Have I found a holy Grail? 1969 AMT California hauler t500 500 with green tint glass still in the box

[Chris kittrell]

I know little about them. But previously picked this up in a yard sale. Would like to know how rare and maybe the value. And some history

[Mr mopar]

That is a rare fined ,Green tinted glass came in the first kit ,I have been looking for one !!

[Casey]

?

Edited January 31, 2022 by Casey

[Chris kittrell]

8 hours ago, Mr mopar said:

That is a rare fined ,Green tinted glass came in the first kit ,I have been looking for one !!

Do you know how much one would be valued at

[37 caddy]

Is it complete and the box is it in good shape,sometimes the box is worth more then the contents,is the coupon there for the sleeper,it was 1.00 for the sleeper.You mailed in for it and they sent you one.A lot of variables for the real value in one,we need pictures to give a fair value?.if it is an unopened kit that would help too. harvey.

[Mr mopar]

and the Goodyear flyer & sticker should be there too .

[Chris kittrell]

I think it's in great shape still in the box a couple of corners are barely worn. It has been opened not assembled. It basically has had the plastic tool off the box but the contents inside the box are still in the plastic. It has a Hurst first hemi under glass brochure. It has good year brochure saying torturing truck tires in Texas. And it has decals for the truck. And on the decals chrome trim pinstriping. The Goodyear tire sizes is 10.00-20 and they are black. The casting of the truck is white and it has Chrome trim pieces in Green tinted glass. I will send some pictures.

[Chris kittrell]

And I did not see a mail in for a sleeper. 

[Chris kittrell]

41 minutes ago, Chris kittrell said:

I think it's in great shape still in the box a couple of corners are barely worn. It has been opened not assembled. It basically has had the plastic tool off the box but the contents inside the box are still in the plastic. It has a Hurst first hemi under glass brochure. It has good year brochure saying torturing truck tires in Texas. And it has decals for the truck. And on the decals chrome trim pinstriping. The Goodyear tire sizes is 10.00-20 and they are black. The casting of the truck is white and it has Chrome trim pieces in Green tinted glass. I will send some pictures.

[leafsprings]

Yes, it is rare and valuable, it was the first AMT big rig kit.  That being said, big collectors are very finicky. They want mint never been opened before sealed kits. This kit is unique because of the green instead of clear glass tree. The early Kenworths are unique because they have torsion bar suspensions. Both Pete and KW have been re issued with slightly different pieces, but are lesser quality, so, IMO, purists would be in the market to pay approx.  $175 for a higher quality opened box first issue with unique features.

[Mr mopar]

The very First issues were done in gray plastic ! 

 

Edited January 31, 2022 by Mr mopar

[Tabbysdaddy]

I don't see a picture of the green tinted glass. 

[Chris kittrell]

On 1/30/2022 at 4:17 AM, Chris kittrell said:

I think it's in great shape still in the box a couple of corners are barely worn. It has been opened not assembled. It basically has had the plastic tool off the box but the contents inside the box are still in the plastic. It has a Hurst first hemi under glass brochure. It has good year brochure saying torturing truck tires in Texas. And it has decals for the truck. And on the decals chrome trim pinstriping. The Goodyear tire sizes is 10.00-20 and they are black. The casting of the truck is white and it has Chrome trim pieces in Green tinted glass. I will send some pictures.

[Chris kittrell]

[Chris kittrell]

I was told that there had to be two runs of the first issue. Because there was some with white and some with gray molds. But I know this is original because I know the guy who had it he passed away and he had it since he was 6 years old and his parents wouldn't let him put it together because he was so young.

 

[Casey]

 

[Chris kittrell]

[keyser]

Just put it on eBay already. 

[TarheelRick]

Very nice kit.  Just as a reminder on these older kits - the T-500 is the kit designation number, the next 500 is the AMT suggested retail price.  This kit sold originally for the grand sum of $5.00.

[paul alflen]

On the back of the decal sheet where it says 3- 69 , means it was   the planned release date of March of 1969. 

[maxwell48098]

The way I understood it is the date on the back of the decal sheets is when the sheets were printed.  I have several kits that the same exact decal sheets will have dates that were as much as a year apart.

 

A.J.

[paul alflen]

maxwell48098, then your decal sheets should have dates Between 3-69 to 3-70? Can we see some pictures of those sheets? . Are those Decal sheets from the Peterbilt 359 California hauler, First issue? I don't doubt you, but I like to see it visually, also! Maybe we can get Mark or Tim Boyd to explain about the dates on the back of the AMT decal sheets?

[tim boyd]

18 hours ago, paul alflen said:

maxwell48098, then your decal sheets should have dates Between 3-69 to 3-70? Can we see some pictures of those sheets? . Are those Decal sheets from the Peterbilt 359 California hauler, First issue? I don't doubt you, but I like to see it visually, also! Maybe we can get Mark or Tim Boyd to explain about the dates on the back of the AMT decal sheets?

My understanding is that the date on the back of the decal sheets is the month and the year that the decal sheets were actually printed.  TB 

Edited February 8, 2022 by tim boyd

[peteski]

2 hours ago, tim boyd said:

My understanding is that the date on the back of the decal sheets is the month that the decal sheets were actually printed.  TB 

Did you mean month and a year?  Like 3-69 would indicate March 1969?

[keyser]

Or March 69th? ?sorry, had to.