AMT and MPC new releases for 2016

[tim boyd]

  On 2/1/2016 at 5:32 AM, RandyEarle said:

I wonder if they still have the molds for the '65 and '66 Dodge Monaco/Polara?

The tool was significantly modified to create the "Magnum" (IIRC) concept/showcar kit-  the one with the single and dual bubble tops and a jutting front end design.  I don't have that kit so I can't comment on how heavily the tool was modified.  If the tool still exists, I suspect it is pretty much irretrievably altered in terms of being able to return it to a showroom stock '66 .... TIM 

[Mike Chernecki]

  On 2/1/2016 at 3:25 PM, tim boyd said:

The tool was significantly modified to create the "Magnum" (IIRC) concept/showcar kit-  the one with the single and dual bubble tops and a jutting front end design.  I don't have that kit so I can't comment on how heavily the tool was modified.  If the tool still exists, I suspect it is pretty much irretrievably altered in terms of being able to return it to a showroom stock '66 .... TIM 

There is one on eBay right now showing the contents http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/MPC-MAGNUM-GT-II-CUSTOM-DODGE-1-25-1-25-Model-Car-Mountain-VINTAGE/381288093237 . I had one of these in my collection about 20 years back and got rid of it. What an ugly kit. 

[Bob Ellis]

Seeing is believing; the 1965-1966 Dodge Polara/Monaco will never come back. Tool is barely recognizable. What were they thinking? They created an ugly model kit from it.

[ChrisBcritter]

  On 2/1/2016 at 4:12 PM, Mike Chernecki said:

There is one on eBay right now showing the contents http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/MPC-MAGNUM-GT-II-CUSTOM-DODGE-1-25-1-25-Model-Car-Mountain-VINTAGE/381288093237 . I had one of these in my collection about 20 years back and got rid of it. What an ugly kit. 

Interesting how much is original: chassis is there, engine and underhood accessories are there, dash and steering wheel and at least part of the interior as well. Note the odd "T" shape of the chrome tree - like maybe the stock bumpers/grille may be blocked off.

If the molds turn up this may be a case like the AMT '65 Cutlass - so close and yet so far.

[Casey]

  On 2/1/2016 at 5:43 PM, Bob Ellis said:

What were they thinking? 

"Hey guys, the Polara kit was a sales disaster. What can we do to at least break even on it?"

"Let's turn it into a custom show car. Kids LOVE those things, and customs are super-duper popular now!"

[Snake45]

  On 2/1/2016 at 7:57 PM, Casey said:

"Hey guys, the Polara kit was a sales disaster. What can we do to at least break even on it?"

"Let's turn it into a custom show car. Kids LOVE those things, and customs are super-duper popular now!"

That was the sad fate of many kits that today would be considered very desirable.

[tim boyd]

  On 2/1/2016 at 4:12 PM, Mike Chernecki said:

There is one on eBay right now showing the contents http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/MPC-MAGNUM-GT-II-CUSTOM-DODGE-1-25-1-25-Model-Car-Mountain-VINTAGE/381288093237 . I had one of these in my collection about 20 years back and got rid of it. What an ugly kit. 

Yikes....the body is highly altered....cut off at the forward edge of the front fenders....retooled at the rear with an "integral spoiler"...hood entirely different....That would be a major investment to return the tool to stock condition....for comparison here is a stock MPC 1966 Dodge Monaco 500 Hardtop built by yours truly back in ...  yes...  1966.  (This MPC tool also included the 1966 Polara 500 Convertible version which was the basis of the Magnum kit) .  

Compare it to the parts breakdown shot in Mike's post of the eBay listing above and you can see how much has been changed.  Uuggghhh!   

Edited February 1, 2016 by tim boyd

[Mark]

The interior bucket in the Magnum GT II is altered quite a bit too.  As cool as we (myself included) might think the full-size cars are now, back then those kits weren't world-beaters.  MPC was more aggressive than other companies in wringing additional uses out of its tooling (see: "Barnabas' Vampire Van", "Jolly Rodger") so it's not too surprising that the Dodge got hacked into the Magnum.  

[stavanzer]

Casey and Richard M. have the right idea. The kit were mostly a kid's thing then, and tooling had to "pay it's way". So the changes looked like a good idea (at the time). None of the men in charge, had any idea that 50 years later, those exact same kids now all grown up, would lust after the very kits that could not be given away when no longer new. Mark B, is also correct about MPC's willingness to re-purpose tooling to get more sales. So many "Classic" MPC kits were "altered' to derive further sales variants, it is truly amazing that any have survived.

[Dave Van]

I like, and own, the altered Magnum kit. It is much 'cooler' than the stock version and not some horrible thing that was done to a stock kit you could buy off the close out shelf for 99 cents. (I had it too) Sure....if the stock kit was reissued I'd buy 2-3 of them for sure.......same for the Magnum kit too though......

[Snake45]

  On 2/2/2016 at 1:21 AM, alexis said:

So many "Classic" MPC kits were "altered' to derive further sales variants, it is truly amazing that any have survived.

The same thing happened to far too many AMT kits, too. And don't forget that many kits were upgraded from last year's model to this year's, freezing production of "last year's" in time forever.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Snake45

[RandyEarle]

That's a cryin shame. I'd pop for a resin version in a New York Minute.

[niteowl7710]

New Additions to the Auto World Store for March Release -

AMT

George Barris Surf Woodie

1967 Chevrolet Impala SS (90's tooling)

MPC

'70 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible/Pick-up

1984 GMC Pickup "Deserter"

 

[Jon Cole]

[Junkman]

Good.

That leaves me with plenty of money to spend at Heller and Moebius.

[gtx6970]

Might pick up a couple of the 69 Barracudas, ( might ,,I have a few of them already )

Will definitly think about the 2 Pontiacs though.

Otherwise ,,,meh

[Harry Joy]

I would like the Bonneville or the Grand Prix. My stash is small, and I only recently started adding cars to it, so there is quite a bit out there I don't have.

[stavanzer]

I'm in for One Plymouth, one Pontiac, and One GMC.

[Jon Cole]

  On 2/5/2016 at 3:55 PM, alexis said:

I'm in for One Plymouth, one Pontiac, and One GMC.

Read that, and my head thought:

"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"
by…
GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS

Sorry.
We now return you to your regular programming.

[om617]

Good to see the 67 Impala back,lot`s of nice donor parts.  I guess the same goes for the 70 Pontiac. 

Anyone have a picture of the box content of the 70 Pontiac? 

[Dave Van]

  On 2/5/2016 at 4:21 PM, om617 said:

Good to see the 67 Impala back,lot`s of nice donor parts.  I guess the same goes for the 70 Pontiac. 

Anyone have a picture of the box content of the 70 Pontiac? 

Hope someone does a hard top body for the Bonnie!!

[Luc Janssens]

  On 2/5/2016 at 5:10 PM, Dave Van said:

Hope someone does a hard top body for the Bonnie!!

I have a resin one, bought at the time the Model King combo was out, don't remember who the Mfg was tho.

[horsepower]

  On 2/5/2016 at 4:04 PM, Jon Cole said:

Read that, and my head thought:

 

 

"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"
by…
GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS

Sorry.
We now return you to your regular programming.

 

 

Great minds must think alike, I had the same thoughts when I saw it.?

[stavanzer]

Dang it, Jon.

Now it's stuck in my head too. And, I'm a huge G.T. & Destroyers fan. I'll have to put some CD's in car for this weekend now.

 

Thank! LOL

[RancheroSteve]

  On 2/5/2016 at 4:04 PM, Jon Cole said:

 

"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer"
by…
GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS
 

Check out the Amos Milburn (1953) and John Lee Hooker (1966) versions if you get a chance.