AMT Retro Deluxe '53 Studebaker Customizing Kit

[FordRodnKustom]

Another old favorite back again. I like this kit a lot. This one is going to be built as the Mr. Speed Bonneville car box art style with those cool blue tinted windows. Once I save up some lunch money I'm going to get at least one more for the custom version. Here's what's in box for anyone interested

http://media.fotki.com/1_p,rrkwdtkrktqfsgbxwqbdrwgkrgdf,vi/gkbrfgwkxrwkqwktqsxrgdrgdsbk/1/192875/882193/stude014-vi.jpg

 

[GMCMAN52]

Thanks for the info , looks like a nice kit with blue tinted glass

[ChrisBcritter]

I got one recently, and it's as good as I remember it from the late '60s. (I've already said my piece about the tires. )

One thing I'd forgotten was that nice set of brake drums - might want to cast up a few extra sets before building it.

One difference of note - the original kit had depressions in the taillight bezels to accept the red lenses, but at some point lenses were engraved into the bezels, so those will have to be carved out carefully for the red ones to be inserted.

[Bernard Kron]

One of AMT's true all-time greats. The basic Raymond Loewy body design is so original and well balanced that customizing it successfully is very difficult, and yet the customizing parts in this kit, the grill modifications and the custom rear bumper, are so well integrated that it actually might be considered to improve on the stock version. I also think it was very wise of them to make the competition version completely over the top radical with the severe chop top. That way they avoided conflicting with the basic design. I've strated two of these, a chopped Bonneville streamliner and a midly customized version using the custom facia and rear end. The streamliner is still in progress but I did finish the mild custom. This is a first rate kit and a pleasure to build. The new Round 2 tires are a plus!

Mild custom Studillac:

Bonneville streamliner W.I.P. with Potvin blown Hemi:

Edited November 15, 2015 by Bernard Kron

[wayne swayze]

I'll be sure to look for this kit again! I made one into a slot car drag racer, and bits and pieces to maybe build a stock ( or mild custom) one. One of my old time favorites!

Edited November 16, 2015 by wayne swayze
add photo

[Ace-Garageguy]

Great kit. Picked up another one this weekend. Started a front-blown Caddy-powered Bonneville thing, based on the old Cagle-San Chez car, a few years back.

 

 

[pharoah]

Does this have printed whitewalls or just the slicks?  Looks good,love the old decals.

[Edsel-Dan]

Tires look like their Firestone Supremes

Not a Good Early 50's tire

Should have been the Deluxe Champions with Wide-White tampo

[Spex84]

Picked up one of these kits a while back--tons of great parts inside. The custom taillight/bumper unit looks awesome blended into the back of a sectioned '49 Ford, for anyone so inclined.

I found the bucket seats in my kit have a rib pattern that is totally butchered, full of blemishes. Other than that, the parts look very usable.

[Bob Ellis]

The red taillights were filled in when it became a classics kit in the '70s.

 

[Casey]

AMT-1251

1/25 1953 Studebaker Starliner Car in Collectible Tin

 

 

AMT 1/25 '53 Studebaker Starliner USPS Collectible Tin

 

Looks like a new licensing partnership between USPS and Round2 is happening?

Edited July 10, 2020 by Casey

[keyser]

1 hour ago, Casey said:

AMT-1251

1/25 1953 Studebaker Starliner Car in Collectible Tin

Looks like a new licensing partnership between USPS and Round2 is happening?

Nothing says USPS like a 53 Stude Starliner. Will sate the needs of both USPS groupies. Next up- Preparation H Lil' Gasser commemorative tin

[Mark]

2 minutes ago, keyser said:

Nothing says USPS like a 53 Stude Starliner. Will sate the needs of both USPS groupies. Next up- Preparation H Lil' Gasser commemorative tin

Uh...USPS issued a series of automotive stamps a while back, with beautiful artwork by Art Fitzpatrick, who collaborated with Van Kaufman to create the memorable, and collectible, illustrations for Pontiac brochures from the mid-Fifties through about 1972.  One stamp featured the '53 Studebaker.   Using that artwork would make the USPS connection credible.

[keyser]

Mark, forgot about the Fitz stamps. Never saw the Stude.

Still, stamp collecting isn't growing I'd think since many have never mailed a letter. Maybe a rent check. Hopefully license was cheap.

I could easily see the tandem semi-trailers, a C600, but a stretch for anything else. Maybe a Whole Foods or Starbucks van, Blackberry and Zune licenses cheap. Hertz licenses dirt cheap.  

PS: Thanks Casey for usual thread necromancy. Some fun builds in here. Cool

Edited July 10, 2020 by keyser

[Snake45]

[Bugatti Fan]

Those old Studes were nice looking cars. Quite European in styling back in those days compared with the normal Fins and Chrome era cars.

[Casey]

2 hours ago, keyser said:

I could easily see the tandem semi-trailers, a C600, but a stretch for anything else.

Round2 is releasing the C-series tractor and trailer combo as a kit in the next few months, but with Hostess decals. I thought the USPS connection would be obvious, too, so maybe with the pup trailers as you suggested. I mean there is a precedent for such combos...:

[Luc Janssens]

27 minutes ago, Casey said:

Round2 is releasing the C-series tractor and trailer combo as a kit in the next few months, but with Hostess decals. I thought the USPS connection would be obvious, too, so maybe with the pup trailers as you suggested. I mean there is a precedent for such combos...:

I once bought a case of those, for next to nothing in a little toy shop near Liege, dunno why, Oops does that make me a hoarder? 

 

Edited July 10, 2020 by Luc Janssens

[Richard Bartrop]

2 hours ago, keyser said:

Mark, forgot about the Fitz stamps. Never saw the Stude.

Still, stamp collecting isn't growing I'd think since many have never mailed a letter. Maybe a rent check. Hopefully license was cheap.

I could easily see the tandem semi-trailers, a C600, but a stretch for anything else. Maybe a Whole Foods or Starbucks van, Blackberry and Zune licenses cheap. Hertz licenses dirt cheap.  

PS: Thanks Casey for usual thread necromancy. Some fun builds in here. Cool

If it's anything like Canada Post, they're pushing the collectibles to make up for the revenue they'rs losing from other sources.

I suppose you could see it as one industry that's seen better days teaming up with another.

[keyser]

That's the kit I recalled Casey. Nice stamp Rich, I love the Stude, one of the prettiest US cars. 

Hope it sells.

Snap new Dodge delivery van would be good toy, and kids see those all the time with FedEx, DHL, Amazon, UPS logos. Sturdy would be good. USPS logo too. Boring, but kids will like it, play with it, and may want more snap kits. 

Bummed my PrepH joke failed. Lol. 

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Oh I just saw that and brayed like a jackass, if it makes you feel any better...

[Rodent]

I was thinking that Bean-O would be a better tie-in with the Lil' Gasser. Maybe they could reissue the Ertl-era Ford Probe with a Preparation H tie-in?

[keyser]

1 hour ago, Chuck Kourouklis said:

Oh I just saw that and brayed like a jackass, if it makes you feel any better...

Cool, validation. I ALWAYS think I'm funny. 

Since we have the  Goody's Headache Powder stripe or whatever they call Darlington (Stopped watching in 76 ? ), only made sense for geriatric sponsorship 

We really need a showrod, the Covid Car. But that's for another thread. 

Great point on the Beano. We'll bust this branding thing wide open. 

Edited July 11, 2020 by keyser
Funny

[Casey]

[Bugatti Fan]

The 53 Studebaker Starliner. What a lovely looking motor car, and very European in styling compared with other Americana of the day. I think that I would be tempted to build the kit stock as it is such a beautifully styled car.