Scale model of the Week

[Vietnam Vet67]

Saw this on this weeks issue of Autoweek Magazine.

The first generation of the front-wheel-drive Cadillac Eldorado was considered quite radical in its time, with a gigantic engine driving the front wheels and styling that was wild even by late-1960s Detroit standards. This must be the reason that Detroit model-kit-maker Jo-Han opted to make a 1:25 scale plastic model kit of the 1970 Eldo with some extreme customizing features. You like wood paneling, a gigantic ski rack, and ski-equipment sponsor decals on your Cadillac? Good news!

[Ace-Garageguy]

I snagged one of those not too long ago (mine is molded in an off-white, almost beige) as I think it's one of the best-looking big cars ever designed.

The kit is pretty nice, with separate torsion-bar front suspension, and one of the best versions of that engine and front-wheel-drive ever kitted (plus an optional Latham Axial-Flow supercharger).

The only downside is the molded-in rear suspension and exhaust, but that's typical for the era...and in my mind, the quality of the rest of the kit and what appear to be spot-on proportions easily make up for that.

[Snake45]

  On 12/16/2016 at 8:07 PM, Vietnam Vet67 said:

This must be the reason that Detroit model-kit-maker Jo-Han opted to make a 1:25 scale plastic model kit of the 1970 Eldo with some extreme customizing features. You like wood paneling, a gigantic ski rack, and ski-equipment sponsor decals on your Cadillac? Good news!

 

I suspect the real reason JoHan kitted this road pillow is that Cadillac wanted promos, and JoHan threw in all the moochy junk in hopes of selling a few kits at the local hobby shop.

It's a spendy classic today, of course, but I suspect this kit was NOT a big seller back in the day.

Cool find, though--thanks for sharing it.

[ChrisBcritter]

With plenty of flash in both white and chrome for your scratchbuilding needs!

(Seriously, the chrome can make good mirror faces.)

Still love these Eldos; used to draw them on my notebooks in third grade.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I still have one of these, along with the '70 Toronado, that I bought when I was a teenager.

I have to say, they were just as good or better than anything any of the other manufacturers were producing.

 

Steve

[Jantrix]

This kit has come in and out of my possession twice. It will not happen again. A very cool kit.

[Snake45]

  On 12/17/2016 at 12:26 AM, StevenGuthmiller said:

I still have one of these, along with the '70 Toronado, that I bought when I was a teenager.

I have to say, they were just as good or better than anything any of the other manufacturers were producing.

 

Steve

What, you mean JoHan? Oh my yes. This was their Golden Age. Their best was as good as the best of AMT and better than most MPCs. And Revell and Monogram weren't even in it for late-model stuff in those days.

[CometMan]

JoHan is still fondly remembered for their interesting subject matter, this one is no exception. Actually, the faux wood planking on the trunk with the ski rack looks kind of cool. I could do with out the stuff on the side, though. It makes it look like it's a qualifier in the NASCAR Station Wagon Series!

[Deathgoblin]

I WANT one of these.   

[Eshaver]

I remember buying one of these when it was a Jo-han annual . There too, I was a fan of both the 1965 Oldsmobile and the 1970 El Dorado. I wanted one of these cars in 1-1 to drive . The closest I got was a 1969 Oldsmobile delta 88 Convertible . None the less , these cars were GREAT drivers and so was the kit in the detail for it's day . My biggest regret was the glue we had in 1970 .......

[Lunajammer]

I bought two of them off the shelf back in the day and still have them. One is unbuilt because I want it to be perfect and I can't decide on what treatment. The other donated the running gear, engine and seats to a 70 Toronado restoration because the chassis were identical.

[Mike999]

  On 12/17/2016 at 12:33 AM, Jantrix said:

This kit has come in and out of my possession twice. It will not happen again. A very cool kit.

Same here.  If I'm lucky enough to snag another, it will hang around until the pickers are fighting over my estate sale. 

Had one years ago where I tried to duplicate the "halo" vinyl roof.  That...uh...didn't work out, to put it kindly.  I still have pieces of it.  And those pieces are easy to find in the ol' parts bin - it was molded in that bizarre "Lifebuoy Soap Orange" colored plastic.

[disabled modeler]

I am a huge fan of the Johan kits and promos....loved the subject matter they offered.   Shame there gone now....Id like to find some more someday myself and re-visit some of my much younger happier years.

[PowerPlant]

  On 12/17/2016 at 1:44 PM, Mike999 said:

Had one years ago where I tried to duplicate the "halo" vinyl roof.  That...uh...didn't work out, to put it kindly.  I still have pieces of it.  And those pieces are easy to find in the ol' parts bin

Do you still have the hood perhaps? I have one of these kits unbuilt, but the hood is severely warped unfortunately, and I've not had luck finding a replacement

[MrObsessive]

I have one of these as a non painted builder in the original annual box. I've always like this car (actually I like the same era Toro a little better) and I truly wish the car makers would go back to the rear drive proportions that these cars had, yet they were front drive.

I cringe when I see some of the cars on the road today with their way-too-close placement of the front wheels to the leading edge of the doors. Something I hate as more than likely the front wheelwells are imposing on the foot wells in the interior, and when you're over 6 ft as I am and wear a size 15 shoe-----that stands for an uncomfortable drive/ride on a long trip!

I'd say that this car was probably one of Bill Mitchell's best, as he was very much responsible with the end result of how this car appeared.

Yeah, if you can get one of these Johan kits at a reasonable price (built or unbuilt) grab 'em if you can. You can best believe that there will never be a modern glue kit of this car seen on the hobby shelves!

[PeeBee]

Yep, this is on of my all-time favorite American cars.  I picked up a factory sealed '67 kit about four years ago.  No tire burn!  Typical JoHan - crisp, well-proportioned body, etc.

PB.

[Mike999]

Forgot that I do have a '68 Eldo in the stash, with the unusual "custom" box art.  Saw it while looking for PowerPlant's '67 hood (that I unfortunately don't have).  The box looks like this:

 

Edited December 17, 2016 by Mike999
error

[Ace-Garageguy]

So...who knows what the specific differences are among the '67-'70 Eldorados? (yes, I know I can look it up, but I'm hoping to save a little time here)

I've always thought the early cars were the more attractive, but I've never studied exactly why, or what the differences are.

I know they went to exposed headlights in what...'69?

Thanks in advance to anyone who actually knows the straight story and will take the time to post.

[Chuck Most]

  On 12/17/2016 at 8:09 PM, Mike999 said:

Forgot that I do have a '68 Eldo in the stash, with the unusual "custom" box art.  Saw it while looking for PowerPlant's '67 hood (that I unfortunately don't have).  The box looks like this:

The style (and even some of the custom parts) look an awful lot like the artwork for AMT's '69 Lincoln Continental. Different subject and company, obviously, but I wonder if the same guy did the artwork for both boxes? Troy and Detroit aren't too far apart after all. 

[Can-Con]

  On 12/17/2016 at 8:54 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

So...who knows what the specific differences are among the '67-'70 Eldorados? (yes, I know I can look it up, but I'm hoping to save a little time here)

I've always thought the early cars were the more attractive, but I've never studied exactly why, or what the differences are.

I know they went to exposed headlights in what...'69?

Thanks in advance to anyone who actually knows the straight story and will take the time to post.

'67, hidden headlights, front signal lights in bumper under headlight doors.

'68, hidden headlights, signals moved to front edge of fenders.

'69, exposed headlights, fine grille mesh, small rectangles.

'70, exposed headlights, grille with more prominent horizontal bars.

 ,,,  BTW, All the JoHan Eldorados and Toronados used the same engine, the Olds unit. The Eldorados just had the "CADILLAC" script added to the Olds valve covers.

[Can-Con]

Also, if anyone has a spare '67 or '68 hidden headlight grille kicking around, I could really use it for a custom I've been wanting to do. 

[even the '69/'70 custom grille should work]

[om617]

I bought a mint in scruffy box 68 a year or two back,also have two rebuilders of the one on pictured at the top.

Would love to have the 67,would look good next to the 67 Toronado. 

 

What about a Hurst Cadillac? Anyone know the story behind it?

[keyser]

67's only had exposed wipers, in 68 went to extended hood and hidden wipers. 69-70 TL were ribbed too, 67-68 were just faceted vertically. 69-70 had round rear side markers with crest, 67 had none, not required. 

These are just additions to the previously mentioned diffs, but really specific. 

Love the 67's best, wipers clutter hood a little, but actually breaks up cowl area a bit. Sides cleanest of all 4 years, and front fenders just razor sharp. 

Virtually none had factory hood ornaments. I don't recall them as accessory either. Thank god for someone with taste at GM, likely Mitchell and Chuck Jordan. 

[disabled modeler]

Id love to find a promo or kit of a 72 Toronado.....it was my first real car I ever owned...she was green with tan top and interior it was a great car.  71 and 72s are close to each other in shape and style with small differences.

[Mike999]

Thanks everybody!  You Reverse-Jinxed me or something.  Saw a JOHAN 70 Eldorado on eBay yesterday, Buy It Now/Make Offer with free shipping.  Made an offer, seller counter-offered for a few dollars more, and I grabbed it.

It's open but looks complete. And molded in white plastic!