'70 Superbird Build Ideas Wanted

[Snake45]

Bought a JoHan '70 Superbird "junkyard" off eBay for about half (or less) what the unbuilt kits go for these days. All the stuff's in the box for one complete factory stock car, which is what I'll do with that one. 

I'm looking for ideas for the second one. Body, chassis, glass, hood, interior tub and nosepiece are here--all the important stuff. It's missing the wing, rear bumper, and stock dashboard (there are two racing dashboards in the box). Don't need to try to build it stock as I already have that covered. Looking to do some sort of street bomber out of it. Instead of trying to scratchbuild a "stock" wing, thinking of using a lower, "normal" wing as seen on other '70-'71 Mopars, or maybe even just a ducktail spoiler. Lowered, raked, big rubber, deep black open wheels for a NASCAR vibe, finished in overall dark gray primer. Sort of a Cannonball outlaw, if you catch my drift. But I'm soliciting and entertaining other possibilities as well, so lay 'em on me. Bueller? Anyone? 

[Mark]

For the stock one, graft in the front wheel openings from a '70 Coronet.  The SB used a Coronet front clip, and the ex-MPC kit is more correct there.  Too, you can smooth the depressions in the nose piece, as the 1:1 cars didn't have those.

[Straightliner59]

17 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

Bought a JoHan '70 Superbird "junkyard" off eBay for about half (or less) what the unbuilt kits go for these days. All the stuff's in the box for one complete factory stock car, which is what I'll do with that one. 

I'm looking for ideas for the second one. Body, chassis, glass, hood, interior tub and nosepiece are here--all the important stuff. It's missing the wing, rear bumper, and stock dashboard (there are two racing dashboards in the box). Don't need to try to build it stock as I already have that covered. Looking to do some sort of street bomber out of it. Instead of trying to scratchbuild a "stock" wing, thinking of using a lower, "normal" wing as seen on other '70-'71 Mopars, or maybe even just a ducktail spoiler. Lowered, raked, big rubber, deep black open wheels for a NASCAR vibe, finished in overall dark gray primer. Sort of a Cannonball outlaw, if you catch my drift. But I'm soliciting and entertaining other possibilities as well, so lay 'em on me. Bueller? Anyone? 

 

I'd be tempted to section the second nose to fit a '69 'Cuda, and build something "Blowfish"-inspired!

Edited June 8, 2020 by Straightliner59

[paul alflen]

Snake, build a one of none, Superbird  convertible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bucky]

You could dress it up like the Daytona from Joe Dirt.

[64Comet404]

I remember hearing that some dealers would convert the Superbirds back to RR configuration by removing the wing and nose. I have never heard that the fenders were changed, so if you have a resin or parts box ‘70 grille and bumper, try and make one and see if anyone notices the differences.

[Dave Van]

Get a Salvinos OLDS kit and build a Cup car. The OLDS chassis is a decent MOPAR chassis you just need a HEMI. 

[Mark]

1 hour ago, 64Comet404 said:

I remember hearing that some dealers would convert the Superbirds back to RR configuration by removing the wing and nose. I have never heard that the fenders were changed, so if you have a resin or parts box ‘70 grille and bumper, try and make one and see if anyone notices the differences.

Years ago, I saw a "converted back" SB that a local guy had just bought.  The front clip was changed from the altered Coronet parts back to Plymouth parts, the rear glass was left alone, and the rear wing attachment points on the quarter panels had plates over them.  No bodywork on the quarter panels at all.  Under the hood, the vacuum canisters for the headlamp doors were still there, disconnected.

[CapSat 6]

Maybe swap an AMT/MPC '70 Coronet nose on it? Super Bee coming, Road Runner going...

In my old neighborhood, there was a junkyard where they had a Corporation Blue '72 Demon 340 sitting there for years. At least- it was the back 1/2 of a Demon...upon further inspection, they swapped a '72 Duster nose onto it.

I know that eventually that car got bought. I met the kid that bought it. He had it in primer, with a '72 Dodge nose back on it.

[64Comet404]

3 hours ago, CapSat 6 said:

In my old neighborhood, there was a junkyard where they had a Corporation Blue '72 Demon 340 sitting there for years. At least- it was the back 1/2 of a Demon...upon further inspection, they swapped a '72 Duster nose onto it.

I know that eventually that car got bought. I met the kid that bought it. He had it in primer, with a '72 Dodge nose back on it.

Back when I worked at a dealership, my manager told me about the time that a Cougar arrived on the transporter, but it came with a Thunderbird beak. A Friday car, but they did sell it to someone who wanted something “unique”.

[Rodent]

We used to get Tempos and Topazes with swapped parts and nameplates occasionally. When Hermosillo was building Escort sedans alongside Tracer sedans they did some really sloppy stuff. We got a Tracer sport model (forget the actual model name) that had the correct driver's sport seat alongside a standard passenger seat. 

[Snake45]

8 hours ago, Mark said:

For the stock one, graft in the front wheel openings from a '70 Coronet.  The SB used a Coronet front clip, and the ex-MPC kit is more correct there.  Too, you can smooth the depressions in the nose piece, as the 1:1 cars didn't have those.

Interesting, didn't know that; thanks! Not gonna chop up a '70 Coronet to build up the junk Bird, but I will take a look at the wheel openings between the two to see if I can fix or improve the ones on the stocker in some way. 

8 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

I'd be tempted to section the second nose to fit a '69 'Cuda, and build something "Blowfish"-inspired!

I like the "out of the box" thinking, but that would leave me with a perfectly good Superbird body, hood, interior, chassis, etc., and I'd be back asking what to do with them. But thanks anyway, old friend! 

8 hours ago, paul alflen said:

Snake, build a one of none, Superbird  convertible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that's interesting. I'm not really a fan of convertibles, and I'm not sure one would "work" well on this body, but now you have me thinking of other possible body styles. 2- door wagon? Sedan delivery? Camino/Ranchero type truck? Hmmmmmm......

 

8 hours ago, Bucky said:

You could dress it up like the Daytona from Joe Dirt.

I like the idea of a car that's being driven/used--a LOT--but something several degrees less trashy than JD's four-color Dodge. But lower it and paint it all one color and we're maybe getting there....

 

7 hours ago, 64Comet404 said:

I remember hearing that some dealers would convert the Superbirds back to RR configuration by removing the wing and nose. I have never heard that the fenders were changed, so if you have a resin or parts box ‘70 grille and bumper, try and make one and see if anyone notices the differences.

If I had a resin or parts box '70 RR or GTX grille and bumper, I'd be making it a stock RR or GTX. 

 

7 hours ago, Dave Van said:

Get a Salvinos OLDS kit and build a Cup car. The OLDS chassis is a decent MOPAR chassis you just need a HEMI. 

Lessee, buy another new kit, and then aftermarket decals for it, and then scratchbuild the wing. Lotta $$$ and effort but I'm not really that much of a NASCAR fan--in fact, I've built a couple street cars with NASCAR-look inspiration, but I've never built a model of an actual NASCAR racer. 

 

5 hours ago, CapSat 6 said:

Maybe swap an AMT/MPC '70 Coronet nose on it? Super Bee coming, Road Runner going...

Here again, not interested in sacrificing another whole kit just to make something out of this junk. 

[GoodbuildNY]

I had a similar situation many years ago and I ended up making a superbird funnycar sitting on a shortened revell funnycar chassis but if I were to do it again I’d source a more era correct chassis...maybe polar lights. If I can dig the model out I’ll snap a pic. 

[Straightliner59]

19 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

I like the "out of the box" thinking, but that would leave me with a perfectly good Superbird body, hood, interior, chassis, etc., and I'd be back asking what to do with them. But thanks anyway, old friend! 

Well, what the hell's another project? ?

[Mike Young]

9 hours ago, paul alflen said:

Snake, build a one of none, Superbird  convertible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Found this on the web. Kinda looks ok.

 

[Snake45]

8 minutes ago, GoodbuildNY said:

I had a similar situation many years ago and I ended up making a superbird funnycar sitting on a shortened revell funnycar chassis but if I were to do it again I’d source a more era correct chassis...maybe polar lights. If I can dig the model out I’ll snap a pic. 

That's not bad. Fred Goeske ran a '68 RR in funny car. Might be fun to do a phantom Superbird car of his. The MPC GTO Judge chassis might work, and I have one whose body is going to be used for a '69 GTO stocker. I'd have to find Goeske decals, though. Or maybe even Prudhomme or McEwen! 

6 minutes ago, Straightliner59 said:

Well, what the hell's another project? ?

The idea is to have MORE built models on the shelf and FEWER half-built "projects" stacked up in boxes. 

So far, I'm still leaning towards a NASCAR-look street bomber, but without the big rear wing. Maybe a small wing, like the ones on the Barracudas, or even a spoiler like the 2G Camaros/Firebirds. That could be interesting. 

[Snake45]

1 minute ago, Mike Young said:

 

Found this on the web. Kinda looks ok.

 

[Mike Young]

This could be cool.

[Vietnam Vet67]

Make a Superbird version of the Car of Tomorrow body.

[Mike Young]

Pro touring, Nascar...ish sort of thing. Kinda like it actually.

[Mike Young]

6 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

Haha, yeah, not great, just sorta ok.

[Straightliner59]

16 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

So far, I'm still leaning towards a NASCAR-look street bomber, but without the big rear wing. Maybe a small wing, like the ones on the Barracudas, or even a spoiler like the 2G Camaros/Firebirds. That could be interesting. 

I like the sound of that!

[Snake45]

18 minutes ago, Mike Young said:

This could be cool.

I have that kit, NIB, and might actually build that someday. BTW, that might be the best picture I've ever seen of it, so, Thanks! 

[Snake45]

15 minutes ago, Mike Young said:

Pro touring, Nascar...ish sort of thing. Kinda like it actually.

Now we're getting somewhere! Imagine it without the big rear wing. Also, in one color overall. I'm leaning toward a dark primer gray just because I have several other things in satin black. 

I'm not sure if the fender-top scoops are in the box or not, would have to look, but I wasn't really planning on using them. 

But this one has the sit, the attitude, and the wheel/tire look I have in mind. Just about perfect, in fact. Thanks! 

[Bills72sj]

How about a Pro Mod drag racer with the long flat shelf wing off the trunk. Long and sleek. Heck I'll even send you the aluminum sheet to make the wing!