Are these the only early Mustang Hartop kits ?

[Greg Myers]

With the Hardtop / notch back out numbering the fastback by roughly 350,000 to 75,000 in just the first year alone, why do

 we not have more Hardtop kits ?

When we were just getting into the Mustang as drivers the hardtop was it, most couldn't afford the fastback.

[vamach1]

They are not as cool.  Same goes for the real ones.  People want convertibles and fastbacks and will pay more.

[ChrisBcritter]

Probably because AMT turned their '65 fastback into an AWB quarter-miler early on and never changed it back. (At least they didn't make a Modified Stocker out of it! ) 

Edited August 24, 2018 by ChrisBcritter

[MrObsessive]

I'm still waiting for ONE OF THE KIT MAKERS to make a decent 1967-'68 convertible! I'm surprised that one's never been touched let alone the two door hardtop.

It's one of the reasons I went through the trouble of making my own body when I wanted to build my Green Hornet. The way things are going, it looks like I'll have to do the same again when it comes time to do a '67-'68 convertible.

[Eshaver]

11 hours ago, MrObsessive said:

I'm still waiting for ONE OF THE KIT MAKERS to make a decent 1967-'68 convertible! I'm surprised that one's never been touched let alone the two door hardtop.

It's one of the reasons I went through the trouble of making my own body when I wanted to build my Green Hornet. The way things are going, it looks like I'll have to do the same again when it comes time to do a '67-'68 convertible.

Bill, I'm honestly quite surprised that at least Revell or Mobieus hasn't done one

[Greg Myers]

or Monogram, to finish up their '65-'66 series in 1/24th.

[Mike999]

Wen-Mac did a '65 notchback and '67 fastback Mustang in 1/12 scale, and maybe others.  They could be powered with gas or electric motors. So not much chassis detail, but they do have interiors. Looks like they were also sold in Testors boxes. (Pix found on internet.)

 

 

Edited August 24, 2018 by Mike999
omit1

[disabled modeler]

On 8/23/2018 at 11:23 PM, ChrisBcritter said:

Probably because AMT turned their '65 fastback into an AWB quarter-miler early on and never changed it back. (At least they didn't make a Modified Stocker out of it! ) 

Tell me about it Chris....I have the 65 Olds..69 Falcon..66 Buick...66 Impala they ruined the molds for the stockers and mine need parts.  I also have a 65/66 Mustang promo in HT and fastback that need parts...cant win.

[unclescott58]

On 8/23/2018 at 7:01 PM, vamach1 said:

They are not as cool.  Same goes for the real ones.  People want convertibles and fastbacks and will pay more.

There are several of us who like the Mustang "notchback" coupes/hardtops. And as noted in Greg's first posting here, Ford sold many more regular hardtops that first year than fastbacks. In fact, the hardtop was generally the best seller most years back in those early years. Despite having AMT's '66, I do wish Revell would make a hardtop companion to their '65 fastbacks and convertibles. 

Even if the hardtop is not as cool as the fastback or convertible, it's still cool. I want to see more. 

[vamach1]

6 hours ago, unclescott58 said:

There are several of us who like the Mustang "notchback" coupes/hardtops. And as noted in Greg's first posting here, Ford sold many more regular hardtops that first year than fastbacks. In fact, the hardtop was generally the best seller most years back in those early years. Despite having AMT's '66, I do wish Revell would make a hardtop companion to their '65 fastbacks and convertibles. 

Even if the hardtop is not as cool as the fastback or convertible, it's still cool. I want to see more. 

I would build just about any Mustang and there certainly is a void of coupe kits.  I just don't think they would sell as well.  There are some resin options but as others have pointed out the 67/68 have issues (rear window area).  I do not understand if they spend money to tool a convertible how hard would it be to do a hardtop.  It would share many of the same parts.

[1972coronet]

It's too bad that the AMT 1964 ¹/₂ ,  ¹/₁₆ scale kit is such a steaming pile ...  Has anyone managed to correct that insane A-Pillar rake (and all related components) and create a nice kit out of those modifications ?

[vamach1]

4 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

It's too bad that the AMT 1964 ¹/₂ ,  ¹/₁₆ scale kit is such a steaming pile ...  Has anyone managed to correct that insane A-Pillar rake (and all related components) and create a nice kit out of those modifications ?

Don't forget the backwards windshield wipers.

[Oldcarfan27]

2 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

It's too bad that the AMT 1964 ¹/₂ ,  ¹/₁₆ scale kit is such a steaming pile ...  Has anyone managed to correct that insane A-Pillar rake (and all related components) and create a nice kit out of those modifications ?

I remember getting the Revell/Renwal 1/12 65 Mustang fb for Christmas as a kid and being so blown away by all of the operating features, that I thought ALL big scale models were like that. So when I got the AMT 64.5 Mustang I was absolutely disappointed - "steaming pile" is a good description of it alright. Never bought another AMT 1/16 scale kit again for fear of it being as bad as that Mustang. 

[Gramps46]

This might be an alternate for some but it is 1/24th.  I am converting it to 1964 Tour de France entry.

 

[Snake45]

43 minutes ago, Gramps46 said:

This might be an alternate for some but it is 1/24th.  I am converting it to 1964 Tour de France entry.

 

Not bad at all! Obviously a diecast; who made it? I'm familiar with one from I think Welly that comes in both coupe and convertible, but the coupe has a plastic roof that is clearly wrong and spoils the whole look of the thing. 

[Gramps46]

10 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Not bad at all! Obviously a diecast; who made it? I'm familiar with one from I think Welly that comes in both coupe and convertible, but the coupe has a plastic roof that is clearly wrong and spoils the whole look of the thing. 

It is a Welly but not with a plastic roof.

[disabled modeler]

On 8/23/2018 at 6:43 PM, Greg Myers said:

With the Hardtop / notch back out numbering the fastback by roughly 350,000 to 75,000 in just the first year alone, why do

 we not have more Hardtop kits ?

When we were just getting into the Mustang as drivers the hardtop was it, most couldn't afford the fastback.

I like that Revell 69 kit....cool..!

[Snake45]

2 hours ago, Gramps46 said:

It is a Welly but not with a plastic roof.

Thanks! Doesn't look anything like the one I'm thinking of, so either the bad one's not a Welly, or they've redone it. I'll have to keep my eye open for one of these, as it looks pretty good. Would sit on the shelf just fine with my M2 and Johnny Lightning fastbacks. 

[oldcarfan]

On 8/23/2018 at 11:38 PM, MrObsessive said:

I'm still waiting for ONE OF THE KIT MAKERS to make a decent 1967-'68 convertible! I'm surprised that one's never been touched let alone the two door hardtop.

 

AMT has the chassis already in the fastback 67-68 kit. Maybe it's more complicated than that, but it seems to me they could tool up a body and chassis tub to fit and then they'd have two kits to release instead of one.

[Gramps46]

Am I missing something, wasn't there a 64 promo?

 

 

[vamach1]

4 hours ago, Gramps46 said:

Am I missing something, wasn't there a 64 promo?

 

 

Yes - they were the basis for the early kits.  I bought this fastback someone had painted the body red.

[youpey]

those AMT 64-66 hardtop kits are absolute garbage. when i build kits i try to detail the chassis as much as the rest of the car, so a poor chassis and poor interior will be it for me. i dont think there was a redeeming quality of those kits. 

 

not to sound negative

[Greg Myers]

Hallelujah brother.  About time for something new

Edited September 11, 2018 by Greg Myers

[Snake45]

4 hours ago, youpey said:

 i dont think there was a redeeming quality of those kits. 

I do. The accurate body shape and the crispness of the details. The less-than-state-of-the-art interior, chassis, and engine bother me not at all, but if they did, I'd just fix, modify, or replace them. That's what modelers do.