MPC 1980 Plymouth Volare

[doorsovdoon]

I've been meaning to build this kit for a while now but I keep getting lured away by other more attractive looking kits. I was going to start on the '57 Del Rio Wagon but this poor thing has been pushed back in the queue too many times so I finally decided to get it done. The car has a T bar style roof that you can cut out but I've decided to sand out the trim lines and go the hardtop rout. Colour will be white with maroon lower waist line and maroon interior, and I might change the wheels and use some custom '64 Impala hubcaps.

[AMT68]

Another WIP thread that should be fun following the build progression. The custom version depicted on the box is quite a radical departure from the factory style. 

[doorsovdoon]

7 minutes ago, AMT68 said:

Another WIP thread that should be fun following the build progression. The custom version depicted on the box is quite a radical departure from the factory style. 

Yeah, they went to town on customising it. It's pretty cool looking to be honest but not my style.

[doorsovdoon]

Trying out some wheel options for the Volare. I was going to go with some 60's Impala trims, but the smoothies that came with the '66 Buick Wildcat look much better suited I think.

[Cool Hand]

Interested to see how this kit builds up. So I will be looking forward to this wip

Sounds like an interesting color combo. Agree those smoothies look the part..

I have this kit in the stash and was planning to have a look at after the Nova

Edited January 31, 2021 by Cool Hand

[1972coronet]

The 1980 Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volaré  were the last vehicles built in the famous Dodge Main  in Hamtramck / Detroit .  IIRC , production ceased in January 1980 . 

The biggest-displacement engine available was the ( emasculated )  318 [ 5.2 litres ] engine , in two barrel and four barrel iterations ( California & 'High Altitude' models were 4 barrel only ) .

1980 was also the last Road Runner , relegated as it was to option package status from 1976 (when the namesake was reassigned to the F-Body --- the last 'real' Road Runner was a 1975 B-Body hardtop ; its V.I.N. reflected the heritage as it was RM23 ) .

I have two copies of the MPC 1980 Volaré  ; an original from 1979 ( moulded in black  --- eBay some 10 years ago ) , and the newer Round2 release . I also have a 1977 Volaré MPC Annual ( no 1976 promos nor kits were produced for some reason... ) .

Looking forward to following your build !

[AMT68]

59 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

The biggest-displacement engine available was the ( emasculated )  318 [ 5.2 litres ] engine

I was wondering if the 360 V-8 made it to '80 but the CAFE standards apparently eliminated that motor from the lineup. 

[1972coronet]

11 hours ago, AMT68 said:

I was wondering if the 360 V-8 made it to '80 but the CAFE standards apparently eliminated that motor from the lineup. 

Other than the 4 door sedan --- that was the only way to get the 360 (except , again , in California... ) . 

[doorsovdoon]

On the box it says "Detailed 6 cylinder engine" but on the instructions shows a V8, even the engine block in the kit has four cylinders lightly printed on each side. It comes with both twin carb and single. I have no idea if the engine in the kit, or the box art is accurate to the real car but it looks like this mould was around for a while before it became the fuzz duster. There is a year moulded into the chassis says 1978.

[doorsovdoon]

Just finished the red stripe, I added a smaller pin stripe above it to break it up a bit.

[espo]

I like the lower body paint treatment. The V-8 engine in this kit looks like a loose interpretation of the original engine but with a little detailing can be made to look convincing. Wheels are a very personal styling statement and can change the appearance in many ways. Ideas, Chrysler offered some great looking styled steel wheel treatments that might be found in a Dodge Charger kit  Crager chrome spoke wheels were also very popular at that time on these. With the lower body color matching the interior this should be a great looking build which ever way you go on the wheels.  

[AMT68]

The pinstripe above the lower body paint is a good idea. Reminds me a bit of the striping detail on the '74 Chevelle Laguna. 

[1972coronet]

18 minutes ago, AMT68 said:

The pinstripe above the lower body paint is a good idea. Reminds me a bit of the striping detail on the '74 Chevelle Laguna. 

Quite so --- reminds me of the S-4 as well (one of my favourite cars) . 

The misnamed "six cylinder engine" is supposed to represent a Chrysler LA-Series V8 ; however , it's undersized , appearing more like the 3.9 litre V6 of 1987 - ? At least the engine has a Torqueflite attached to it instead of the manual of years-prior . It also has a correct air cleaner (however lacking the Electronic Lean Burn computerised engine management box...) which also works for the A-Body kits .

Looks GREAT , Gareth !

[misterNNL]

On 1/30/2021 at 12:06 PM, doorsovdoon said:

I've been meaning to build this kit for a while now but I keep getting lured away by other more attractive looking kits. I was going to start on the '57 Del Rio Wagon but this poor thing has been pushed back in the queue too many times so I finally decided to get it done. The car has a T bar style roof that you can cut out but I've decided to sand out the trim lines and go the hardtop rout. Colour will be white with maroon lower waist line and maroon interior, and I might change the wheels and use some custom '64 Impala hubcaps.

IMO that box art probably scared more buyers away than it convinced them to part with their money.

[Cpt Tuttle]

It was the early 80s so I would not be too sure about that. ?

[kurth]

Nice paint job. I built this one as the box art version, it was a fun build.  You really captured the look of a 70s early 80s factory paint scheme. 

[doorsovdoon]

Thanks, guys. Got a bit more done today. Chassis is almost finished and I test fitted the the body to get an idea of the final look, she's gonna look sweet. I added another pinstripe and used the louvers for the back windows. Engine and interior work in progress, I should be finished tomorrow. So far it's going together perfectly, it's not much different to the '79 Chevy Nova Squad Rod.

[Spottedlaurel]

Nice one Gareth. It'll make for a great companion to the Nova.

[slusher]

Gareth, your Volare looks great so far.".

[Captain Spaulding]

The Volare is looking really good so far.

[doorsovdoon]

On 2/1/2021 at 7:16 PM, Spottedlaurel said:

Nice one Gareth. It'll make for a great companion to the Nova.

Thanks Nigel. Yes, I thought so too, when I finish this one up I'll take a pic of it next to the Nova.

20 hours ago, slusher said:

Gareth, your Volare looks great so far.".

Cheers, Carl. It's nearly ready for under-glass:)

11 hours ago, Captain Spaulding said:

The Volare is looking really good so far.

Thanks, Jason. Not far to go now, been a pretty good kit this one.

[doorsovdoon]

Interior is finished. Very basic inside though the mouldings are very good especially the dashboard and the detail is pretty easy to pick out. On the body I painted the rear light panel in satin black and fitted the lights. I might fit the rear spoiler but I messed up the pin stripe, so I'll have to strip it and re-paint it if I do. I've only the exhaust left to paint and fit and this build is done. I'm quite looking forward to seeing how this one looks.

[AMT68]

Dashboard has a nice factory look with the instrument cluster bordered in black. And those optional wheels from the '66 Buick are quite versatile. I was considering using them on a future build for a different look.  

[absmiami]

So this is interesting -  owned a ‘73 Charger with the base 318 engine -   Would this be a logical source for said engine if I decided to build my old car - oh was that front bench seat terrible ! ...

[Rockford]

You've knocked another cracker out! Love the  colour scheme and the rich, red interior. I love the bold colours you could have in those days. I didn't know anyone ever made a kit of one of these.  Well done.