'59 Buick Questions

[JollySipper]

Hey, Guys. I've been looking at a '59 Buick hard top online...... It's molded in blue. I was wondering if anyone of you fellas could tell me what kit it would be, and what is the scale?

Thanks............

[StevenGuthmiller]

You're probably thinking of an AMT 1959 Buick "Junior Craftsman" model.

This kit differs from the Craftsman series which included custom parts and was molded in white.

The Junior Craftsman kit only included stock parts, (basically an un-assembled promo) and was molded in color.

There is little difference between the Craftsman and Junior Craftsman kit aside from those differences.

They were both produced by AMT and were 1/25th scale.

I built my '59 from a Junior Craftsman kit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

[Kromolly]

Whoa!  That's beautiful Steve.  I think I need one of those kits!  ?

[Mark]

I'm not aware of any Craftsman series kit that included customizing parts, other than spotlights, mirrors, and such. 

The original annual kits did include some custom items like fender skirts and a Continental tire kit.  I believe the first reissue was called Junior Trophy Series or something like that.  Those kits were molded in color, often more than one over the production run of the kit.  I've seen dark blue Buicks but the one I have is red.  I'm not sure the Buick was ever issued in Junior Craftsman or Craftsman packaging.  There was also a late Sixties reissue, molded in white, again without the skirts or Continental tire parts from the annual kit.

[Tom Geiger]

Here’s my original issue 59 Buick with included custom parts.. and a little patina!

[TransAmMike]

11 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

You're probably thinking of an AMT 1959 Buick "Junior Craftsman" model.

This kit differs from the Craftsman series which included custom parts and was molded in white.

The Junior Craftsman kit only included stock parts, (basically an un-assembled promo) and was molded in color.

There is little difference between the Craftsman and Junior Craftsman kit aside from those differences.

They were both produced by AMT and were 1/25th scale.

I built my '59 from a Junior Craftsman kit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

Thats a great looking Buick Steve. Perfect color choice too.

[StevenGuthmiller]

7 hours ago, Mark said:

I'm not aware of any Craftsman series kit that included customizing parts, other than spotlights, mirrors, and such. 

The original annual kits did include some custom items like fender skirts and a Continental tire kit.  I believe the first reissue was called Junior Trophy Series or something like that.  Those kits were molded in color, often more than one over the production run of the kit.  I've seen dark blue Buicks but the one I have is red.  I'm not sure the Buick was ever issued in Junior Craftsman or Craftsman packaging.  There was also a late Sixties reissue, molded in white, again without the skirts or Continental tire parts from the annual kit.

Okay, I may have been mistaken with the nomenclature on the packaging.

The “Craftsman” name may have made a later debut than I had assumed, but the premise remains the same.

The “annual” kit would have been molded in white and included customizing parts. (ie skirts, louvers, etc)

The “Junior” kits were usually produced some time later, included only stock parts, (+ antennas and mirrors), were molded in color and were for all intensive purposes a snap kit.

The example that I posted above was one of these kits and was molded in a medium blue, as was a ‘59 Ford, a ‘59 Edsel and a ‘59 Merc that I have which was molded in yellow.

 

 

 

Steve

Edited March 22, 2021 by StevenGuthmiller