Promo

[NOBLNG]

Please forgive my ignorance here, but what exactly is a promo? I gather it is some kind of early-run model with limited parts and details. Did they come pre-assembled or were they kits? How do I know when I see one?

[Repstock]

From Google search:

 

Automobile dealer promos were 1/25th-scale versions of cars and trucks that salesmen would show off to their prospective customers. While car companies have always made small replicas of their products, the heyday of these salesman's samples was the 1950s, ’60s, and early ’70s.

By the way, they were pre-assembled and painted. The chassis and engine were usually molded in one piece.

[peter31a]

Promos were assembled models given out by auto dealerships when you came into the showroom to help promote car sales. Later on the model companies started offering the promos in kit form for people to build themselves. I'm sure someone else will give a clearer explanation.

[Eshaver]

Greg, a "Promo" is generally considered a 1-24th, perhaps a 1-25th model car , assembled of course that is , well WAZZZZZZ given out by automobile dealers to children . Now a days , dang things are sold as COLLECTABLES in the parts department .....

[Oldcarfan27]

49 minutes ago, Eshaver said:

Greg, a "Promo" is generally considered a 1-24th, perhaps a 1-25th model car , assembled of course that is , well WAZZZZZZ given out by automobile dealers to children . Now a days , dang things are sold as COLLECTABLES in the parts department .....

They still make them?

[ranma]

Yep they still make a few promo's Here is a 2017 Camaro promo which is on Ebay

[ranma]

Promotional models Were made of acetate plastic in the 1950- mid to 1960's Thus they warped ( JoHan smile) The bumpers and glass were styrene plastic which the Promo's all became in the mid 1960's. They were made by almost all kit companies such as AMT, Johan just to name two. Amt  returned to doing promo cars for Chevrolet in the 1980's  and still makes promo's of Camaro's and Corvette's.  Most of AMT/SMP's promo became Craftsman or styleline kit's. Promo models are Curbside  kit's that have the hoods molded shut, The exception to that is the AMT/Ertl  Chevy pickup's  which were based on the full detail kit. The hood can be taken of them and the tahoe for that matter as well.

[paul alflen]

IF IT  HAS A SEALED HOOD, TURN IT OVER  IT SHOULD  HAVE SCREWS ON THE BOTTOM TO HOLD THE CHASSIS TO THE BODY.THE CHROME BUMPERS WILL  USUALLY  HAVE HOLES TO HOLD IT INSIDE BETWEEN BODY AND CHASSIS. FLAT HEAD SCREWS ARE USED  ON THE OLD ONES, NOT PHILLIPS HEADS. JOHAN USED METAL PINS ON THE BOTTOM AND LATER PLASTIC PINS FOR THEIR SNAP KITS( UNASSEMBLED PROMOS) SOME PROMOS FROM THE 1960'S HIGHLIGHTED THE CARS FEATURES -EXAMPLE 40,000 MILE MUFFLER ETC........ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CHASSIS.

[StevenGuthmiller]

We should all give homage to the lowly promo.

It was basically the precursor to the model car kit.

Somewhere along the line, someone decided that people might like to "build their own" and the model car kit was born.

 

Steve

[Eshaver]

Patrick, yes, Promos are still being made , abet FEW!!!!! I believe there MAY be a Corvette , , a Camaro and a couple of sports cars ....

[disabled modeler]

17 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

We should all give homage to the lowly promo.

It was basically the precursor to the model car kit.

Somewhere along the line, someone decided that people might like to "build their own" and the model car kit was born.

 

Steve

I am a huge fan of the 60s/70s promos just love them...same for the old AMT Craftsman series kits.   I find it very rewarding to restore them  for the collection.  AMT..MPC..Johan...etc. made them and some really nice cool ones...sometimes its the only way to get a certain vehicle in scale plastic.   They made them in 2 door...4 door..wagons..pickups...convertibles...HTs...even some odd off the wall stuff for construction equipment and campers or motorhomes were once made.   Most promos will have a molded in hood and a engine chassis plate with slotted screws holding it all together...dated bumpers of the vehicles year it was of.  Many had vehicles details  on the chassis bottom with selling features of the vehicle.   The 60s and 70s had some great ones...man i love those things..LOL..

[gtx6970]

they can be great for a less expensive alternative for subject matter .

 

A 1970 GTO  is one. usually can find a distressed promo much cheaper than an original kit. Same goes for a 1968 Olds 442 or Johan 69 or 70 GTX .