AMT T 380 QUARTER MASTERS FIREBIRD AND SPEEDBOAT KIT

[Snake45]

Whether or not something still exists plays a part in deciding what will be reissued!  That said, the box for the stand-alone Firebird kit reads "AMT for '68".  The Firebird, Camaro, and "Chevrolet SS 427" were "for '68" kits that couldn't be built stock.  I think the Corvair was a "for '68" deal also, but can't remember off the top of my head.  The "for '68" kits were something I avoided like the plague in years past, but recently I've picked up the Camaro, Firebird, and Chevrolet.  The "Chevrolet SS 427" is a real hoot; picture if you will a '67 Impala assembled as the custom version, with all exterior trim (script) removed and the rear window completely filled in.  I'm looking at sticking that one together as pictured on the box, just have to check and see if the decals are usable...  

I got the '68 Corvette body in an eBay "Corvette junkyard" a couple years ago...didn't even know it was in the deal when I bought it. It came with the interior but no hood, or rear panel, or front bumper/pan, or windshield. I scored the cut-down windshield and the removable top from eBay some months back...just missed out on the hood. Gonna try to adapt a spare hood from a Revell kit, and then put the whole hot mess on a VW or Corvair-powered frame, kit-car style.

 

[Mark]

Nasty as that '68 'Vette is, I don't think it's a "for '68" kit.  MPC had the promo model contract for Chevrolet in '68, and they probably made sure AMT didn't get any advance info on any '68 car that MPC was going to do as a promotional model.  AMT had to throw that Corvette out there, as well as the "SS 427" oddity.  They did get a decent '68 Chevelle kit out, but even that one didn't have stock engine parts.  AMT did a better Corvette kit for '69.  That '68 did get reissued twice, first as the AC spark plug tie-in "AC cellerator" custom, later as a John Greenwood GT version.  Greenwood must have been thrilled to open the box and see what was inside...

[Snake45]

Nasty as that '68 'Vette is, I don't think it's a "for '68" kit.

Oh it is, I assure you. The hood sides are parallel, and look at the rear body, behind the rear wheels. Looks very little like a real Vette (or any other kit).

[Mark]

But the box wasn't marked "for '68" as with the Camaro, Firebird, etc.  Why, I don't know...but then again I don't know why they would have guessed at the thing like that.  If they didn't have any advance information, they could have waited until the 1:1 car was available, then do a crash program to get a more correct one out.

[Mr Stock]

Im a bit clueless about these AMT for 68 kits can anybody shed any light on them?, from what I understand AMT lost the annual promo/kit contract for GM and MPC got it, is that correct?.

So the 68 editions cannot be built stock at all?, are the bodies way off or just not accurate enough for stock?.

 

[Mark]

Im a bit clueless about these AMT for 68 kits can anybody shed any light on them?, from what I understand AMT lost the annual promo/kit contract for GM and MPC got it, is that correct?.

So the 68 editions cannot be built stock at all?, are the bodies way off or just not accurate enough for stock?.

 

Only some of the '68 kits were way off (Camaro, Firebird, Chevrolet SS 427).  The boxes for those are marked "AMT for '68".  The Corvair was also a "for '68" deal; I don't have that one, but would guess that it is a '67 that was not updated.  Some of the others (Falcon, Chevelle) couldn't be built 100% stock but were accurate for the most part.  The Falcon didn't have stock wheels, the Chevelle didn't have a stock engine.  Those weren't marked "for '68", just '68.  The Corvette was the worst of the bunch, probably the worst thing AMT ever cranked out.    

[Mr Stock]

Im a bit clueless about these AMT for 68 kits can anybody shed any light on them?, from what I understand AMT lost the annual promo/kit contract for GM and MPC got it, is that correct?.

So the 68 editions cannot be built stock at all?, are the bodies way off or just not accurate enough for stock?.

 

Only some of the '68 kits were way off (Camaro, Firebird, Chevrolet SS 427).  The boxes for those are marked "AMT for '68".  The Corvair was also a "for '68" deal; I don't have that one, but would guess that it is a '67 that was not updated.  Some of the others (Falcon, Chevelle) couldn't be built 100% stock but were accurate for the most part.  The Falcon didn't have stock wheels, the Chevelle didn't have a stock engine.  Those weren't marked "for '68", just '68.  The Corvette was the worst of the bunch, probably the worst thing AMT ever cranked out.    

Thanks for clearing that up Mark very interesting. One thing that concerns me now is I have an AMT original annual Corvette in my stash pile thats boxed as a Frog/AMT probably something to do with reboxing for the UK market, I cant tell if its a 68 or a 69 kit but it does come with a bunch of racing parts, I didnt realise this kit was so bad ?, 

I know ive made this Quarter masters post go off on a tangent ...sorry about that guys. Maybe if I post some photos up later someone can identify the year of the kit for me ?.

[Mark]

All of the Frog/AMT kits I have seen were 1968 kits.  If your Corvette has a chassis with the exhaust system and suspension molded as part of it, it will be the '68. 

[Mr Stock]

All of the Frog/AMT kits I have seen were 1968 kits.  If your Corvette has a chassis with the exhaust system and suspension molded as part of it, it will be the '68. 

Thats the one Mark ...shame I thought it looked a pretty accurate kit, oh well maybe I can trade it on and some point.

[Snake45]

You can get a feel for the backbirth AMT '68 Firebird here:

http://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/amt-instructions/straightline-competition/amt-68-firebird-tin/

 

 

[Bob Ellis]

As flawed as they are, I'm a fan of the infamous "for 68" kits....I have the Firebird and Camaro from my childhood, and picked up an Impala a couple of years ago.  That Impala looks pretty strange as-is, so I dug out the custom vinyl-look rear window/trunk overlay from a '66 Riviera.....pretty close fit!     

  

I Might collect some e "for 68s now' but back in the 60s and 70s I truly disliked them. I had a chance to buy the 68 Impala back in 1973. 

[Bob Ellis]

All of the Frog/AMT kits I have seen were 1968 kits.  If your Corvette has a chassis with the exhaust system and suspension molded as part of it, it will be the '68. 

The AMT 1968 Corvette used a cut 1967 chassis

[ChrisBcritter]

I got the '68 Corvette body in an eBay "Corvette junkyard" a couple years ago...didn't even know it was in the deal when I bought it. It came with the interior but no hood, or rear panel, or front bumper/pan, or windshield. I scored the cut-down windshield and the removable top from eBay some months back...just missed out on the hood. Gonna try to adapt a spare hood from a Revell kit, and then put the whole hot mess on a VW or Corvair-powered frame, kit-car style.

 

Why not go all the way?

 

Edited May 4, 2016 by ChrisBcritter

[Snake45]

Why not go all the way?

 

Ummmmm.......yuck!

[ChrisBcritter]

Oh well. More to the point, it's based on the old Shala-Vett kit car - clean off the Death Race 2000 decor, and you have the proportions. I may have the Rod & Custom article on the Shala-Vett if you need it.

Edited May 4, 2016 by ChrisBcritter

[Snake45]

Oh well. More to the point, it's based on the old Shala-Vett kit car - clean off the Death Race 2000 decor, and you have the proportions. I may have the Rod & Custom article on the Shala-Vett if you need it.

I have that R&C, and just re-read it not that long ago. In fact that might have given me the idea. Not sure I ever knew that the DR2000 thing was the Shal-Vett, though. Interesting.

[stavanzer]

More Boat Kit, Round2. I'd like a couple more of the AMT Customizing Boat Kit #159.

That is a neat little kit. I'd like to be able to build all three versions.

[Edsel-Dan]

I would love to see that one back too

BC issue is Going HIGH in $$$

[Casey]

On 8/3/2015 at 6:01 PM, Mark said:

Whether or not something still exists plays a part in deciding what will be reissued!  That said, the box for the stand-alone Firebird kit reads "AMT for '68".  The Firebird, Camaro, and "Chevrolet SS 427" were "for '68" kits that couldn't be built stock. 

Firebird box, I like:

 

Camaro box, less so:

 

On 8/3/2015 at 5:08 PM, pack rat said:

If you want to lobby for something, consider the Hull Raiser with a different vehicle (maybe a 59 or 68 ElCamino?) in the spirit of the original 

I'm guessing Round2 has no desire to release the Hull Raiser boat as a stand alone kit? The '60 Chevy Pickup had the go kart, and the '68 El Camino the Soap Box Derby car, so I'm trying to think of a different candidate to pull the boat...The AMT Chevy Van kit might work, in the spirit of the Aquarod set?

Edited January 24, 2021 by Casey

[Mr. Metallic]

On 1/23/2021 at 11:49 PM, Casey said:

I'm guessing Round2 has no desire to release the Hull Raiser boat as a stand alone kit? The '60 Chevy Pickup had the go kart, and the '68 El Camino the Soap Box Derby car, so I'm trying to think of a different candidate to pull the boat...The AMT Chevy Van kit might work, in the spirit of the Aquarod set?

 

Maybe they are reluctant, but I don't know why. The Revell Hemi Hydro based kit has been released a few times by itself over the last 25 years, hasn't it? And the Hull Raiser, in my opinion, is a better kit. The only release in that time span has been the Model King release with the Bonneville. I would certainly buy at least one, if not more, if it was released by itself.