AMT '59 Corvette

[Snake45]

I just got one of these for a reasonable price at the local toy show yesterday. It's not a "parts mine" like the '62 or the ex-MPC '60, but what little is here looks pretty nice. It doesn't seem to have anything in common with the '62. Biggest disappointment is no hard top, but I'm sure I can find something that will work.

You don't see or hear much about this kit. Anyone built one, or have any thoughts on it? I'd think this would be a good candidate for a Round2 reissue at some point, assuming the molds still exist. Comments?

[Daddyfink]

I built one when I was a kid in the early 80's, it was fun! Maybe I should find me a new one and give it a try again. 

[Sixties Sam]

I built one a few years ago. It's a typical AMT annual kit of its time. Simple build, and comes out looking ok.

[stavanzer]

Snake. If (a BIG if) the tops from the MPC '60 will fit, I have plenty of spares. Yours for the asking.

[Snake45]

Snake. If (a BIG if) the tops from the MPC '60 will fit, I have plenty of spares. Yours for the asking.

Thanks but I'm good--got several copies of the "parts mine" AMT/MPC '57 gasser, which has the same top.

[Bob Ellis]

The AMT 1959 Corvette is a 1960. The seat pattern up and down on the kit .It is an updated 1959 annual kit (engine). Only the hardtop version came with a claer top in 1960.

[stavanzer]

OK, No Worries.

I have a stack of the Gasser '57's and the Parts Mine '60's my self. They are worthwhile kits to have.

[Snake45]

The AMT 1959 Corvette is a 1960. The seat pattern up and down on the kit .It is an updated 1959 annual kit (engine). Only the hardtop version came with a claer top in 1960.

Potayto, potahto--at this point I'm likely as not gonna try to graft the assend of the '62 onto it to make a '61.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'm in the process of doing just that, but probably not in the way you'd want to. It's beginning to compare somewhat favorably to the Revell '62.

You wanna see some pix on this thread, or would you rather I just put them in my own build thread?

[Snake45]

I'm in the process of doing just that, but probably not in the way you'd want to. It's beginning to compare somewhat favorably to the Revell '62.

You wanna see some pix on this thread, or would you rather I just put them in my own build thread?

Post 'em up here if you want, no problem.

With the nice Revell '62 now available, I can't see taking "heroic measures" to make a good '62. But a '61, now that would fill another slot on my shelf.

[Ace-Garageguy]

With the nice Revell '62 now available, I can't see taking "heroic measures" to make a good '62. But a '61, now that would fill another slot on my shelf.

Seems to me the only differences between the '61 and '62 are relatively minor trim and detail deviations. Looks like the Revell '62 would be the easiest place to start, as the body shells are the same.

Far as "heroic measures" go, I just happen to have an otherwise useless AMT '62, the nose is so awful as to be unusable (for me), I hate to waste the kit, I also hate to cut up a nice Revell '62 to build what I want, I also have the upper front clip from an AMT '59 (which doesn't look right either, but it's closer to being in the ballpark than the '62) and the subject of my particular build is a highly-modified drag car anyway...which could have been built up with non-OEM parts splashed from a real car and subsequently modified too...so absolute accuracy isn't that important. Getting a good initial impression of a '62 turned into an M/SP car is the goal, and some of them were almost altereds in reality. But the "look" of the nose of the AMT '62 is just flat wrong...well, to anybody who has to look at the real ones almost every day now, anyway. 

[John Goschke]

Basically a reissue of the SMP '60 Corvette convertible annual. The original SMP '59 kits didn't have an engine and had the correct '59 seat pattern. Whether original or reissue they need a fair bit of cleanup, particularly getting bumpers and splash pan to fit well. Windshields are best replaced with clear packaging plastic and the windshield frame benefits from being thinned down. Watch wheel/tire lineup in wheelwells – when I built my '59 I had to move the driver's side front wheel forward and the passenger's side wheel back to center them in the wheel opening.

That said, these can be a fun build if you don't take them too seriously!

[Ace-Garageguy]

Man, those both look great.   

[Snake45]

Seems to me the only differences between the '61 and '62 are relatively minor trim and detail deviations. Looks like the Revell '62 would be the easiest place to start, as the body shells are the same.

Far as "heroic measures" go, I just happen to have an otherwise useless AMT '62, the nose is so awful as to be unusable (for me), I hate to waste the kit, I also hate to cut up a nice Revell '62 to build what I want, I also have the upper front clip from an AMT '59 (which doesn't look right either, but it's closer to being in the ballpark than the '62) and the subject of my particular build is a highly-modified drag car anyway...which could have been built up with non-OEM parts splashed from a real car and subsequently modified too...so absolute accuracy isn't that important. Getting a good initial impression of a '62 turned into an M/SP car is the goal, and some of them were almost altereds in reality. But the "look" of the nose of the AMT '62 is just flat wrong...well, to anybody who has to look at the real ones almost every day now, anyway. 

Hard to disagree with much of that--you and I are very much on the same page.

The cove trim detail is just different enough between 62 and 61 that I wouldn't want to try to convert the former into the latter. I think it would be easier to start with '58-'60 coves and their trim to do a '61. But hey that's just me.

[Junkman]

I have the SMP '59 annual. It was the cheapest annual I ever bought, for a tenner.
Yes, I'm one of those second generation collectors.

Since I'm not remotely in John Goschke's league, I'm afraid it'll remain unbuilt until my heirs take it to the tip.

[Junkman]

The AMT 1959 Corvette is a 1960. The seat pattern up and down on the kit .It is an updated 1959 annual kit (engine). Only the hardtop version came with a claer top in 1960.

Yeah, in the same way as Revell's '60 multipiece is a '59. It even started life correctly labelled as a '59 and I guess they started calling it a '60 when AMT started to call their '60 a '59.

Edited November 8, 2016 by Junkman

[Art Anderson]

And, when first released, back in 1960, SMP's (now AMT) '60 Corvette had perhaps the only really accurate hardtop--that was molded in clear plastic, with all the correct window moldings, etc.  In addition, it fit to the body like a glove as well!

Art

[Bob Ellis]

Potayto, potahto--at this point I'm likely as not gonna try to graft the assend of the '62 onto it to make a '61.

I don't blame you. Major surgery is pain

[unclescott58]

Basically a reissue of the SMP '60 Corvette convertible annual. The original SMP '59 kits didn't have an engine and had the correct '59 seat pattern. Whether original or reissue they need a fair bit of cleanup, particularly getting bumpers and splash pan to fit well. Windshields are best replaced with clear packaging plastic and the windshield frame benefits from being thinned down. Watch wheel/tire lineup in wheelwells – when I built my '59 I had to move the driver's side front wheel forward and the passenger's side wheel back to center them in the wheel opening.

That said, these can be a fun build if you don't take them too seriously!

Wow! The above is beautiful. Very nice.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

This is an AMT '59 hack I started a while back. AMT '59 tail, nose from the old Revell multi-piece-body kit, all on a Revell C5 chassis...

Edited November 8, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[John Goschke]

This is an AMT '59 hack I started a while back. AMT '59 tail, nose from the old Revell multi-piece-body kit, all on a Revell C5 chassis...

 

Now THAT is cool!  Would love to see you take this one a little further, Bill!  The concept is definitely working!