build at that !

That colour is perfect ! Similar to Q5 Turquoise . That turquoise shade of the 383 will look quite nice with that body colour .

Sounds like it was that steaming pile 7.25" rear . Those things grenade behind 170's with granny driving at 20 mph !

I recently noticed just how much my love bug Tæo resembles my neighbour's cat whose name is Bandit . Now , Bandit is 4 years old ; I remember when she was a kitten . I just find the resemblance uncanny ; Bandit and Tæo may very well be related ( both were Barn Cats , and from the same region ) . As pictured : Bandit is with her 'pen mate' ( whose name is Butterscotch ) , whereas Tæo is alone in his photos.

Such a handsome boy !

Another way of saying , "White shorts pressed-against the tyre tread is a bad combination" ?

Ah ! Okay , the later iterations of the AOD [ et al. ] are all in the same family ( similar , I'd imagine , to the 700-R4 -come- 4L_0E family ) . Thus far , the transmission is working perfectly . Hopefully , a rebuild is a few years down the road... Never have been much of a fan of stock-shifting automatics ( I'm only familiar with Torqueflites ) , so I'll keep the separator plate replacement / valvebody replacement in mind . Thanks .

It's a 2004 ; it has the 4R75 . Trans fluid looked clean (nice , red colour ) , felt like it's supposed to , and didn't smell burnt . Its shifts are spot-on , regardless of RPMs . Thanks much for the info , and for the advice .

I'm going to peruse its codes soon here . Is the decal you're referring to included in the build date / V.I.N. door sticker ? Thanks much for the birthday wishes !

I , too , was perplexed by the tan interior , especially as late as 2004 . Los Angeles' Inglewood suburb ( adjacent to LAX Airport ) and other high crime cities have employed police / Sheriff's Dept. sectors since the early 1990's .