MPC's '75 Vette on the road again!

[AC Norton]

I didn't realize there might be a difference in the nose cap between '74 and '75. 

What IS the difference? Is it just the bumperguards? 

Given that this thing has such a sad engine compartment, I'm thinking I'll just make it a curbsider; close the hood down and glue it shut, make up the vague-looking engine so there's something to see, and take it from there. 

.....why is the engine bay,,sad,,  as you say....the inner fender splash panels fit nicely when installed properly, allowing for good hood hinging movement. the rad can be detailed with paint , and fits evenly and the firewall piece can be paint detailed as well. if a brake booster is added, and a power unit was standard at that time, then add one. as for a/c lines and all the rest, that's up to each builder. but, I can assure you that with the hood pad painted in, some basic  detail, and a clean, wired  engine of your choice, the engine compartment area can be quite pleasing.....over the years I have built a few MPC  68- 80 era Vettes, and with a bit of effort, they can look fine.....the Ace....

[Snake45]

It looks to me like the '73 and '74 didn't have the bumper guards, but the '75 on did. I'll have to look at a bunch more pics to make sure. When you google image "74 Corvette" for example, you'll get a lot of pics, some of which might NOT be 1974 Corvettes, but '75s or '76s or--in blatantly obvious cases--'68s or '69s or '70-'72s.

[AC Norton]

It looks to me like the '73 and '74 didn't have the bumper guards, but the '75 on did. I'll have to look at a bunch more pics to make sure. When you google image "74 Corvette" for example, you'll get a lot of pics, some of which might NOT be 1974 Corvettes, but '75s or '76s or--in blatantly obvious cases--'68s or '69s or '70-'72s.

......75 was the first year for the small black rubber bumper guards.....prior  years did not have those. I sold at a Chev store from 1977  to 1988 and several ended up as used cars on our lot......very common at the time, and most folks hated the guards as it took away that  clean look enjoyed by the earlier models, if you catch my drift....the Ace...

[Mike999]

If anybody is thinking about doing this one as a weathered beater...here's a long (32 pages) thread at Corvette Forum on that subject.  How Vette paint weathers, patinas, etc. Lots of photos:

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c1-and-c2-corvettes/3621641-patina-corvettes-old-paint.html
 

[ToyLvr]

For those of you who have bought the reissued kit, can you tell me if it includes the optional "Wankel" rotary engine?

[stavanzer]

Mike as far as I can tell from Faust's review, there is NO Wankle engine in the kit.

By all appearances, there has not been one since about 1974.

[AC Norton]

For those of you who have bought the reissued kit, can you tell me if it includes the optional "Wankel" rotary engine?

Mike as far as I can tell from Faust's review, there is NO Wankle engine in the kit.

By all appearances, there has not been one since about 1974.

...I have one,,,no Wankel but its a nice issue for sure.....the Ace....

[ToyLvr]

The original MPC #1-7506 kit ('75 Corvette) had the optional rotary engine. I have one of these kits, but used the rotary engine for a little project a few years ago (see http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/73425-shamrock-t-bucket/

I was hoping that the reissued kit would have it, as I had another project in mind for the Rotary ?

Still, I'm glad to see the Corvette reissued!

[Mike Chernecki]

Is this kit different than the amt 1975 Corvette released a few years back in the 50th anniversary  box with yellow Vette. How are they different? I started one a few years ago but it stalled when I lost one of the body parts.

[stavanzer]

Two very different kits, Mike. This one originated as an MPC tool, about 1971-72 with tooling updates every year to the main body.

Even as the Real Vette lost the Big block 454  and true Dual Exhausts in 1974, the MPC kit retained them. This is a time capsule kit, with Round2's improved decals, new tires and turned metal intake tubes for the F.I.  As a guess, it will be fiddly in the way that most MPC tooling as is, but will build into a good kit when complete. Faust, has photographed the entire instruction sheet in his review. I'd check over the pages and see if you like the kit. More options for building than the AMT kit for sure.

 

[unclescott58]

Not that I would use it, but wonder what happened to rotary engine? It would make a cool display piece. Also a little off topic, I remember MPC's original '69 Firebird coming with 3 different engines. The Pontiac 400 V8. The Pontiac OHC six. And a gas turbine engine that looked like it was ripped off from JoHan's Chrysler Turbine Car kit. That's one of the things I loved about MPC kits back in the day. Options.

[Snake45]

Not that I would use it, but wonder what happened to rotary engine? It would make a cool display piece. Also a little off topic, I remember MPC's original '69 Firebird coming with 3 different engines. The Pontiac 400 V8. The Pontiac OHC six. And a gas turbine engine that looked like it was ripped off from JoHan's Chrysler Turbine Car kit. That's one of the things I loved about MPC kits back in the day. Options.

I believe the '68 and/or '69 Camaros had that turbine, too. I know I owned at least one of them but never built it. I might even still have it somewhere, who knows. I do still have an annual '69 Firebird in the original box. I'll have to look and see if the turbine is still in there.

[AC Norton]

I believe the '68 and/or '69 Camaros had that turbine, too. I know I owned at least one of them but never built it. I might even still have it somewhere, who knows. I do still have an annual '69 Firebird in the original box. I'll have to look and see if the turbine is still in there.

MPC annual 68 Camaro did not have the turbine, just 69 Camaro and Firebird..........if you ever get bored with that annual 69 'bird I have a safe, warm haven for it.....lol.....the Ace...

[unclescott58]

From what I remember the original '69 Firebird also came with a clear hood. So you could show off which ever of the 3 engine you picked and put in the car.

Back to Corvettes. I wonder what happened to MPC's 1/20 scale Corvettes? I always thought it odd at the time that they would offer the same car every year back then, in two different scales so close together. I know they offered both a coupe and roadster, like their small 1/25 scale cousins, in different years. I don't know if they ever offered both body styles in 1/20 at the same time? I'm not a big fan of car kits in this scale. But, it would be fun to know what was offered and when. This maybe another thread that could be started by someone who knows?

 

[Snake45]

MPC annual 68 Camaro did not have the turbine, just 69 Camaro and Firebird..........if you ever get bored with that annual 69 'bird I have a safe, warm haven for it.....lol.....the Ace...

Nah, I'll prolly finish it someday...Painted the body red in 1969 but that was about as far as I got...but now it needs to be stripped and started over....

[Snake45]

From what I remember the original '69 Firebird also came with a clear hood. So you could show off which ever of the 3 engine you picked and put in the car.

 

Yes it did, and it was the twin-scoop 400 hood, too. I think this same hood might have also been in the 67 and 68 Firebird kits.

I was building mine as a 350 at the time, and, sadly, filed off the scoops--and kind of crudely, too. Wish I'd left them alone. I'll have to fix that before I drive on.

Has any reissue of the '69 Firebird ever had the twin scoop 400 hood, or just the TA-type hood?

[Mark]

Has any reissue of the '69 Firebird ever had the twin scoop 400 hood, or just the TA-type hood?

There is an AMT/Ertl boxed "Firebird 400" reissue (orange car on the box), that one includes a twin-scoop 400 hood as well as the T/A hood.  The 400 hood was (then) new tooling, and leaves a wider gap than the T/A hood when installed.  Not terrible as I recall, just not as good as it could have been. 

[Faust]

From what I remember the original '69 Firebird also came with a clear hood. So you could show off which ever of the 3 engine you picked and put in the car.

Back to Corvettes. I wonder what happened to MPC's 1/20 scale Corvettes? I always thought it odd at the time that they would offer the same car every year back then, in two different scales so close together. I know they offered both a coupe and roadster, like their small 1/25 scale cousins, in different years. I don't know if they ever offered both body styles in 1/20 at the same time? I'm not a big fan of car kits in this scale. But, it would be fun to know what was offered and when. This maybe another thread that could be started by someone who knows?

 

Man, the 1/20 Vettes! My uncle built one of those waaay back when I was just a wee gaffer.  I remember thinking it was small - he tended to build the 1/18 kits that were out at the time. 

It's funny you should mention the big Vettes. I managed to snag a Laser Vette a couple of weeks ago. A bit rough, but unstarted. It seems to be the smaller kit LITERALLY pantographed up. Needless to say, one day I will get around to doing a review of that crazy custom beastie. I don't really know the history of the Vettes in that scale, though. 

[AC Norton]

From what I remember the original '69 Firebird also came with a clear hood. So you could show off which ever of the 3 engine you picked and put in the car.

Back to Corvettes. I wonder what happened to MPC's 1/20 scale Corvettes? I always thought it odd at the time that they would offer the same car every year back then, in two different scales so close together. I know they offered both a coupe and roadster, like their small 1/25 scale cousins, in different years. I don't know if they ever offered both body styles in 1/20 at the same time? I'm not a big fan of car kits in this scale. But, it would be fun to know what was offered and when. This maybe another thread that could be started by someone who knows?

 

Yes it did, and it was the twin-scoop 400 hood, too. I think this same hood might have also been in the 67 and 68 Firebird kits.

I was building mine as a 350 at the time, and, sadly, filed off the scoops--and kind of crudely, too. Wish I'd left them alone. I'll have to fix that before I drive on.

Has any reissue of the '69 Firebird ever had the twin scoop 400 hood, or just the TA-type hood?

There is an AMT/Ertl boxed "Firebird 400" reissue (orange car on the box), that one includes a twin-scoop 400 hood as well as the T/A hood.  The 400 hood was (then) new tooling, and leaves a wider gap than the T/A hood when installed.  Not terrible as I recall, just not as good as it could have been. 

Man, the 1/20 Vettes! My uncle built one of those waaay back when I was just a wee gaffer.  I remember thinking it was small - he tended to build the 1/18 kits that were out at the time. 

It's funny you should mention the big Vettes. I managed to snag a Laser Vette a couple of weeks ago. A bit rough, but unstarted. It seems to be the smaller kit LITERALLY pantographed up. Needless to say, one day I will get around to doing a review of that crazy custom beastie. I don't really know the history of the Vettes in that scale, though. 

.....another note that I'm certain many on the forum have considered, but I'll throw in my 2 cents anyhow,,,,even though this new issue 75 Vette  models a slower, smogged up less interesting car to some, even though I like this issue.....it makes a GREAT donor kit to complete a build if one has other earlier MPC  Vettes from the 68-74 era. recently I have bought annual MPC 69 , 70, and a 73 convertible kit, all that had a couple missing parts or started pieces. well, one of these new 75's solved all that quickly, not to mention you still end up with killer decals, nice tires, and metal injector stacks.....I'm liking all this, makes ya' just want to river dance...lol...lol.....the Ace...

[Faust]

Good call, Ace! 

This kit is a good way to get a lot of spares in one shot. 

On that note, does anyone have any good pics of what the '75 exhaust setup actually looks like? I am certain it's not the duals in the set, but I'd love to make this into a truer '75, so if anyone has any pics or links, I'd appreciate it!

Thanks, all!

[Mark]

Good call, Ace! 

This kit is a good way to get a lot of spares in one shot. 

On that note, does anyone have any good pics of what the '75 exhaust setup actually looks like? I am certain it's not the duals in the set, but I'd love to make this into a truer '75, so if anyone has any pics or links, I'd appreciate it!

Thanks, all!

Quick fix if you want a 100% STOCK MPC '75-'77 Corvette: swap in the engine/chassis from a '78-'82 annual kit.  They're out there, if you pound the ground you should be able to turn one up for less than the price of a current kit.  The '78 kit was retooled (not based on earlier kits) but the chassis is very similar to the '68-'77 parts.  Stock smogger small-block and automatic transmission, stock single cat-con exhaust with dual mufflers so that you see smoke coming out of two tailpipes while it's warming up on a cold morning.

[AC Norton]

Good call, Ace! 

This kit is a good way to get a lot of spares in one shot. 

On that note, does anyone have any good pics of what the '75 exhaust setup actually looks like? I am certain it's not the duals in the set, but I'd love to make this into a truer '75, so if anyone has any pics or links, I'd appreciate it!

Thanks, all!

....bang up Google and type in 75 vette chassis photos, or 75 vette exhaust system.  I think they were single into a dual rear deal, but not sure....the Ace....

[RDean58]

Is this kit different than the amt 1975 Corvette released a few years back in the 50th anniversary  box with yellow Vette. How are they different? I started one a few years ago but it stalled when I lost one of the body parts.

The "AMT" 75 Corvette is the very same kit as the MPC "75 Corvette Convertible" kit with the yellow car on the box cover. The "new" Retro MPC 75 Corvette kit is an updated version of both of these kits although from the pictures I have seen, the "working front suspension" cannot be used because this kit is missing the correct type of spindles. What is included in the kit are the spindles and front lower control arms of the 78 and later kits. So while the springs and chromed lower control arms are good if you need them for a 75 or earlier kit, they can't be used in the current kit the way it comes from the factory.

 

There is on of these AMT 75 50th anniversary kits on ebay right now with a picture of the contents and they look exactly the same as the older MPC 75 Corvette.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I picked one of these up today with the ol' 40%-off coupon, and for that money, I think it's a pretty good kit. 

I rarely buy anything to build stock or anywhere near out-of-the-box, and for me, this model is simply a parts-source.

I needed a non-blobular chassis for something I've been working on based on the AMT '70 snapper coupe, and this chassis will serve admirably.

The headers are going on the '62 Corvette AM/SP I have on another thread, and one set of optional wheels will become the basis for the very unusual Halibrands on the front of the old Tony Nancy '29 Ford roadster.

The optional FI intake manifold will form the basis for a Ford FE unit, and the really great METAL injection stacks will go that way too.

There's other good stuff in the box (even though it's a relatively low-parts-count kit) that I'll undoubtedly find good use for...all of which leaves me with a pretty good body shell.

I've been wanting to build something very much like this, and I have just about everything else already, so that's what she'll become...

                                                  

 

[AC Norton]

I picked one of these up today with the ol' 40%-off coupon, and for that money, I think it's a pretty good kit. 

I rarely buy anything to build stock or anywhere near out-of-the-box, and for me, this model is simply a parts-source.

I needed a non-blobular chassis for something I've been working on based on the AMT '70 snapper coupe, and this chassis will serve admirably.

The headers are going on the '62 Corvette AM/SP I have on another thread, and one set of optional wheels will become the basis for the very unusual Halibrands on the front of the old Tony Nancy '29 Ford roadster.

The optional FI intake manifold will form the basis for a Ford FE unit, and the really great METAL injection stacks will go that way too.

There's other good stuff in the box (even though it's a relatively low-parts-count kit) that I'll undoubtedly find good use for...all of which leaves me with a pretty good body shell.

I've been wanting to build something very much like this, and I have just about everything else already, so that's what she'll become...

                                                  

 

now THAT type of Vette f/c body will make a very interesting build for sure.....only thing I wonder,,,there were various late 60s and early 70s ' Corvette body's used by some of the the funny car crowd exactly as you show in your photos....but I can't remember any of the later 74 and up body used, similar to the pic's.....maybe more inclined , Bill, to use an AMT/ERTL 70 1/2  body as your starting point... that way you have bumper's and tail light's to rework same as pictured above...those kit's are common as heck and usually cheap too....just a thought....the Ace....