1972coronet

I'm (still) working on building the MPC 1975 Dart Sport , and am at an impasse of sorts ... I'm going for a 'looks-factory-but-is-not' interior ( i.e. , it's painted Testors Flat Red ; a non-factory colour for Darts , etc. , after 1970 ) , and to that end , I'm keeping the console . Now , 4-speed-with-console combo disappeared after the 1969 model year in Darts ; however , our brothers in Mexico could still get that in their Dart GTS , Valiant Super Bee , et al. , from 1970-1976 . Frankly , the MPC console "stinks" . There's no provision for any sembalence of a quadrant ( automatic , obviously ) , nor is there a cutout for a manual shifter . So , I'm planning to 'roll my own' ... ... and I need some visual ideas ! I'm thinking of either a Competition Plus style ( "T"-handle ) or , perhaps , a factory "ball" shifter ( see attached photos : (1) 1974 Super Bee ; (2) 1969 GTS ; (3) 1968 GTS ) Show me what you've got

I agree that the Colonnade-based Regal looks great with the T-Tops . I typically don't care for T-Tops , but they looks really nice in this application .

Nice to see that the J10 will be seeing the light-of-day again ! It's been , what , 20 years since its last appearance ? Yes , it's an oversimplified c.1980 Revell kit ... ... but it's the only game in town for a J-Series ! IIRC , the kit is completely sans plated parts . I had the original ( c.1982 or so ) when it was new-ish , and it's a nice kit . Doesn't someone make conversion parts to make it an earlier model ? Like , c.1965 or so ? Tornado OHC 6 banger would be great !

I agree completely . The 1971-1976 Firebird / Trans Am ( Hello ? Super Duty ? Do you accept the charges ? ) are often overshadowed by the ( yucky ) 1977-1981 models . *Blech* . The 1973-1977 Colonnade A-bods are beautiful ! Maybe because I grew up when they were new , but I have a sentimental , soft spot for them . The Oldsmobile Cutlass , Buick Skylark / Century , and Pontiac Grand Am are the best of the litter , with the Chevelle / Malibu being right there ( especially the 1973 SS , and the 1974-1975 Laguna S-3 ) . When the (dreaded) square headlights found their way into the mix , only the Olds Cutlass maintained its classy appearance . Well , it looks like the 1959 El Camino is getting the nod this time . Now I can add another one to my "To Do" stack ; this time I can modify to my heart's content !

Those are outstanding Oldsmobiles , Randy ! I , too , bemoan the passing of the brand , the division . Olds' designs were always so gorgeous and classy ---- even during the Malaise Era ! Keep 'em coming , Randy !

MPC 1978 Chevy Pickup AMT 'Star Truk' MPC 1/16 scale 'Action Snaps' C20 / C30 pickups

Indeed , the Chrysler programme functioned like G.M.'s C.O.P.O. , albeit to a lesser degree . Most of the special order Dodge and Plymouth cars were either Taxis (especially the 'New York Taxi' [ "N" as the second character of the V.I.N. , versus the typical "T" ] ) . NYC had a footwell-to-ceiling requirement ; Chrysler obliged by adding deeper floorboards for the rear passengers , whose modifications were performed at the Amblewagon facility . Further ; Police cars were also special orders ; mostly , they were built in batches . The CHP units in particular were unique ; special order cam specs , white rimmed steering wheels , etc. , etc . The 1971-1972 Canadian-only Dart Swinger Special 340s were built in Canada ( Windsor , Ontario Plant ; across the lake from Detroit ) , for those two dealerships . Most manufactures would build special order "fleet" cars . with the provisio that there be a minimum order ( e.g. , 50 COPO ZL-1 Camaros , 50 "LL23H_R" Darts , etc. , etc. ) In all of my 47 years , I have never heard of any big block A-bodies being built after the 1969 model year . Gary Dyer at Mr Norms was the first to convert a Dart to big block . He did that in late 1966 ; installed a 383 / 727 / 3.55 rear from a '66 Coronet . This car also had underchassis headers , which were highly unusual at that time . While one could order a 383 in a Barracuda for 1967 from the start of the model year , the 383 wasn't available from the factory until Spring 1967 . No Dusters ... but I'm open to seeing evidence or proof of those being built ...

I can go on forever about highways' history , especially the local ( southern California region ) highways . This area is host to the Arroyo Seco Parkway ( its original nomenclature , replaced by 'Pasadena Freeway' during the Great Renumbering of 1964 , and returned again to its original name a few years ago ) . This is the oldest highway in the western U.S. , if not the nation . It opened in 1940 ; it was signed ( 'numbered' ) as US 66 / CA 11 . When "US" routes were either decommissioned or renumbered in 1964-1976 , it became CA 11 . Second-oldest highway in southern California is the Balboa Parkway , which was originally US 395 . Some *state* highway numbers here are improper ; CA 91 was originally US 91 ---- its original terminuses were 'north' and 'south' . However , when US highways were renumbered , its defacto number became CA 91 , even though its terminuses were now 'east' and 'west' ( in other words , it "should" be renumbered as CA 92 ) . I also collect old maps and map books . The oldest I have is a 1957 Los Angeles / Orange County Thomas Guide .

The idea that any of those special order Darts are still alive is nothing short of amazing ! The harsh Canadian winters plus the nature of those vehicles = high mortality rate .

How many of those among this forum have seen --let alone heard of --the 1971 and 1972 Dart 'Swinger Special' 340 models ? There were special order 340-powered , base model Dart Swinger hardtops , sold at two Western Canada dealerships : Crosstown and Crest View, located in Edmonton, Alberta and Regina Saskatchewan. http://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot.com/2015/02/ghost-cars-1971-72-dodge-dart-swinger.html A friend of mine is currently restoring a gorgeous GB5 1972 model ( another 1972 model has been restored ; an FY1 model ) --- here's a photo of it and its present state-of-restoration . Note it barren appointments : colour-keyed rubber floormat ; no radio (note blockoff plate) ; base steering wheel ; and , not seen here ; no rear arm rests . Also , no power steering , and no power brakes ( 4 wheel drums ) . The black "Bumblebee" Stripe is a dealer-added embellishment . Few were built , and few remain .

I've seen a couple of "385-Series" ( 429 and 460 ) swaps into mid-80's Mustangs , and it is a slick deal ! Everything fits under the bonnet like it was meant to be there ! As far as the 4-lugs versus 5-lugs : I never paid attention ! I was so intrigued by the big block that I'd neglected to check the wheels' bolts ! I can only imagine that the stock 8.8" rear was swapped for a 9" , and the resultant 5x4.5" retainers . Too bad about that resin 385 . It appears to be a combo of AMT ( engine long block and C6 from the F-350 pickup) , scratch built oil pan ( ostensibly , yours was missing ) , and the rocker covers from the Revell 1970 Torino GT . Not sure where the atomiser is from (?) . Have fun with this !

Quite looking forward to : - 1959 El Camino - 1974 Gremlin - 1975 Datsun Pickup Hoping for : - 1965 El Camino - 1978 Vega or Monza - 1978 Chevy *2*-wheel-drive - Pontiac Ventura - 1975-1977 Matador

Thanks , one and all , for your replies . I realise that packaging and shipping (in the physical sense) can be a PITA ; what I don't get is ridiculous shipping for a normal package (e.g. , a typical box for a 1/25 scale kit whose value isn't excessive due to its rarity / desirability ) . I also have no problem with someone wanting / needing to profit from their end of the deal ... gouging , however , is another deal all-together . I always weigh (no pun intended) shipping & handling cost(s) into my decision to purchase ( or to simply pass item "x" over ) . It certainly is a psychological "issue" ; I'd rather pay a little more for said item than pay outrageous shipping & handling costs on an equal-but-less-expensive kit ( or what-ever ) . Now , if I'm buying a kit that's rare and / or expensive , I want to be as certain as I can that it will be packaged like it's got a Rembrandt inside ! Thanks again , guys , for your thoughts and opinions .

As I've been perusing eBay , I've perchanced to notice that quite a few sellers are charging shipping charges that are 90% plus of the actual product's price ! For example ( hypothetical , of course ) " 1978 Monaco Police Car by MPC . $20.00 Buy It Now . $17.00 Shipping . WHAT ????? Someone please explain this to me .

I could swear that someone was ( is ? ) making resins copies of the correct air cleaner ( the one on the T-N-T 440 of Steven's excellent build ) . Unfortunately , I don't recall who was making these copies ...

I see it as well ; a splendid 6-Series in race livery ! Looks great !

Engine and Torqueflite from the Revell 1968-1969 Charger or 1968-1969 Dart . Air Cleaner was an exclusive-to-JoHan ; a correct representation of the T-N-T 440 ( Chrysler's nimenclature for their version of the Magnum [Dodge] and Super Commando [Plymouth] HP 440 ) . If I remember , someone was making and selling resin copies of the air cleaner .

Thanks for the much-needed laugh ! I'm chronologically 47 , physically 74 , and mentally 5 or 50 . To quote a line from My Back Pages "I was so much older then , I'm younger than that now ."

At the risk of , um , "building" on the whole wish list aspect ; I'd like to see Revell take their 1967 Camaro another step : add some Baldwin-Motion livery to it ! I already really like the NicKey version (though my only gripe is that the annoying A.I.R. Pump was retained ! L72 427 , yes ... dual 4 Bbl 427 , NO !) . Cars from our birth year ? Sure ! - 1970 Duster 340 - 1970 Swinger 340 - 1970 LS-6 Chevelle (already done ; the now-ancient Monogram kit from 1982 ... complete with incorrect , aftermarket air cleaner) - 1970 El Camino SS - 1970 Olds 442 / W30 or W31 - 1970 Ranchero GT - 1970 Mustang Boss 429 (already done ; the now-ancient Monogram kit from 1982) - 1970 AMC Hornet - 1970 Gremlin

By and large , I love MPC of this era . Like any other manufacturer , there are some goofs / mistakes / compromises , and this 1976 Annual --and its predecessors-- is no exception : - No Brake Master Cylinder - Incorrect engine-to-transmission-to-interior - Panel Lines need to be Added or Enhanced This is by no means a knock to MPC , et al. --- just an observation .

I've never been a fan of the Chrysler V8's in MPC's kits : just horrible 'representations' of the 273-318-340-360 ( like the Dart Sport , Volare , and van kits ) nor of the big block 383-400-440 ( Monaco Police , Dodge Pickups , Road Runner , Charger ) . Well , the big blocks are "workable" , whereas the small displacement V8's are just 100% BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH ! Wildly undersized ; generic alternator ; positively HUGE four barrel carburetor ; and that ridiculous manual transmission (exception being the Volare series ; those all had a nice air cleaner , and a TorqueFlite automatic ... their only redeeming value !). Even worse ? That abhorrant Hemi ! Nothing fits-together on that pile of dog dung ! In spite of all of its design faults , it's a great kit ! Who else is making a 1973 & up A-body ? No one !

1974 & 1975 Hang 10 . I remember seeing a brand new 1974 model with the 360 in spring 1974 . I was 4 years old , and I clearly recall that bad boy to this very day !

I've had my eyes on those 1976 Spirit of '76 decals , but have been hesitant to 'pull the trigger' . Now that I've seen how gorgeous they look , I absolutely must get a set pronto ! The parting lines on the C-pillars are really exaggerated on your example . Oddly , their placement is virtually where the trim would be for a vinyl top-equipped model . Perhaps you could , if you so desire , make a couple of small trim pieces , foil 'em up , and simply place them above the offencive parting lines . The Dart Lite was a 1976-only model , a companion to the Feather Duster ; all of them were powered by the 225 Slant Six ; they underwent extensive modifications to lighten their weight by around 200 lbs. Believe it or not , a properly-equipped model was good for 30-40 MPG ! That was stellar in 1976 , and is equally impressive some 40 year later !

I second this ! The A-488 (and its 2-speed relative , the A-466 PowerFlite) is cast iron ; aluminimum didn't come along until 1962 (when the trans was assigned a new number , A-727 ; the A-904 was aluminimum from 1960-on) . Quite looking forward to watching this A-engine come together , Bill !

I've not perused the contents of the Revell kit , so I can't speak to it . I'm guessing that it's a very nice kit , judging by the majority of the R-M products . Now , the AMT kit is a classic ! I've built many of it and its variants over the years ; the last variant I built was the sedan delivery ( or , panel truck ? Not sure of its proper nomenclature ... ) , and that was every bit of 13 years ago . I believe that the AMT kit will "always" beat the Revell kit , at least sales-wise . The AMT kit's extra parts and building options endear it to many , age-of-tooling not-with-standing . Can a price be put on nostalgia ?