MPC 70 Mustang 1/25

[vamach1]

I pulled out another “project” box from the shelf and was wondering what became of the original MPC mold of the 1970 body.   I can only guess that when MPC did the Stocker kit they forever modified that stock 70 body but still had the 69 fastback body which was reissued as the Streethawk 69 Mustang and that is the kit that is now under the AMT brand that has been reissued many times.  So back to this “one year” kit and what makes it a Boss or GT or Mach1 or fastback?  In essence it has the Mach1 grille with an incorrect off-center tri-bar Mustang emblem but unlike the AMT version it does not have the Mach1 molded in the rocker panels or the honeycomb rear panel.  So is it a Boss 302?  Not really as it does not have the correct non-sport lamp grille or Boss 302 engine since the kit has the 289 engine with the Cobra valve covers but it does have the correct plain rear panel for the taillights.  So could it be a GT?  No as Ford stopped making the GT in 1969 but like the 69 kit this one includes the GT wheels and GT gas cap.  It does have the 428CJ engine which of course could have come in any real Mustang except the Boss 302.

My thinking on this build (another rescued glue bomb) is to use the Boss 302 engine from the Cougar Eliminator, make a correct grille (no sport lights) and source a dual exhaust system with mufflers.  Not sure if I’ll do a shaker hood or not and I’m sure I will notice other differences between a true 69 and 70 Mustang but the goal is to build a fairly decent representation of a 1/25 Boss 302 for both years by using the more common 69 kit for the first year model with off course the appropriate modifications for that year.  If anyone is wondering the image with the parts laid out on the brown background was printed from an auction listing image so I would have an idea of what truly came with an original kit.  I think it’s time for a nap. ?  There will be a quiz later.  ?

[vamach1]

No progress yet except I saw a gluebomb of this kit on Ebay and put in a bid and waited and I ended up winning it.  So did I need another one.  Of course not but with unbuilt ones going for crazy money this one seemed reasonable given it has the original box which I did not have and although it is missing quite a few pieces the only ones that really matter are the unique tail lights which I can make.  The missing or bad parts can all be replaced with the identical pieces from the fairly common MPC 69 Mustang kit that was rebranded as AMT in newer releases.  So I guess I am not limited to building just one version of this kit so perhaps a 428CJ fastback (not a Mach1) and the other one a Boss 302 after substituting a correct engine.  Thanks for looking and if anyone has built this kit please post your pictures.  The only thing I cannot easily correct is the front grille so I’m not sure what to do about that.