ewetwo Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 Hi. Has anyone heard of this brand before? It was part of the CPG Products Corp. Can’t find anything about this kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 That's an unassembled MPC promo. The Firebirds were sold unassembled from 1974-1981. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Austin Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 MPC was purchased by General Mills in the 1970s, along with Lionel Corp. Both brands were often marketed together. From Wikipedia: "In the late 1970s, General Mills created a separate identity for its toy and hobby arm, CPG Products Corporation. During this time, MPC kits were marketed as part of CPG's Fundimensions Division. General Mills's ownership lasted until 1985 when it sold off its hobby companies. ..." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_Products_Corporation Is there no MPC branding on the Firebird kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 No MPC branding on that unassembled promo. Those weren't sold in stores like the regular kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewetwo Posted October 23, 2023 Author Share Posted October 23, 2023 I didn't notice any branding on the kit. I've had it a while and just looked at it the other day. Thank you for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Austin Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteski Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 I have seen the Fundimensions logos on kit boxes and other toys from the late '70s. But I don't recall Fundimensions being used as the sole brand of a kit. Like this MPC BlackMagic funny car kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 It's not a kit, it's a promo. Just sold in unassembled form. These started with the '74-'76 Formula Firebirds, and changed to Trans-Ams for '77-'81. Like the '70-'73 Formulas, these (except the '77-'81) could have been assembled as easily as other promos. I suspect they were done this way so the "kit size" box could be used, allowing photos of the 1:1 car unlike the normal promo boxes that were used then. The '77-'81 Trans-Ams had those diaplanes and rear spoiler that would have been tough to put on during promo assembly, and the '79-'81 ugly nose piece didn't fit very well even in the kits. If the '77-'78 was tough to assemble as a promo, the '79-'81 was impossible. Too, if these had been sold alongside kits, there would have been a bunch of people asking why they didn't have opening doors as shown on the box. Heck, the T-roofs weren't even cut out on these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul alflen Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 I believe these were sold through GM/ Pontiac parts departments.? A friend of mine delivered parts for Hollywood Automotive, Dearborn, Mi to Detroit area auto dealerships. I remember him, saying that's where he got them. He told everyone he knew that he collected promos or models! Anyone have a catalog with the GM/ Pontiac part numbers in them??Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted October 24, 2023 Share Posted October 24, 2023 Correct, promo item handled by (some) dealers. A few dealers still handled them, others didn't want to bother. I bought a carton of '84 Corvette promos from a dealer, sold ten of them to pay for the two that I kept (which are still probably worth about as much as each of the ten that I sold in '84). When the Buick Reatta and Regal promos were current, I swung by a couple of Buick dealer parts departments looking for them. The counter men looked at me like I had three heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul alflen Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Thanks Mark, my 63-year-old memory is still intact. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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