AMT 1964 Olds 442 Hardtop: First detailed look inside the box....

[tim boyd]

Click on this link to see 22 images and captions detailing Round 2's new 1964 Olds 442 Hardtop kit.  Please make sure to read the captions accompanying each picture, as there are some surprises in this kit that not only features an all-new Hardtop body, grille and tailamp inserts, but also the product-correct changes to transform the remainder of the tooling from the original AMT 1964 Olds Cutlass hardtop kit into a first-ever product-correct 1964 442 scale replica. 

Thanks for your interest....TIM 

 

[Luc Janssens]

Looking forward to this kit, also congrats to Steve!

[espo]

Thankyou for the information. Another must have kit. 

[GMP440]

Excellant.  Looking forward to getting this one.  When is shipping to the distributers taking place?

 

[MeatMan]

Nice!

[Classicgas]

16 hours ago, espo said:

Thankyou for the information. Another must have kit. 

X2!

[Luc Janssens]

Did an Olds enter the '64 Monte Carlo rally?

I knew of the Ford Falcon, hint of things to come?!

[Misha]

As well as the “Competition Proven” logos which I believe were used on Fords prepped by Holman/Moody. It would be great to see the 64 Falcon come back with the full rally gear (had that as a kid, along with the rag top).

Looking forward to the Olds hardtop to go along with the previous convertible!
Cheers Misha

[ChrisBcritter]

Thank you, Tim! Looking forward to getting it and redrilling the front axle holes about 2mm ahead 

[carrucha]

Looks nice!  Thanks for the info!

[stavanzer]

Another Hone Run from Round2.

Now, to get a Manual Trans engine block.

[Dragonhawk1066]

Thanks for the pics and all of the info! I wasn't necessarily interested in this one, but now I may just have to pick up a copy.

[tim boyd]

3 hours ago, ChrisBcritter said:

Thank you, Tim! Looking forward to getting it and redrilling the front axle holes about 2mm ahead 

Hi Chris....interesting insight you have here.  As I noted in my FineScale.com kit review  of the convertible kit, the front wheel well openings in the kit do not match the corresponding area in the 1/1 scale car, possibly due to last minute 1/1 scale design studio or manufacturing changes after the kit tooling was commissioned.  I wonder if your suggestion of moving the front axle holes forward would minimize the visual impact of this situation?  

Thanks for the comment....TIM   

[Bucky]

I really enjoyed looking at the photos and reading the commentary Tim.

Thanks for taking the time to do this for the benefit of us hobbyists.

I will be grabbing one of these kits, to add to the rest of my 4-4-2 collection. 

[larman]

I bought the convertible. I am in for 2 or 3 of these. Nice to see the attention to detail added to this one with the emblems, decals and engine upgrades.

[pack rat]

13 hours ago, ChrisBcritter said:

Looking forward to getting it and redrilling the front axle holes about 2mm ahead 

Agreed...a definite improvement.  It doesn't hurt to move the rear ahead about 1mm as well.

(the green car is vintage, not the reissue)

[tim boyd]

1 hour ago, pack rat said:

Agreed...a definite improvement.  It doesn't hurt to move the rear ahead about 1mm as well.

(the green car is vintage, not the reissue)

Mike....I totally agree.  Amazing how much that change does to minimize the wheel well opening discrepancy between the real car and the model kit. 

Thanks to you and Chris for pointing this out....TIM

[keyser]

Enough wiggle room to move chassis forward a bit? All I have are originals but I’ve done that with a few cars. Redrill easy though. 
Nice build Mike, and thanks as always Tim

[SteveG]

22 hours ago, alexis said:

Another Hone Run from Round2.

Now, to get a Manual Trans engine block.

It comes with both a Manual Trans engine block and the Automatic on separate trees. 

-Steve

[tim boyd]

3 hours ago, SteveG said:

It comes with both a Manual Trans engine block and the Automatic on separate trees. 

-Steve

As Steve said....see images #12, 13, and 14 at the kit review link in the first post above, for images of the new parts tree with the new engine block and manual trans, as well as a comparison of the engine block with manual trans vs. the engine block with the original annual kit JetAway 2-speed auto trans (both are in the new kit)....TIM 

[Motor City]

Thanks for another great review, Tim!  Any idea what to use for the rear stabilizer bar that is missing?  Maybe one from an existing kit or in resin? 

[tim boyd]

25 minutes ago, Motor City said:

Thanks for another great review, Tim!  Any idea what to use for the rear stabilizer bar that is missing?  Mayb

Jim....now that is a great question.  Since the rear stabilizer bar was standard on all 1964-72 442's....wonder if the AMT-Ertl 1966 442 kits, the Lindberg 1967, the AMT-Ertl 1969, and/or Revell 1972 kits have them? 

Best...TB 

[pack rat]

1 hour ago, Motor City said:

Thanks for another great review, Tim!  Any idea what to use for the rear stabilizer bar that is missing?  Maybe one from an existing kit or in resin? 

I used a piece of insulated wire....easy unless you want to go nuts with mounting hardware etc.

[bbowser]

The AMT '66 Olds has both front and rear sway bars, I have one on the bench right now.

[Rodent]

Don't forget to box the lower control arms.