1/25 AMT 1964 Olds Cutlass F85 Convertible

[ChrisBcritter]

I'm ready! 

[charlie8575]

I'm really looking forward to this. I wonder if the coupe will be coming, too?

I can play with parts, and make an F-85 wagon. That'll be cool.

Charlie Larkin

[Casey]

Teaser pic of the final packaging on Instagram means it should be here every soon.

Edited February 9, 2021 by Casey

[stavanzer]

All, well and good, but can they at least tease us with pics of the Contents?  No Offense, but I've now seen a dozen photos of a 50 year old box.  I'm as nostalgic as the next guy, but c'mon, enough with just the box. 

Show us the tires. Show us this fabulous body that's been recreated. Show us the decals. Frankly, a sealed box, even of a new kit, does not really move me to reach for my wallet.  I like a nice box, but I'm buying the contents, not a 'Pretty Picture".

[Robberbaron]

 

10 hours ago, alexis said:

All, well and good, but can they at least tease us with pics of the Contents?  No Offense, but I've now seen a dozen photos of a 50 year old box.  I'm as nostalgic as the next guy, but c'mon, enough with just the box. 

Show us the tires. Show us this fabulous body that's been recreated. Show us the decals. Frankly, a sealed box, even of a new kit, does not really move me to reach for my wallet.  I like a nice box, but I'm buying the contents, not a 'Pretty Picture".

Sneak peek posted Dec 9 to Round 2's Facebook page, and posted in this thread on page 3.

Pasted again for you convenience:

 

[Erik Smith]

That looks great. 

I have wanted to make a windshield-frame-less racer version of a car this era, but have never wanted to do it to an original. I wouldn't feel bad converting this one, now...

I know that's a Tempest, but...I think the straight simple body lines of the Cutlass would make a streamlined look.

Edited February 10, 2021 by Erik Smith

[stavanzer]

Thank You, Robert. I remember seeing that pic, too. Just forgot about it.  I'm not as sharp as I once was.......

 

[Bob Ellis]

On 2/9/2021 at 8:18 PM, Robberbaron said:

 

Sneak peek posted Dec 9 to Round 2's Facebook page, and posted in this thread on page 3.

Pasted again for you convenience:

 

Do I assume the white parts are the new Round2 items and the grey plastic is original from AMT?

[pack rat]

46 minutes ago, Bob Ellis said:

Do I assume the white parts are the new Round2 items and the grey plastic is original from AMT?

It's the other way around; the grey parts are the new ones.  

[tim boyd]

Hope to be able to post some images of a look inside the new kit along with commentary sometime this weekend....TIM 

[Bob Ellis]

29 minutes ago, tim boyd said:

Hope to be able to post some images of a look inside the new kit along with commentary sometime this weekend....TIM 

That would be awesome Tim!

[Casey]

On 2/11/2021 at 3:49 PM, pack rat said:

It's the other way around; the grey parts are the new ones.  

Were all-new clear parts created, too?

[pack rat]

1 hour ago, Casey said:

Were all-new clear parts created, too?

Yes, the clear parts are all new.  The windshield on the test shot isn't polished hence the cloudy appearance. 

[ChrisBcritter]

On 2/11/2021 at 3:49 PM, pack rat said:

It's the other way around; the grey parts are the new ones.  

Hmm. The grille and wheelcovers were on the same (chrome) tree; did the rust damage to the tool cause a partial redo?

[Rodent]

What would it take to build a 442? Three 442 emblems (fenders and trunk), a dual snorkel air cleaner, and the appropriate decals for said dual snorkel air cleaner?

Edit: OK, I am seeing that there was also a rear stabilizer bar. That is easy on an A-Body. I was thinking that the '65 was the first year for that.

I am seeing both of these aircleaners on '64s. Wonder what the story is?

OK, edit 2.0 -- Looks like the original kit had an automatic trans. Looking forward to Tim's dissection this weekend. I already have a spare 65 GTO roof to make a Holiday Coupe when the time comes.

 

Edited February 13, 2021 by Rodent

[pack rat]

14 minutes ago, ChrisBcritter said:

Hmm. The grille and wheelcovers were on the same (chrome) tree; did the rust damage to the tool cause a partial redo?

The center of the front bumper was altered (slightly) for the funny car, and the headlights were smoothed over to simulate covers.  Rather than alter/restore the existing part they tooled up a new piece.

[Luc Janssens]

7 hours ago, pack rat said:

The center of the front bumper was altered (slightly) for the funny car, and the headlights were smoothed over to simulate covers.  Rather than alter/restore the existing part they tooled up a new piece.

Which is for the better, otherwise one could end up with the same problems that manifested in the '65 GoAT back when Ertl tried to bring hat kit back to stock.

[tim boyd]

10 hours ago, Luc Janssens said:

Which is for the better, otherwise one could end up with the same problems that manifested in the '65 GoAT back when Ertl tried to bring hat kit back to stock.

More on the new front and rear bumpers....with images.....hopefully later today.  Update...and here's the link to the (hopefully) whole story...TIM 

Edited February 13, 2021 by tim boyd

[Motor City]

"Edit: OK, I am seeing that there was also a rear stabilizer bar. That is easy on an A-Body. I was thinking that the '65 was the first year for that."

The '64 442 also came standard with a rear stabilizer bar as part of its police package, which made the handling better than a GTO.  It also had a 330 cubic inch engine rated at 310 horsepower vs. the Cutlass 290 horsepower engine.    I agree that while they were tooling new parts for this kit that the unique 442 parts (rear stabilizer bar, emblems, and dual-snorkel air cleaner) should have been included.  Maybe Round 2 will come out with a separate 442 kit and eventually do a '65 442 kit!

By the way,, here is the first 442 ad, of which at least one 4-door sedan was built.

[Casey]

49 minutes ago, Motor City said:

Maybe Round 2 will come out with a separate 442 kit and eventually do a '65 442 kit!

I'd say the odds are better than maybe considering the amount of work they have performed to bring this subject back to life, albeit in not-exactly-original form.

Edited February 13, 2021 by Casey

[Motor City]

we can only hope, Casey, along with a Vista Cruiser;

restoration of the '65 Dynamic 88 tooling to make Starfire, Jetstar 1, and/or Dynamic/Delta 88 versions would also be nice 

Edited February 13, 2021 by Motor City

[Casey]

4 minutes ago, Motor City said:

along with a Vista Cruiser

That might be a bit of a stretch.

4 minutes ago, Motor City said:

restoration of the '65 Dynamic 88 tooling to make Starfire, Jetstar 1, and/or Dynamic/Delta 88 versions would also be nice 

I don't know all the differences and changes which would be required to recreate the '65, but I think a '64 F-85 Cutlass Hardtop is much more reasonable. Frankly, if that happens, it may be the only other variation we see. I don't get the sense the '64 Olds F-85 Cutlass has a huge following, so of correct, it wouldn't make much sense for Round2 to invest in another, significantly different (i.e. all new body and bumpers, interior, etc.) kit just to reuse the design work for the redone '64 F-85.

[Bob Ellis]

2 hours ago, Casey said:

That might be a bit of a stretch.

I don't know all the differences and changes which would be required to recreate the '65, but I think a '64 F-85 Cutlass Hardtop is much more reasonable. Frankly, if that happens, it may be the only other variation we see. I don't get the sense the '64 Olds F-85 Cutlass has a huge following, so of correct, it wouldn't make much sense for Round2 to invest in another, significantly different (i.e. all new body and bumpers, interior, etc.) kit just to reuse the design work for the redone '64 F-85.

Model Car World makes a nice resin 1965 442. For that reason, there is no need for Round 2 to make one

[Motor City]

5 hours ago, Casey said:

That might be a bit of a stretch.

I don't know all the differences and changes which would be required to recreate the '65, but I think a '64 F-85 Cutlass Hardtop is much more reasonable. Frankly, if that happens, it may be the only other variation we see. I don't get the sense the '64 Olds F-85 Cutlass has a huge following, so of correct, it wouldn't make much sense for Round2 to invest in another, significantly different (i.e. all new body and bumpers, interior, etc.) kit just to reuse the design work for the redone '64 F-85.

I'm assuming the '64 hardtop is a given, but who knows?  We can have fun speculating.

3 hours ago, Bob Ellis said:

Model Car World makes a nice resin 1965 442. For that reason, there is no need for Round 2 to make one

As I recall, this doesn't come with plated parts, and has vacuum-formed glass, so that's a deal breaker for some of us.

[niteowl7710]

7 hours ago, Bob Ellis said:

Model Car World makes a nice resin 1965 442. For that reason, there is no need for Round 2 to make one

No model company is going to base their kit decisions on whether or not there's a resin kit available, it's two entirely separate market unless MCW starts getting carried at HobbyLobby.