Modern Big Pontiac Chassis.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I've been combing through all of my kits and racking my brain trying to determine if there is a modern kit out there with the same wheel base and chassis configuration as a 1964 Pontiac Bonneville kit that I have upcoming.

I've checked all of the Chevrolet's from that time frame, including the Monogram '65 and AMT '67 Impalas and they are all too short.

I suppose that I could stretch the '65 chassis to fit, but this is just another indication of how lacking the kit market is in certain segments.

Help me guys, is there a kit with a modern multi piece chassis that would fit the '64 Bonneville's 123 inch wheel base, or am I going to have to settle for the original kit piece, or modify something?

 

 

Steve

[Snake45]

AMT '69-'70 Buick Wildcat? Of course, that chassis probably won't be as detailed as the modern kit '65-'67 Impalas available. 

[Khils]

17 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

'64 Bonneville's 123 inch wheel base

Possibly the Moebius Catalina at 119 may be your closest to stretch Steve.

[Exotics_Builder]

What about the new version AMT 62 catalina? Too short as well, I guess

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by Exotics_Builder

[MrObsessive]

You'd have to do some work, but the closest thing would be the '90's AMT '62 Catalina. That's pretty much the only game in town ('cept for the Moebius '61 Ventura) that would be detailed for an early '60's Poncho chassis. Chevy, Buick and Cadillac were still using the X-Frame during that era and there's never been a correct Olds chassis for back then, but the '62 Pontiac would work for that too.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Thanks guys.

I had thought about the AMT '62 Catalina Chassis, and while it seems that it would work well for my '64 Pontiac Grand Prix, it is a touch too short for the Bonneville.

The Catalina Chassis will require some cutting up just to fit in the Grand Prix just because of the transmission tunnel interfering with the interior tub.

Having to deal with that, plus the added head ache of having to stretch it for the Bonneville might be a bridge too far for me.

I might just live with the original chassis for this one and just do an engine swap.

 

 

Steve

 

[kelson]

Maybe Monogram's 64 GtO?,I know it's 1/24 scale but it might be closer.

[StevenGuthmiller]

46 minutes ago, kelson said:

Maybe Monogram's 64 GtO?,I know it's 1/24 scale but it might be closer.

The GTO is not even in the ball park.

The GTO is on the Tempest chassis which was Pontiac's compact.

The Bonneville was the largest car they made.

The Bonneville was 220 inches long with a 123 inch wheel base.

The Tempest/GTO was 203 inches long with a 115 inch wheel base.

That's a 5 inch shorter wheel base than even the Grand Prix or Catalina.

 

 

 

Steve

 

[kelson]

How about Trumpeters 60'bonneville kit?,i don't know how much different the chassis would be from the 64.

[MrObsessive]

27 minutes ago, kelson said:

How about Trumpeters 60'bonneville kit?,i don't know how much different the chassis would be from the 64.

The '60 was still using the X frame. The '64's were using a perimeter type frame starting with the '61's.

[Mark]

The '62 Catalina parts would be the best starting point.  The Moebius '61 chassis is pretty much a straight crib of the AMT kit at a slightly higher price.  Anything else that might fit won't be as accurate as even the original piece.  I'd rather live with rudimentary detail with the correct configuration, than "more detail" that isn't as correct.

Funny, I was looking at this last week from the flip side; that is, sliding the Catalina pieces under a '63 body shortened to Catalina spec.  That swap does work (I didn't look at the interior because mine wouldn't be using a console).  In general, the AMT Sixties Pontiacs do measure out pretty well.  The Catalina/GP (regardless of year) has a 3" shorter wheelbase than the same-year Bonneville, and is also shorter overall by 7" (+/- a fraction of an inch).

[MrObsessive]

2 hours ago, Mark said:

Funny, I was looking at this last week from the flip side; that is, sliding the Catalina pieces under a '63 body shortened to Catalina spec.  That swap does work (I didn't look at the interior because mine wouldn't be using a console).  In general, the AMT Sixties Pontiacs do measure out pretty well.  The Catalina/GP (regardless of year) has a 3" shorter wheelbase than the same-year Bonneville, and is also shorter overall by 7" (+/- a fraction of an inch).

I have this same project in mind, 'cept I have a resin '63 Catalina I've had for probably ten years now. I don't know who made it as I picked it up in an unmarked box at our Super September Showdown. I test fit the AMT '62 Catalina chassis under it and with some slight tweaking it should work.

Since the frame is a separate part from the floor, it shouldn't be too hard to lengthen the frame rails and a slight stretching of the floor to make things work. Of course that's my crazy mind talking here and it's not for everyone.

[ChrisBcritter]

Steve, I still have that extra Moebius '61 body, floor and frame you gave me years ago to compare to the AMT Bonneville - if it'll help I'll send it back (you could use it to extend a second Moebius chassis).

Edited March 13, 2019 by ChrisBcritter