From the vault, v.4: MPC 1933 Chevy Panel Delivery Resto-Rod

[tim boyd]

I believe these are the first full color pictures of this model to be "published" in their entirety.  The original model was built for an early (c. 1980 or so) version of my then-monthly "Modeler's Corner" column in Street Rodder magazine.  I remember building it when I lived in East Lansing, Michigan, my first of an eventual 11 different locales in my 35-year career at Ford.  The model was based on the MPC 1933 Chevy Panel Delivery kit, which was issued only twice, first as a double kit with the 1932 Chevy Roadster body in 1965, and then as a standalone kit in 1966.  The Panel Delivery body was effectively destroyed a couple of years later when MPC retooled for their "Barnabas Van" kit, and by the time I built this kit, it was already very hard to find.  

I built it in the then-popular "resto rod" guise, with a completely stock exterior including dual sidemounts paired with modern chassis and running gear.  When I took these photos a month or two ago, I was shocked to rediscover the amount of added engine and chassis detail I had included in this project.  The engine was loosely based on the SBC in the original MPC kit but with then-current intake and exhaust conversions.  The front suspension came from a Monogram 1978 or so Camaro kit (although it was reversed in direction for this install, which is pretty unrealistic in a 1/1 scale application).   The rear suspension was converted to parallel leafs with accessory coil overs, mounting a late model axle/differential.  Those sweet wire wheels were found in one of Monogram's street machine custom versions of their 2nd gen Camaro tools.  The body colors were taken straight from some outdated Ford parts department touchup cans I bought (I was a Ford zone rep at the time).  The cargo compartment floor was real wood; some type of exotic African type of whose name I have long forgotten.  The quarter panel graphics came from the Monogram 1939 Chevy Sedan Delivery.  

I always thought this was among my better street rod models, I particularly liked the stance of the finished car, and I still do today.  Fifteen additional overall and detail photos follow below.  Comments and questions welcome...Hope you like it....TIM 

Edited December 12, 2022 by tim boyd

[espo]

Beautiful looking build. Wish there was some way this could be reissued as I think it would sell. 

[Zippi]

Very nice looking 33 Chevy Panel and a Great story on the history of it.  Detail work on the engine looks pretty sweet.  

[Dutzie]

Nice looking panel truck. Looks awesome, definitely needs rereleased. 

[ChrisR]

Looks great!

Fortunate too still have two and a roadster unbuilt in their boxes.

 

Edited December 21, 2022 by ChrisR

[Bainford]

Very cool, Tim. A great 80s period piece. The Chevy makes for a nice, tidy delivery. Thanks for posting.

Are the tires starting to eat the wheels? In some photos I see some red around the rims that I wouldn't expect to see there, almost looks like red plastic bleeding around the edges.

[tim boyd]

19 hours ago, Bainford said:

Very cool, Tim. A great 80s period piece. The Chevy makes for a nice, tidy delivery. Thanks for posting.

Are the tires starting to eat the wheels? In some photos I see some red around the rims that I wouldn't expect to see there, almost looks like red plastic bleeding around the edges.

Trevor, interesting that you noticed the red seeping out; I had not noticed this myself until I was looking at the enlarged photos on a laptop screen a few weeks ago.   This model was built with the MPC hollow bigs-n-littles and after 40 years, it is showing the effects of the tire material damaging the styrene.  Others of my models built back then, with those MPC tires, are now showing a similar result.  On another model I will post soon, built at the same time, there was much more damage.  I was somewhat successful at trimming it off with an X-Acto knife, but not completely so.  

Oh well....old age - I guess it catches up with our models just like it does with our bodies....!   tB  

[thatz4u]

Tim, great build of a rare kit, well done..

[Hoffman]

I've never seen this one before. Nice!! Thanks for posting.

-TIM-

[slusher]

outstanding panel,  beautifully done sir!!

[Fish_65]

Good to see one built. Nicely done Tim ?

[Dennis Lacy]

I absolutely LOVE this, Tim. It’s period perfect throughout. Impressive engine detailing for the time but most impressive are the super clean black reveal lines. That detail makes the model and something I’m gonna need to pull off for an upcoming resto-rod project.

[alan barton]

I do remember this one Tim.  I was very impressed and wanted to build one like it but had no chance of finding one out here.  Then, one day, a friend and I were looking at the classifieds in SAE and someone was advertising some bodies for sale.  They were a 29 Ford Tudor, a 32 Chevy Delivery and a 63 Ford Fairlane. Dave owned a real 63 Fairlane, I had a real Model A and also wanted the Chev delivery - it was almost too good to be true!

We couldn't believe our luck - these were holy grails to us and we sent our money off to the USA as quick as we could.

And that was how we both came to learn about resin bodies.

These things looked like someone had melted honeycomb over the stove and tipped it into a Plasticene mould!  The Chev body was OK but peppered with microscopic air bubbles.  The Fairlane was an abomination that I can't adequately describe here. And the Tudor is still languishing in a box somewhere.

After a dozen coats of primer and much sanding I did manage to build a half decent version of the delivery. So I thank you, again, for the inspiration. Your build is as impressive and relevant today as when you build it.

Cheers

Alan

P.S. Just for giggles, here's what the Tudor looks like!

[Dave Darby]

Verrrry Cool Tim! Like Dennis, I really like those black reveal lines. That color is the bomb! I noticed the tires getting a little chummy with the wheels too. I'd be tempted (if possible) to separate them, and some semi-gloss clear on the tires, and/or foil on the inside of rims to isolate them. Those wires have to be getting unobtainium these days too. That panel body would be a natural for Round 2 to clone. Thank you for sharing your talents with us Tim!

[Mr. Metallic]

2 hours ago, Dave Darby said:

Verrrry Cool Tim! Like Dennis, I really like those black reveal lines. That color is the bomb! I noticed the tires getting a little chummy with the wheels too. I'd be tempted (if possible) to separate them, and some semi-gloss clear on the tires, and/or foil on the inside of rims to isolate them. Those wires have to be getting unobtainium these days too. That panel body would be a natural for Round 2 to clone. Thank you for sharing your talents with us Tim!

Yes, what Dave said. This is such a cool build, it would be a shame to watch the wheels/tires slowly disintegrate. Those wheels are such a signature part of this build, you should try to save them.

Anyway, thanks for sharing.

[tim boyd]

Dave and Craig...thanks for the thoughts and advice on the deteriorating wheels and tires.  I will take this under advisement....Best....TIM 

[Can-Con]

Don't know how I missed this one the first time around, Tim. Great build. Love the colors and stance.

I just ran across the post while looking for inspiration for my build of the same kit. Funny thing is I have everything needed to clone this one including wheels, tires and decals. But, I'm not going to, of corse. ?

BTW, those wheels are also in the 4 door Vette kit and the Miami Vice Daytona kit. Exact same wheels and spinners. 

[Sledsel]

Good looking old Chevy. Be nice if the MPC Chevy molds were found!

[Ulf]

I remember when this one was featured in a Swedish car magazine in the 80s, even though I didn't have time to build regularly, it was stored in my head and occasionally demanded attention.
It is so tasteful and has many details that really make a difference.

[tim boyd]

On 2/1/2024 at 3:24 PM, Ulf said:

I remember when this one was featured in a Swedish car magazine in the 80s, even though I didn't have time to build regularly, it was stored in my head and occasionally demanded attention.
It is so tasteful and has many details that really make a difference.

Hi Ulf....I think you may be referring to the Swedish 1/1 scale car magazine that was called "Wheels" IIRC..  The monthly model column was written by Hans Kihlen as i recall, a very talented builder and writer.  Very cool that you remember that article! 

Thanks all for your comments....TIM 

[tim boyd]

On 1/31/2024 at 3:16 PM, Sledsel said:

Good looking old Chevy. Be nice if the MPC Chevy molds were found!

Andy....those MPC Chevy Panel kit body tools were irrevocably modified, sadly, to the "Barnabas Van" kit MPC introduced around 1968-69. 

But I have seen some resin rebops of the original body from time to time, that could be combined with the rest of the MPC nee AMT/Ertl 1932 Chevy Cabriolet kit to come up with a reasonable (affordable) duplicate of the original kit....TB 

[tim boyd]

On 1/28/2024 at 7:13 PM, Can-Con said:

Don't know how I missed this one the first time around, Tim. Great build. Love the colors and stance.

I just ran across the post while looking for inspiration for my build of the same kit. Funny thing is I have everything needed to clone this one including wheels, tires and decals. But, I'm not going to, of corse. ?

BTW, those wheels are also in the 4 door Vette kit and the Miami Vice Daytona kit. Exact same wheels and spinners. 

Thanks for the heads-up on those wheels.  I do recall the 4-door Vette but was under the mistaken assumption that the pseudo Daytona had different wheels.  Best...TB