Gunze Sangyo Thunderbird

[Paintandwrenches]

Got this today with a bunch of other kits. Can't find one on eBay or anywhere else for that matter which I normally take to mean that something is rare. Can anyone tell me anything about it or what it would sell for. I need to recoup some of the money I spent. 

[Can-Con]

Those 1/32 kits have been reissued a bunch of times with different artwork. I'm afraid they're not especially rare, just not popular as anyone wanting a '63 T-bird would usually want it in 1/25 scale.

As for value ,, hard to say. Definitely not what an AMT annual 1/25 would go for.

[StevenGuthmiller]

There are at least 8 Gunze Sangyo 1/32 scale 1963 Thunderbirds that I see for sale on ebay right now in various packaging.

Most in the neighborhood of $20.00 to $30.00.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Paintandwrenches]

1 hour ago, Can-Con said:

7 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

There are at least 8 Gunze Sangyo 1/32 scale 1963 Thunderbirds that I see for sale on ebay right now in various packaging.

Most in the neighborhood of $20.00 to $30.00.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

There are, but none of them are the convertible with the 4 figures included. I checked Worth point though and the last one went for $20 buy it now in January. I'll throw it in with the ones I have to trade and if all else fails I'll list it on eBay. Honestly, I got my money's worth out of everything else I bought so it really doesn't matter.

 

[Paintandwrenches]

I literally just noticed the hardtop is included in the one I have...

[THarrison351]

I know they had several others as well released by Revell back in eighties. A 1959 Cadillac Eldorado, 1959 Chevrolet Impala, and a 1959 Ford Skyliner. They were a pleasure to build, unfortunately all I have are pictures and memories. The box they were in along with many others was crushed.

[StevenGuthmiller]

55 minutes ago, THarrison351 said:

I know they had several others as well released by Revell back in eighties. A 1959 Cadillac Eldorado, 1959 Chevrolet Impala, and a 1959 Ford Skyliner. They were a pleasure to build, unfortunately all I have are pictures and memories. The box they were in along with many others was crushed.

There were also some others, including a '57 Chevy and a '57 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham.

I still have one of the '59 Ford Skyliners and a '59 Impala, and I'm pretty sure I still have one of the '57 Eldorados laying around somewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[unclescott58]

I first built the Gunze Sangyo 1/32 scale '63 Thunderbird, and the other three at were issued by Revell back in the 1980's, in the 80's. About 10 or 15 years ago I got my hands on and built another '63 Thunderbird, this time from a Gunner Sangyo box. I liked these kits. I keep thinking I may have to hunt down another of one their '59 Ford retractables. I had a tough time building it and getting the top to work correctly. If I run across one cheap enough I may try it again. It would be fun to display along it with the 1/25 scale Revell retractable I'm almost finished with.

[peteski]

Yes,  there was a whole series of those little curbside models.  They build up very nicely.  While the kits are fairly simple, the molding quality is excellent.  Like other Japanese kits from that time period, these has an option to add an electric motor.  Front wheels are steerable.  I have built few of them about 25 years ago, and still have several unbuilt (including that T-Bird).

The car featured on the Bare Metal Foil packages is the '57 Chevy Bel Air, also from this series.

[Deuces ll]

Those are really nice.... ?

[peteski]

9 hours ago, Paintandwrenches said:

I literally just noticed the hardtop is included in the one I have...

When some kits can be built multiple ways, I believe that all the releases of that kit include all the parts for various versions of that kit.

[Mike999]

3 hours ago, peteski said:

When some kits can be built multiple ways, I believe that all the releases of that kit include all the parts for various versions of that kit.

Same for the '59 Cadillac, at least the version shown below. It has 3 different tops:  a hardtop molded in clear plastic, which includes the rear window; a raised convertible top; and the "hard boot" for a lowered top.  

There are small pix of the convertible version on the box side, but otherwise it's not mentioned.  My kit still has the original price sticker on it:  $6.95 

I got it long ago because I had an idea of doing a "Cuban Revolution" diorama. Using 1/35 military figures to cram the Cadillac with a bunch of grungy Fidelistas, riding thru Havana in a victory parade.  Until 1959, Cuba was one of the biggest markets for Cadillac in the world, according to a documentary I saw. 

[peteski]

8 hours ago, Deuces ll said:

Those are really nice.... ?

Thanks Guido.  I had fun building these kits.  Actually, the blue '57 Caddy is the first model I ever used Bare Metal Foil on.

[bill_rules]

[Daddyfink]

I would only want that kit for the figures. 

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

10 hours ago, Mike999 said:

Same for the '59 Cadillac, at least the version shown below. It has 3 different tops:  a hardtop molded in clear plastic, which includes the rear window; a raised convertible top; and the "hard boot" for a lowered top. 

A number of them also contained continental kits.

 

Gunze Sangyo did a pretty good job with these kits.

I was going to say that it's too bad that they didn't do them in 1/25th scale, but many of them have been done since these came out.

Although, a nice new tooling of the '59 Ford or even a '63 T-Bird would be welcome, I'm sure.

And who wouldn't want a modern 1/25th scale kit of the '57 Caddy!!!?

 

 

 

 

Steve