new issue Round 2 MPC 1960 Corvette

[Mark]

The original MPC '56/'57 kit has two sets of headlight rims if I remember right...plated and unplated.  All issues, including the original, have slightly radiused rear wheel openings. 

[unclescott58]

IIRC, the original issue of the MPC '57 said you could also build it as a '56, perhaps by painting the headlight rims body color, but I'm not sure how accurate that is.

I like the dual headlights of the '56-'57s much better than the quads of the '58-'60s. From time to time I contemplate combining the front end of a '57 with the sharp rear end of a '62 to create an "ultimate" 1G Vette.

Most people are with you Snake on the dual vs. quad headlamp Vettes. I dont know why I am not. It's not that the '56 and 7s are bad looking cars. I just like the '58s so much better. Besides the headlamps, I like bumpers better, the extra cove decoration, the bigger flush taillight lens, the lack of the phony air scoops on top of the fenders, and the dashboard. And for some reason, even though it's not my favorite, I like the primitiveness of the '53 through '55. The chicken wire headlamp covers. And rocketship taillights. Cool in an odd way.

Speaking of '53 - '55. I still wish somebody made model of '54 Corvette Corvair fastback, and the '54 Corvette "Waldorf" Nomad station wagon. Still the two coolest C1 Corvettes ever. Especially the Corvair.

And as far as your idea, Snake, of mating the front of a '57 to the rear of a '62. I'd like to see that. I hope you do it. I wonder how hard or easy that would be do?

[Dave Darby]

Not sure where that thing about the body colored headlight bezels on the 56 came from. Not true. I believe the only difference between 56 and 57 is no Fuel Injection and and a 265 rather than a 283.

[MrObsessive]

Not sure where that thing about the body colored headlight bezels on the 56 came from. Not true. I believe the only difference between 56 and 57 is no Fuel Injection and and a 265 rather than a 283.

Inside dash mounted mirrors are different too! Hee-Hee!

Ya gotta look really close to see the difference though!

[MrObsessive]

Maybe I'm one of the oddballs in all of this, but of all the C1 'Vettes made, I like the following in this order.........

1956-57
1961-62
1953-55
1958-60

I rate the '58-'60's last as to me they always appeared "busy" to me styling wise, compared to the very clean '56-'57's. GM came to their senses with the great looking "ducktail" '61-'62's and arguably some will take that '62 over the '61, as it lost the chrome surround in the cove area losing the two-tone, narrow band whitewalls, and lower rocker chrome trim added.

The hardtop quarter windows are a tiny scooch sleeker as well as those very slightly reshaped to accommodate the reshaped rear deck.

I also like the tiny "hump" in the rear window of the '61-'62 hardtop. That was added to clear the windsplit in the rear deck, and a little bit of a nod to the 1956 SR-2 Harlowe Curtice one off.

[Snake45]

Not sure where that thing about the body colored headlight bezels on the 56 came from. Not true. I believe the only difference between 56 and 57 is no Fuel Injection and and a 265 rather than a 283.

I believe you're right. I recall being surprised years later to learn that '56s had chrome headlight bezels too, having "learned" that the '56s were body color from the MPC instruction sheet. I have no idea where THEY got it.

[pack rat]

I believe you're right. I recall being surprised years later to learn that '56s had chrome headlight bezels too, having "learned" that the '56s were body color from the MPC instruction sheet. I have no idea where THEY got it.

According to some reference I have,  the bezels were body-colored only on very early-production '56 Vettes, but changed to chrome soon after.  I seem to recall reading about paint adhesion issues.  There are a few factory photos out there of painted-bezel 56's.   

[Mahogany Rush]

Well I just built this kit without knowing any issues beforehand, The kit was horrible in that way too much flashing, over-poured sprues which deleted any part numbers, fit issues on almost every part. It is a 6 in 1 which also has it's own problems. I do not recommend this kit as I have since read there are better ones out there. It was cheap at $20, but my cursing skills have reached epic proportions! Finished product came out well, but it was not as easy as it should have been.