MPC 1986 Dodge Shelby Charger

[monza77]

18 hours ago, Stef said:

Agreed 128%. IIRC, Monogram's 85 Fiero GT was one-and-done, so hopefully that kit can come back as-is. MPC's Fiero last appeared as an 88.

Recently got one of my grails; a near-mint MPC 82 EXP (molded in blue). This awesome kit seriously needs to come back.

We also need Revell's sister kit to their EXP, the Escort.

Although I've never seen or built AMT's Escort or Horizon TC3 kits; hopefully they can make a comeback, too.

And surely, there's enough interest in bringing back MPC's 82 Cavalier.

Lastly, would be awesome if Revellogram could reissue their 85-ish Daytona snapper.

The  Monogram 85 Fiero is another kit that Revell could update to the fastback gt to get some more milage out of the tool. The tool could be modified by removing metal from the cavity so it should be easily doable. Gives us a new kit for a relativly small price.

[niteowl7710]

3 hours ago, monza77 said:

The  Monogram 85 Fiero is another kit that Revell could update to the fastback gt to get some more milage out of the tool. The tool could be modified by removing metal from the cavity so it should be easily doable. Gives us a new kit for a relativly small price.

Most Monogram tools of that era are massive one piece molds outside the body and inject all at once. Makes modifying them difficult as you're affecting the plastic flow when you start adding additional cavitations that weren't designed in from the beginning. Just repopping it would be a "new" kit to a whole lot of people who never bought one back then.

Edited November 5, 2023 by niteowl7710

[Mark]

Ertl wrecked their Fiero with the conversion to the '88, as the suspension is now all wrong.  For '88, GM dumped the parts bin setup (Chevette front, X-car front end in back) and did a redesign.  Then, at years' end, they dropped the car.  Those windowed C-pillars made it seem as though GM was trying to make the Fiero look like a Honda CR-X.

Now, if Revell were to convert the Monogram '85 into an '84 Indy pace car, that might be worthwhile.

[Luc Janssens]

1 hour ago, Mark said:

Ertl wrecked their Fiero with the conversion to the '88, as the suspension is now all wrong.  For '88, GM dumped the parts bin setup (Chevette front, X-car front end in back) and did a redesign.  Then, at years' end, they dropped the car.  Those windowed C-pillars made it seem as though GM was trying to make the Fiero look like a Honda CR-X.

Now, if Revell were to convert the Monogram '85 into an '84 Indy pace car, that might be worthwhile.

Strange they didn't do just that, cuz they have long tradition doing Pace car models.

[Jordan White]

Personally I would prefer the ‘88 GT version since it’s arguably the best version, plus the best looking!

[Joe Handley]

I just picked up this kit Sunday!  It’s interesting as it does still have the VW engine from the Omni 024 releases, the box are shows a vented Turbo hood and ‘83-‘84 4 lug Pizza wheels, though the stock wheels are the ‘85 and later 5 lug Pizza wheels, I do like that the silver decals are made in a way to allow for the Radiant Red, Santa Fe Blue, or Black Crystal Clear Coats to be used with them.

i have a few of the RC2 issue Shelby Daytonas and plan on robbing engine parts to build mine, it also will give me a few options as the ‘88 Daytona included engine blocks with both the automatic and manual transmissions as well as parts to make an Early Turbo I with a stick or auto like these cars would have, a Turbo II stick shift like the Shelby GLHS had or with some simple scratch building, you could even turn the T2 into a late Turbo I  by making an charge pipe that runs from the turbo to the throttle body, modify the airbox a little, and leave off the intercooler. This would even give the Option of building either kit as a drag car with the automatic and Turbo II induction system from either kit, just need some appropriate rolling stock and to bend a straight pipe exhaust since the cat would likely be deleted and exhaust would just dump ahead of the left rear tire on most builds.

If I get the chance, I’l post pics later this week.

[vamach1]

8 hours ago, Joe Handley said:

I just picked up this kit Sunday!  It’s interesting as it does still have the VW engine from the Omni 024 releases, the box are shows a vented Turbo hood and ‘83-‘84 4 lug Pizza wheels, though the stock wheels are the ‘85 and later 5 lug Pizza wheels, I do like that the silver decals are made in a way to allow for the Radiant Red, Santa Fe Blue, or Black Crystal Clear Coats to be used with them.

i have a few of the RC2 issue Shelby Daytonas and plan on robbing engine parts to build mine, it also will give me a few options as the ‘88 Daytona included engine blocks with both the automatic and manual transmissions as well as parts to make an Early Turbo I with a stick or auto like these cars would have, a Turbo II stick shift like the Shelby GLHS had or with some simple scratch building, you could even turn the T2 into a late Turbo I  by making an charge pipe that runs from the turbo to the throttle body, modify the airbox a little, and leave off the intercooler. This would even give the Option of building either kit as a drag car with the automatic and Turbo II induction system from either kit, just need some appropriate rolling stock and to bend a straight pipe exhaust since the cat would likely be deleted and exhaust would just dump ahead of the left rear tire on most builds.

If I get the chance, I’l post pics later this week.

Saw the at the Mecum auction Saturday.

Edited January 9 by vamach1

[StanGlover]

Here’s my boss’s Shelby Charger from a couple of years ago. He fully restored this one to replace the one he had back in the day. 

[T-Ray]

This is something I'd be interested in, even if it would be to use the chassis under a Maserati TC if there was a body available. 

[Joe Handley]

4 hours ago, T-Ray said:

This is something I'd be interested in, even if it would be to use the chassis under a Maserati TC if there was a body available. 

You would need to use the ‘88 Daytona kit I mentioned since the J, K, G, H, P, and A bodies were all one platform where this and the Omni/Horizon were a much different platform, even if the drivetrains and wheels were shared.

[Joe Handley]

Here’s another option for this kit, Plymouth Barracuda Turbo. A couple were build over at the Belvedere plant as a concept since Plymouth was lacking performance cars, sent to Michigan, then promptly killed by Corporate with help from Dodge and maybe Shelby.

https://www.hamtramck-historical.com/vintageRacing/1985Cuda/1985Cuda-03.shtml

[Zen]

Wow, cool story on the Cuda's

[Joe Handley]

2 hours ago, Zen said:

Wow, cool story on the Cuda's

I read about them originally in the late 90’s or early 00’s and had kinda forgotten about it until I was between calls at work the other day and found way more with that site!

[Zen]

On 1/11/2024 at 5:30 AM, StanGlover said:

Here’s my boss’s Shelby Charger from a couple of years ago. He fully restored this one to replace the one he had back in the day. 

Did the Shelby have dual exhaust from factory? 

[gtx6970]

27 minutes ago, Zen said:

Did the Shelby have dual exhaust from factory? 

Nope

 

[64Comet404]

On 11/4/2023 at 3:34 AM, Stef said:

Agreed 128%. IIRC, Monogram's 85 Fiero GT was one-and-done, so hopefully that kit can come back as-is. MPC's Fiero last appeared as an 88.

Recently got one of my grails; a near-mint MPC 82 EXP (molded in blue). This awesome kit seriously needs to come back.

We also need Revell's sister kit to their EXP, the Escort.

Although I've never seen or built AMT's Escort or Horizon TC3 kits; hopefully they can make a comeback, too.

And surely, there's enough interest in bringing back MPC's 82 Cavalier.

Lastly, would be awesome if Revellogram could reissue their 85-ish Daytona snapper.

The EXP and Cavalier were well-detailed kits for the time, the same for the Monogram Daytonas. The TC3 was a decent kit as well. It's been decades since I had a Revell Escort, but seem to recall it being a typical Revell product from the early 1980's. 

The AMT Escort was essentially an unassembled toy car. I have wondered if the tooling was something which had been started during the Lesney era. The luggage and umbrella moulded into the cargo area was a low point... 

[Joe Handley]

Finally got around to taking pics!

The body and interior looks about right for what I a remember and it does come with a set of Goodyear Gatorbacks like the real ones came with too!

The decals are great though!

Now so far as the engine goes, it’s not a Chrysler 2.2L, at all.

For comparison, here is the 2.2L blocks, pan, and transmissions from the ‘88 Daytona Shelby, both since it gives the option of the A-413 3 Speed Auto and 555 5 Speed Manual as well as the early Non-Intercooled Turbo 1 and the Intercooled Turbo 2 inductions with enough parts to make a Non-Intercooled Late Turbo 1 in the RC2 version of the Daytona, at least. I also included the Minilights wheels and Gatorback tires intended for my build with the kit supplied BFG Radial T/As that just look off on the Daytona.

[lordairgtar]

Did anyone ever make a quad headlight grille version for this kit? That would probably require a different hood as well.

[oldcarfan]

Figures they'd reissue this, as I bought three of them at a model show last year. LOL

[Joe Handley]

5 hours ago, lordairgtar said:

Did anyone ever make a quad headlight grille version for this kit? That would probably require a different hood as well.

Not that I know of, I’ve only seen the 024 and Shelby versions of this car and the 024 had the same 2 light front end without the ground effects molded in it and I think some vents between them.

[Joe Handley]

3 hours ago, oldcarfan said:

Figures they'd reissue this, as I bought three of them at a model show last year. LOL

Yeah, I think I have one or two 80’s issues in storage already too. Still might buy more as I find them though.

[Stef]

I believe the red MPC Omni 024 was the first issue of this kit, in 1979/80. Then the "Silver Bullet" 024 came in 1981, followed by the black "Sidewinder" 024 in 1982. Curiously, the red Omni seems to have optional rear window louvers, while the Silver Bullet does not include them. Instead, side window louvers are introduced (which the red Omni did not seem to have). However, the Sidewinder includes BOTH rear and side louvers, along with a crazy optional "shovel" type front end treatment.

Then, in 1983, the Omni was forever modified, slightly, into the Shelby Charger. As others have noted here, the engine is not really a Shelby engine. I have an unbuilt Silver Bullet in my stash, that I've compared to HPI Guy's recent Shelby Charger video. From what I can see, the engines are identical in both kits; even the optional (non-factory) turbo setup. The kits are mostly the same, with a few interesting notes. For example, my Silver Bullet has a smooth firewall, but detail was added at some point. Judging from the silver Shelby's box art, it looks like it has a smooth/flat hood. I cannot confirm/remember whether that kit used the flat Omni hood, or the current power-bulge/vented hood seen in later Shelbys. Also, the front air dam/side marker light area looks "off". Could just be the art. Maybe someone can confirm whether those sidemarker surround/air dam pieces were included in that first version of the kit. The "blue" art on the decal sheet was disappointingly printed in Cyan, rather than a proper blue.

After the silver Shelby, came a white version in 1984, followed by the dark blue version in 1985. Finally, under ERTL, in 86-87, the white "rally" version came out. That rally version introduced a couple sets of foglights, clear headlight covers, and rollcage parts. Those parts are preserved in this newest Round 2 reissue.

In addition, this newest Shelby includes stunning, all-new WIDE Eagle ZR 45 tires. IIRC, all previous Shelby kits included MPC's smaller, skinnier BF Goodrich "snow tires", with their super-aggressive tread pattern. The taillights appear to have remained unchanged from that first Omni kit, though it seems real Shelby Chargers did at some point use updated taillights.

Hope this is helpful!