1965 Grand Prix ...

[charlie8575]

Might grab one of these for the widgets and the correct chassis for one of MCW's 2+2s or Catalina 2-door sedans. Blackwalls, dog-dishes and subdued paint scheme, add back a regular 4-bbl. intake and a THM, instant budget stripper. 

Charlie Larkin

[Bob Ellis]

Only the flat kit has the blue glass but white plastic? I want blue glass blue plastic.

[AC Norton]

Only the flat kit has the blue glass but white plastic? I want blue glass blue plastic.

seems so, Bob...I bought my flat box  Friday, and  the green glass is quite nice....but all else is typical white plastic, pretty clean and crisp though. another customer at this shop bought the regular box while I was in there,,,opened it for all to see, and just clear glass is included, no slicks, and a smaller decal sheet. however, molded in teal plastic as shown in this thread..... my opinion,,,go with the flat box......best, the Ace...

[gtx6970]

Only the flat kit has the blue glass but white plastic? I want blue glass blue plastic.

I'm not going to use the blue glass or the custom stuff in mine

[stavanzer]

Got mine ordered today. Flat box it is. Got the '69 Barracuda coming too.

Can't wait to get them.

[AC Norton]

Got mine ordered today. Flat box it is. Got the '69 Barracuda coming too.

Can't wait to get them.

....you will like both, I'm sure. the cuda has a nice drag decal sheet and generally is pretty nice. the only thing that irritates me is the absence of a pair of hemi heads, like the original and some 70s issues did have. your kit has the cross ram, carbs, velocity horns, and valve covers...but no heads. other than that, you should enjoy both of these.  best,,,the Ace....

[stavanzer]

Thanks. I'll be waiting with "Worm on Tongue"

 

 

 

(Baited Breath)

[Junkman]

Wasn't there something, that this tool was modified into an incorect 2+2, then reverted into the Grand Prix?
Or am I totally senile already?

 

[unclescott58]

Wasn't there something, that this tool was modified into an incorect 2+2, then reverted into the Grand Prix?
Or am I totally senile already?

 

'65 Bonneville was converted into an incorrect 2+2. Not the Grand Prix.

[Junkman]

So the Bonnie will never come back?

[AC Norton]

So the Bonnie will never come back?

......sure it will,,,,on ebay for big bucks...lol........the Ace..

[gtx6970]

When I went to install the wheel sin my stock whitewalls . I noticed the white stripes  were not perfectly round around the perimeter of the wheel.

So I ditched them and used the AMT parts pack tires instead

[unclescott58]

So the Bonnie will never come back?

Somehow they did not destroy the original tool as I feared when they issued the 2+2. For the Bonneville has been reissued at least once since. I didn't have as many problems with the 2+2 as other had when it first came out. Other than I feared that they had permanently ruined the Bonne dies to make the 2+2. Somebody at Ertl at the time was wise enough to see foolishness of that idea. I don't if they cut a second die for the 2+2 or what? But, the Bonne tool appears to be okay.

[AC Norton]

A few tidbits of info and a confirmation.

I owned a Tahiti Turquoise 65 GP that was a 389 4bl 4spd with console about 20 years ago. Also had a 2+2 with buckets, no console and the "Dearborn" 3spd on the floor and a 65 Bonneville 4spd bench seat car. Pontiac built some very harry full size cars back in the day. The 4spd console looks quite different than the automatic console.

In full size cars the 389 and base 421 tri-powers came standard with the large single element air cleaner in 65, only the 376HP 421 came with the three open element air cleaners. In 66 all tri-powers had the three open element air cleaners. The open element air cleaners consisted of a lid and base (I have never seen other than chrome) a perforated steel inner support and a foam element fit over the inner support.

Lastly the swirls in the metalic are the flow lines of the plastic as it is filling the mold. The plastic in this mold is injected in the middle of the passenger side rocker. They are nearly imposible to eliminate. The mold must be designed to minimize them. If you look carefully you will also be able to fine a "knit line" on every hole in the body (such as a window opening) on the side opposite of injection.

Hope this helps.

Carmak

 

hi again, Craig.....one question I was hoping you may be able to answer.....could you get a 1.1 Gran Prix  like this kit, but order it new deleting the floor console, so the shifter was mounted between the buckets  .....I ask because if so, I will delete mine here, and run with it as stated.....thanks in advance.....the Ace...

[Bob Ellis]

Somehow they did not destroy the original tool as I feared when they issued the 2+2. For the Bonneville has been reissued at least once since. I didn't have as many problems with the 2+2 as other had when it first came out. Other than I feared that they had permanently ruined the Bonne dies to make the 2+2. Somebody at Ertl at the time was wise enough to see foolishness of that idea. I don't if they cut a second die for the 2+2 or what? But, the Bonne tool appears to be okay.

There were 2 1965 big body Pontiac AMT toosl ; the Bonneville and the GP. ERTL modified the Bonneville to a 2+2

Only the flat kit has the blue glass but white plastic? I want blue glass blue plastic.

[AC Norton]

There were 2 1965 big body Pontiac AMT toosl ; the Bonneville and the GP. ERTL modified the Bonneville to a 2+2

Only the flat kit has the blue glass but white plastic? I want blue glass blue plastic.

actually, Bob, the glass is green,,, plus a clear set is include too. ..........the Ace....

[unclescott58]

There were 2 1965 big body Pontiac AMT toosl ; the Bonneville and the GP. ERTL modified the Bonneville to a 2+2

Only the flat kit has the blue glass but white plastic? I want blue glass blue plastic.

I'm not so sure Ertl modified the Bonneville tool, as much as copied it for their 2+2. For the Bonneville has been offered at least one time again after the appearance of the 2+2.

[Carmak]

hi again, Craig.....one question I was hoping you may be able to answer.....could you get a 1.1 Gran Prix  like this kit, but order it new deleting the floor console, so the shifter was mounted between the buckets  .....I ask because if so, I will delete mine here, and run with it as stated.....thanks in advance.....the Ace...

I am not 100% sure you could get a Grand Prix with a floor shift manual and without a console but I think it would be a safe bet. I know that both the Bonneville and the Catalina were built as floor shift manual without console configurations.

The shifter boot is positioned  so that the right edge of the boot frame is about 3" left of center of the transmission tunnel. You would want to bulid up a rectangular flat spot on the side ot the transmission tunnel that is the same height as the tunnel to repersent the transmission tunnel stamping that provides clearance for the shifter.

Craig

 

[AC Norton]

I am not 100% sure you could get a Grand Prix with a floor shift manual and without a console but I think it would be a safe bet. I know that both the Bonneville and the Catalina were built as floor shift manual without console configurations.

The shifter boot is positioned  so that the right edge of the boot frame is about 3" left of center of the transmission tunnel. You would want to bulid up a rectangular flat spot on the side ot the transmission tunnel that is the same height as the tunnel to repersent the transmission tunnel stamping that provides clearance for the shifter.

Craig

 

thanks for that info.....the Ace....

[tim boyd]

I'm not so sure Ertl modified the Bonneville tool, as much as copied it for their 2+2. For the Bonneville has been offered at least one time again after the appearance of the 2+2.

There was apparently at least one post "2+2" tool modification release of this tool labeled as a "Pontiac Bonneville", circa 2004 or so  But the evidence (so far) seems to suggest that this may have been a mislabeled reissue of the "2+2" kit version, rather than a return of the tool to Bonneville status  Given the number of "error" box arts from RC2 and its various iterations back then, it seems possible that this is the case  

Having said that, does anyone have a copy of the circa 2004 "Bonneville" reissue?  If so, what's inside - an original Bonneville, a "2+2" as would be suggested from the above, or a new set of contents that would suggest the tool was returned to a Bonneville in a semi-original form after its foray into "2+2" territory?  

Thanks....TIM 

[Hemifan]

There was apparently at least one post "2+2" tool modification release of this tool labeled as a "Pontiac Bonneville", circa 2004 or so  But the evidence (so far) seems to suggest that this may have been a mislabeled reissue of the "2+2" kit version, rather than a return of the tool to Bonneville status  Given the number of "error" box arts from RC2 and its various iterations back then, it seems possible that this is the case  

Having said that, does anyone have a copy of the circa 2004 "Bonneville" reissue?  If so, what's inside - an original Bonneville, a "2+2" as would be suggested from the above, or a new set of contents that would suggest the tool was returned to a Bonneville in a semi-original form after its foray into "2+2" territory?  

Thanks....TIM 

I'm not sure Tim, would like to know -- I recall very well reading through Model Car Journal at the time the "2+2" kit first came out, and the very strongly disapproving review Dennis Doty gave it, for pretending to be something it was not!

[unclescott58]

There was apparently at least one post "2+2" tool modification release of this tool labeled as a "Pontiac Bonneville", circa 2004 or so  But the evidence (so far) seems to suggest that this may have been a mislabeled reissue of the "2+2" kit version, rather than a return of the tool to Bonneville status  Given the number of "error" box arts from RC2 and its various iterations back then, it seems possible that this is the case  

Having said that, does anyone have a copy of the circa 2004 "Bonneville" reissue?  If so, what's inside - an original Bonneville, a "2+2" as would be suggested from the above, or a new set of contents that would suggest the tool was returned to a Bonneville in a semi-original form after its foray into "2+2" territory?  

Thanks....TIM 

Interesting. I was going by the box saying it was the Bonneville in there the last time out. I did not buy the kit, so I really don't know what is in the there. If it was not a reissue of the Bonne itself, and the original tool was modified to give us the 2+2, I am not a happy camper. I'd rather have a correct Bonneville, than an incorrect 2+2. Thankfully, they did not mess with the Grand Prix. So we've gotten that one back.

Losing AMT's old '65 Bonneville kit would be a sin. And one of the worst mistakes ever made by Ertl.

[Mark]

Apart from the body/wheelbase mistake, the 2+2 is actually a pretty comprehensive conversion.  The interior upholstery patterns were changed, the instrument panel was changed to 2+2 spec, and the steering wheel is different (Bonneville has a two-spoke wheel, 2+2 has a three-spoke unit).  The 2+2 grille lacks the Bonneville lettering that shouldn't even be there on a Bonneville (should be on the hood).  But because of the difference in body length and wheelbase, it's incorrect, and shouldn't have been done.

[Art Anderson]

Apart from the body/wheelbase mistake, the 2+2 is actually a pretty comprehensive conversion.  The interior upholstery patterns were changed, the instrument panel was changed to 2+2 spec, and the steering wheel is different (Bonneville has a two-spoke wheel, 2+2 has a three-spoke unit).  The 2+2 grille lacks the Bonneville lettering that shouldn't even be there on a Bonneville (should be on the hood).  But because of the difference in body length and wheelbase, it's incorrect, and shouldn't have been done.

Except that the only changes in the tooling were the interior and retooling the scripts on the body--the grille lacks the proper script, and the taillight panel is still that of the Bonneville.

Art

[pack rat]

Having said that, does anyone have a copy of the circa 2004 "Bonneville" reissue?  If so, what's inside - an original Bonneville, a "2+2" as would be suggested from the above, or a new set of contents that would suggest the tool was returned to a Bonneville in a semi-original form after its foray into "2+2" territory?  

Thanks....TIM 

The Bonneville lives.  I knew I had a "post-2+2" issue of this kit somewhere in my stash.  Sure enough, it's the 2004 Buyer's Choice issue.  I took a quick look; the body, interior, grille, dash, rear trim panel etc are identical to the Prestige Bonneville.  To my naked eye, they're the same pieces...like the 2+2 never happened.    

Edited June 8, 2016 by pack rat