1969 Dodge Coronet R/T, 10/17, So Close I Can Taste It!!

[StevenGuthmiller]

I prefer the stripe.....................................................

 

I like the stripe too Nick.

I was originally planning on either doing the stripe or eliminating it altogether.

Personally, while I like them, I think the bumble bee stripes are over done.

Everything seems to have a bumble bee stripe.

If you do a google search for this car, it's very difficult to find one without the stripe.

I thought it might be nice to be different for this one.

 

Steve

[StevenGuthmiller]

Ok, I'm assuming that the 440 Magnum in the '69 Coronet R/T would have been painted orange.

All signs point to yes, but I got a little confused when I looked at the box art on the Revell '68 Charger kit.

I'm guessing Dodge made the color change for '69?

 

Steve

[High octane]

Ok, I'm assuming that the 440 Magnum in the '69 Coronet R/T would have been painted orange.

All signs point to yes, but I got a little confused when I looked at the box art on the Revell '68 Charger kit.

I'm guessing Dodge made the color change for '69?

 

Steve

Yes the '68 440 was turquoise and the '69 440 was Street Hemi Orange.

[1972coronet]

And to get  really picky ; the air cleaner assembly was "Air Cleaner Orange" on the Ramcharger equipped engines ( eg,  non-fresh air intake engines had round , black-painted air cleaners .... unless the Noise Reduction Package was ordered / mandated ; those received a "silenced" air cleaner --- think : 1967 440 and the two snorkels air cleaner ) .

Also : 1969 was the last year for the breather / oil filler setup . 1970 models had the rocker covers redesigned ; the breather and oil fill were now separated , and were switched to the right ( passenger ) side , and the PCV switched to the left (driver) side .

[om617]

I had no plans of going the Super Bee route.

The Super Bee didn't have the R/T hood bulge & the tail light treatment was different.

I would just go with the old Momogram kit for a Super Bee.

That's where I believe I'm headed Mike.

 

Steve

I understand. I`m certain what ever route you go it will turn out amazing. I love the color.  Might look a little bland

just pure on the body with no detail done. But i`m pretty sure you will like it when you start add stuff.

 

[Dann Tier]

Coming along GREAT!!  Q: how do you like to replicate your vinyl roofs?

[dodge5522]

I agree I like the stripe design to  I did a green one and used 68 charger stripe then added r/t right in the middle of quarter  panel man it looked good different  but good this one's on a charger I did for my daughter decales like swirly but it was old decales and my hands shake a lot but what do u think

[StevenGuthmiller]

The interior tub is in fairly good condition for this kit, although the dash & steering wheel are a little shaky.

Luckily, the dash & steering wheel from the AMT '70 Super Bee kit are exact replicas.

My question is, in my research I found 2 different dashes & steering wheels in the photos I've seen.

Some have the rectangular gauge face, which I assume is the "standard" package, & others have round. ( a deluxe or "rally" package?)

In the same vane, some have the standard Dodge kind of "triangular" steering wheel, while others have the three spoked silver wheel with the round hub & the simulated wood wheel. ( I'm assuming another option)

The steering wheels do seem to be interchangeable with both dash boards depending on the photo.

Anyway, The dash included with the kit is the round gauge piece, & I have the option of either steering wheel.

I assume the "spoked" wheel is leftover from the Road Runner kit, but it looks the same & I'm leaning towards using it because the other one is a little bent up.

So I guess I'm just wondering, what's the significance of 2 different dash & steering wheel treatments in the '69 R/T?

I was also curious about head rests.

The original kit seats don't have them, but A lot of the photos you see do.

I know that there was a "convertible / hardtop" distinction for a lot of cars concerning head rests, so I'm wondering if the hard top should have them.

I'm pretty sure that I've seen this style of head rest in another kit that I could steal them from, but I'll just have to figure out what kit.

 

Steve

 

Edited August 27, 2016 by StevenGuthmiller

[gtx6970]

Ok,

1st - the gauges- the long rectangular one is standard and was avail in either a 120 or 150 MPH configuration., the 2nd one ( round one ) was the optional rally gauges on a 69 Dodge. Both are correct . I think in a Coronet RT, with the standard gauge panel it only went to 120 mph and only the round gauge set went to 150 .

On the long style it could be had with either a clock or a tach mounted to the far right of the gauge set ( not both at the same time )  The Rallye set could be had with a clock / tach combination in the far left round gauge pod

2nd - the steering wheel , standard was the top one shown . It was avail in multiple colors to coordinate with the interior color ( horn pad included ) , the bottom was the optional woodgrain wheel with the stainless spokes and color coordinated center horn pad 

3rd - Head rests were optional on all models but became standard /  required equipment on Jan 1st 1969 due to a federal safety change mandate. ( hardtop  versus convertible had no bearing on if you got them or not )

 

Also, ck the center dash pad below the radio. I believe the MPC dash is only correct for an A/C car ( which is the only piece in the kit to represent an air car ) I ckd my 68 Coronet builtup and that's whats in it . So i only assume the 69 kit is the same

 

While I was there,,I pulled an AMT 68 Roadrunner / 69 GTX out and both have the 68 style dash ( but non air )

Also ckd the Johan Roadrunner / Superbird dash and its a correct 69 non air dash

 

Edited August 27, 2016 by gtx6970

[gtx6970]

Go here, but I'll warn you. Have a cold drink when you do,,you'll be there a while

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/library-2.shtml

[1972coronet]

I second Bill's information.  The Rallye Gauge panel has always been a head-scratcher for me ; I was of the school of thought that the round "cockpit" dash was standard with the R/T,  and optional with the Super Bee . I was wrong on both accounts ! 

Hamtramck Historical is thee best MoPar page around . A definite " rabbit hole " , for sure --- but worth every minute one can spend there !

 

[espo]

Great site that Bill gave you. Not sure what color interior you're thinking, but if not black I remember green Super Bees in green body colors that had a tutone green interior. They had a green very close to your body color and a darker green as a secondary color. Model looks amazing.  

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks for all of the info guys!

So I guess the answer to my question is......there's no easy answer.

I guess I can do whatever I want.

 

 

While I was there,,I pulled an AMT 68 Roadrunner / 69 GTX out and both have the 68 style dash ( but non air )

 

 

 

So Bill, am I correct in thinking that the AMT '68 Roadrunner dash is the same as the standard '69 Dodge?

It sure looks correct to me.

 

Great site that Bill gave you. Not sure what color interior you're thinking, but if not black I remember green Super Bees in green body colors that had a tutone green interior. They had a green very close to your body color and a darker green as a secondary color. Model looks amazing.  

At this point, I think I have decided to go with a green top & green interior.

I know, sounds like a lot of green, but I've seen a lot of these B body cars in that type of color combo over the years.

Seems to have been very popular & common back then.

 

Steve

[gtx6970]

So Bill, am I correct in thinking that the AMT '68 Roadrunner dash is the same as the standard '69 Dodge?

It sure looks correct to me.

Not really. The AMT dash is wrong in the center ,,,,,as well as it shows a 1970 style radio ( 1968-69s used a thumb wheel radio )

See if this helps.

IMO use the original MPC dash,,just fill in the depressed area just below the radio to get the best result to replicate a stock 69 dash.

Otherwise I think the best one is out of the Revell 69 Charger. But I'll be honest I'd modify  the MPC dash before I parted out a kit just to get the dash.  Especially in a hardtop build, I might think differently if I was building a convertible , where the dash is much more visible ( my lone MPC Coronet builtup is a 68 R/T convertible )

Edited August 27, 2016 by gtx6970

[Mike Chernecki]

how about the dash from Missing Link Resin?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/resin-AMT-1968-9-Plymouth-Correct-Roadrunner-GTX-Dash-Clear-Red-tailllights-/351817160881?hash=item51e9efd8b1:g:QhkAAOSwv-NWUlyf

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

Not really. The AMT dash is wrong in the center ,,,,,as well as it shows a 1970 style radio ( 1968-69s used a thumb wheel radio )

See if this helps.

IMO use the original MPC dash,,just fill in the depressed area just below the radio to get the best result to replicate a stock 69 dash.

Otherwise I think the best one is out of the Revell 69 Charger. But I'll be honest I'd modify  the MPC dash before I parted out a kit just to get the dash.  Especially in a hardtop build, I might think differently if I was building a convertible , where the dash is much more visible ( my lone MPC Coronet builtup is a 68 R/T convertible )

 

Thanks Bill.

I missed the lack of the "thumb wheel" radio on the Roadrunner dash.

I really wasn't planning on using it anyway as it would take too much modification to make it fit the Coronet interior tub.

Funny thing is, the AMT '70 Super Bee dash does have the thumb wheel radio, although it's understandable as the original MPC Dodge kits all shared the same dash board.

So, at this point, I'll probably use the AMT Super Bee dash & probably the spoked wood wheel.

I'll take your advise & fill those dash vents.

I need to fill a couple of sink marks on the top of the dash any way, so filling those will be no problem.

 

I want to thank everyone for their input on this project so far!

Although I love these cars, I'm no expert on them & a lot of these cars from this era had a lot of variations that would be very difficult to know all of them.

I'm sure I'll have more questions as the project moves along.

 

By the way, I have most of the clear coating done on the body parts, but I think I might give it one more coat just to level things out a little more & save some elbow grease when it comes to polishing time.

Starting on the interior & a little engine work this weekend.

 

Steve

 

[gtx6970]

Now, to confuse you even more.

 

technically the MPC dash is correct for a 1968 only.  If you look at it from the top . you can see the V shape to it , that's 68.

1969 - 70s have a different upper dash pad,,,,that has a much smoother even shape to it from side to side  when viewed from the top . It would be an easy fix if your so inclined. Use the Revell charger dash for an example . or I can snap off a pic if you don't have one

 

1968 pad , viewed from the top

 

 

Edited August 27, 2016 by gtx6970

[gtx6970]

1969 pad ,,same view

[StevenGuthmiller]

1969 pad ,,same view

So, it's just not as "pointed" in the center, like the '68 Charger dash.

That will be pretty easy to straighten out.

I'm going to have to stop talking to you guys.

Every time I do, I get more work added to my list!

I already had to add the grille on the dash top as there was nothing molded in.

I just ground out a square hollow area & will add a piece from a PE Edsel grille.

Not 100% accurate, but it's something.

I could add the two smaller ones on either side, but the one I did was already too much work.

 

Steve

 

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

how about the dash from Missing Link Resin?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/resin-AMT-1968-9-Plymouth-Correct-Roadrunner-GTX-Dash-Clear-Red-tailllights-/351817160881?hash=item51e9efd8b1:g:QhkAAOSwv-NWUlyf

 

Thanks for the suggestion Mike, but I'll make one of the ones that I have work.

Don't want to make this project into too much of a money pit.

 

Steve

[gtx6970]

So, it's just not as "pointed" in the center, like the '68 Charger dash.

That will be pretty easy to straighten out.

I'm going to have to stop talking to you guys.

Every time I do, I get more work added to my list!

I already had to add the grille on the dash top as there was nothing molded in.

I just ground out a square hollow area & will add a piece from a PE Edsel grille.

Not 100% accurate, but it's something.

I could add the two smaller ones on either side, but the one I did was already too much work.

 

Steve

 

 

Kinda sorta . The 68 pad is actually thinner when viewed from the drivers seat than the 69 pad . when viewed from the drivers seat the 69 pad is nearly 3.5" thick,,,, compared to a 68 pad that  might be 1.5" thick at most

When I did my AMT Daytona a few years back, I just sanded most of the point out of it to make it almost straight across and then added a thin strip of stryene across the top edge and an even smaller strip on the leading edge ( edge facing the driver ) to give it some definition and thickness . Trust me,,,its much easier than it sounds

Edited August 28, 2016 by gtx6970

[StevenGuthmiller]

Kinda sorta . The 68 pad is actually thinner when viewed from the drivers seat than the 69 pad . when viewed from the drivers seat the 69 pad is nearly 3.5" thick,,,, compared to a 68 pad that  might be 1.5" thick at most

When I did my AMT Daytona a few years back, I just sanded most of the point out of it to make it almost straight across and then added a thin strip of stryene across the top edge and an even smaller strip on the leading edge ( edge facing the driver ) to give it some definition and thickness . Trust me,,,its much easier than it sounds

Thanks Bill.

I doubt that I'll get that involved.

If I get too much into the weeds, this project will wind up sitting on the bench with a couple other projects I've gotten stalled on.

 

Steve

[StevenGuthmiller]

While I was monkeying around with the interior today, I started contemplating how I would do the wood grain on the console & part of the dashboard on this project & a kind of goofy thought crossed my mind.

I remembered that a couple of projects ago, when I was building my '65 Dodge Monaco, that there was a sheet of self adhesive wood grain that was included in the kit.

So I went to dig it out.

To my great surprise, after over 50 years of sitting in a box, the adhesive was still good!

I cut a small piece from a corner and applied it to a piece of plastic & it stuck great!

The grain is a little large in spots, but in the finer grained areas in the bottom of the sheet it looks much closer to scale.

It's well worth a try anyway.

If it doesn't look good, I can always just peel it off.

 

Steve

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

I finally got a chance to try out that 50 year old adhesive wood grain decal.

Worked surprisingly well.

I'm still a little surprised about how well it sticks after all of these years!

Sticks every bit as well as BMF, all though it's a little thicker & therefore a little harder to work with, but it beats the hell out of trying to replicate it with paint!

 

Steve

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

Couple of shots of the console.

 

Steve