Upcoming MPC Reissues - '79 Nova and '73 Cougar

[Can-Con]

2 hours ago, Luc Janssens said:

Bummer to get it presented all in one box, but as a modeler there are options, as you wrote Tim.

I think that if Round 2 wanted to put one of those engines in that kit they would tool up a new one instead of "borrowing" one from another kit anyway. Also, it would most likely a newly tooled engine would have better detail then an existing one , , , Except possibly the Boss 302 that was created for the '69 cougar in the late '90s or early '00s, that was nice.

[Monty]

Perhaps I missed it.  Do we have a release date for the Cougar?

[niteowl7710]

10 minutes ago, Monty said:

Perhaps I missed it.  Do we have a release date for the Cougar?

Both the Cougar and Nova should be out later this month.

[Luc Janssens]

18 hours ago, Can-Con said:

I think that if Round 2 wanted to put one of those engines in that kit they would tool up a new one instead of "borrowing" one from another kit anyway. Also, it would most likely a newly tooled engine would have better detail then an existing one , , , Except possibly the Boss 302 that was created for the '69 cougar in the late '90s or early '00s, that was nice.

In a perfect world, there would be tooling for almost every type of engine once available, which with modular tooling can be added to subject X, Y or Z.

Anyway, If Round2 had such an engine it would've been easier and more cost-effective for them to scan and improve than start from scratch, they hardly can scan an engine of a competitor, no?!

Now that we're talking about engines, I wonder what happened to the masters of the Ross Gibson resin engines and if they can't be scanned and have the design adapted to injection molding....

Yeah...I'm in a what if mode again, please kill me LOL

Edited April 6, 2024 by Luc Janssens

[disconovaman]

Thanks Round II. You really are listening to my prayers! 😆 

[oldcarfan]

I've already got a 72 and 73 Cougar to build someday, but I'll take another Nova. Didn't someone make a 4 door conversion for this at one time?

[disconovaman]

On 2/7/2025 at 10:22 PM, oldcarfan said:

Didn't someone make a 4 door conversion for this at one time?

Yes, Greg Wann makes the conversion... It's actually better than the 2 door in terms of accuracy IMO... It's spot on and very high quality. I recommend it.

[Ragtop Man]

FWIW, cos I can't find it elsewhere - the Cougar is close to a drop fit in the AMT '69s for greater detail.

Builder may need to take a thin slice from the chassis to adjust wheelbase, but that is something I'd need to re-verify. 

Best solution for the fit is to whittle away the MPC driveshaft tunnel to get the chassis properly seated under the AMT bucket.  Also, will help stance to section the bottom of the MPC engine compartment about 1/16" to get the sky high front end down to earth.  

The MPC CJ is quite good, the Boss is cut from a very early development engine and needs work to be more accurate. AMT B302 is very good but will need top of transmission 'relieved' to sit in the MPC chassis properly.  Didn't check the one I just bought, but, the '70 "Open Sportster" convertible boot is on the tree if you want an open air Cougar for the shelf. 

[up24wheels]

I had the red Mercury, which body came prepainted and sold it for $70, like an idiot. (I only get 60% only , in the worst case. Because of international selling on ebay). Else I wouldn't be sad... But I didn't know , that the cat version is the same Model! At least, I still got that one, and the '79 Nova, I missed to buy, I had a chance to get that one for only $40. Even totally, and even the  annual issue. I always prefer the first one, with the more qualitative mold!. Well, I guess we all missed some opportunities , in all kinds of themes... But honestly , I live in Switzerland , so I got limited access to us-origin items... Plus, I have to pay more shipping, obviously. Yes, I gotta admit, I'm jealous to someone who lives in Michigan and find a '70 Challenger MPC kit for $4 at a estate sale... Well, I read that somewhere in here or some sort of such a website... Well i also got lucky once or twice, because a lot of swiss people don't appreciate the value of vintage toys. So I got the Scat City Kit, half mint, for $40. 😄👍

 

Very nice! I'm just about to add that beautiful MPC kit of a 1970 Pontiac Bonneville for sale.. I really would rather keep it , though. 

 

Ps. I didn't want to write a novel, sorry folks, but just check my eBay account, collectors_professional. Got some nice kits and prices there. BUT I could sell it cheaper , for people paying me directly with PayPal for example. 

 

 

[Ragtop Man]

On 12/15/2023 at 4:59 PM, Motor City said:

The Nova was never a mid-sized car.  It was always referred to as a compact car.  I guess after 40-some years, whomever came up with that designation on the box art wasn't around then. 

Here is the original box art for the Cougar.  I don't think the Street Machine version can be built stock.  I still remember buying my kit 50 years ago at Sears in Lincoln Park, Michigan of all places!

LP Sears had an excellent toy department. Thier 1:1 tool department was paid on straight commission - and those guys knew their stuff.

Sears' customer base in the area was the Arsenal of Democracy, guys who worked with their hands since they could stand, and read a blueprinprint with one eye closed. Looking back, the manufacturing in the SW Detroit area was mind-boggling.

My dad (a Ford engineer) who grew up the same way was always impressed that he got exactly what he needed, every time. I still have a few of the tools, at least those that did not get burglarized in the garage break in of '81. 

Back in the late 60's early 70's this time of year was rough- the pediatrican was about two miles away from Sears, so middle August we got shots and went back-to-school shopping (read: bore-doom) in the same kick.

Mom could be a soft touch, tho. The bag of cashews were obiligatory, and after all wardrobe fitting, we'd head back to sporting goods or the model aisle to pick something out, and maybe a stop for lunch at Sanders.

[dust collectors]

What're the chances they'll reissue the Pontiac Vetura or Sprints?

[Can-Con]

3 hours ago, dust collectors said:

What're the chances they'll reissue the Pontiac Vetura or Sprints?

They already did, this is it/them. 

[dust collectors]

6 hours ago, Can-Con said:

They already did, this is it/them. 

Im aware of the Chevy Nova being reissued, I'm curious about these Pontiacs.

[Robberbaron]

23 hours ago, dust collectors said:

Im aware of the Chevy Nova being reissued, I'm curious about these Pontiacs.

After MPC issued the '77 Ventura, they revised the tooling and Issued it as the '77 Nova.  Eventually it got updated to the '79 Nova which was just reissued.

The original Pontiac engine was slightly revised to look like a small block Chevy.  MPC didn't bother correcting the interior either, so it still has the Ventura seat patterns, etc.

Chances are it will always remain as the '79 Nova and not get backdated or converted back to a Ventura.  Like it or not, more potential buyers identify with a Chevy Nova vs. a Pontiac Ventura.

Edited 17 hours ago by Robberbaron

[Ragtop Man]

On 12/15/2023 at 4:59 PM, Motor City said:

The Nova was never a mid-sized car.  It was always referred to as a compact car.  I guess after 40-some years, whomever came up with that designation on the box art wasn't around then. 

Here is the original box art for the Cougar.  I don't think the Street Machine version can be built stock.  I still remember buying my kit 50 years ago at Sears in Lincoln Park, Michigan of all places!

LP Sears had an excellent toy department. Thier 1:1 tool department was paid on straight commission - and those guys knew their stuff.

Sears' customer base in the area was the Arsenal of Democracy, guys who worked with their hands since they could stand, and read a blueprinprint with one eye closed. Looking back, the manufacturing in the SW Detroit area was mind-boggling.

My dad (a Ford engineer) who grew up the same way was always impressed that he got exactly what he needed, every time. I still have a few of the tools, at least those that did not get burglarized in the garage break in of '81. 

Back in the late 60's early 70's this time of year was rough- the pediatrican was about two miles away from Sears, so middle August we got shots and went back-to-school shopping (read: bore-doom) in the same kick.

Mom could be a soft touch, tho. The bag of cashews were obiligatory, and after all wardrobe fitting, we'd head back to sporting goods or the model aisle to pick something out, and maybe a stop for lunch at Sanders.

[Mark C.]

14 hours ago, dust collectors said:

Im aware of the Chevy Nova being reissued, I'm curious about these Pontiacs.

I have long held a remote hope that Round2 would clone one of the Ventura bodies and combine it with the guts of the Nova kits to give us one more option and them expanded use of a good chunk of the Nova tooling, rather than running out the same Nova time and again (plus IMHO, the last version of the Nova was the least attractive).

However, I also realize that it might not be popular enough to justify the investment, so I’m not holding my breath…

[dust collectors]

You're probably right, luckily I have a couple rebuilders and a survivor build in the stash. What I'd really like is a 76'

Edited yesterday at 05:26 PM by dust collectors

[Luc Janssens]

3 hours ago, Ragtop Man said:

LP Sears had an excellent toy department. Thier 1:1 tool department was paid on straight commission - and those guys knew their stuff.

Sears' customer base in the area was the Arsenal of Democracy, guys who worked with their hands since they could stand, and read a blueprinprint with one eye closed. Looking back, the manufacturing in the SW Detroit area was mind-boggling.

My dad (a Ford engineer) who grew up the same way was always impressed that he got exactly what he needed, every time. I still have a few of the tools, at least those that did not get burglarized in the garage break in of '81. 

Back in the late 60's early 70's this time of year was rough- the pediatrican was about two miles away from Sears, so middle August we got shots and went back-to-school shopping (read: bore-doom) in the same kick.

Mom could be a soft touch, tho. The bag of cashews were obiligatory, and after all wardrobe fitting, we'd head back to sporting goods or the model aisle to pick something out, and maybe a stop for lunch at Sanders.

I'm having a déjà vu, Bob

😉

Cheers

Luc

Edited yesterday at 07:02 PM by Luc Janssens

[Motor City]

9 hours ago, Ragtop Man said:

LP Sears had an excellent toy department. 

I don't know if you still live in the Detroit area, but the strip mall was demolished several years ago, and the Sears was demolished a year or so ago.  I just drove by it a couple of weekends ago to attend a funeral and it is fenced off for redevelopment.  There used to be so many good hobby shops and retailers that carried kits back in the 1960s and 1970s.

[Motor City]

I bought the '75 Ventura kit at the Detroit auto show and just couldn't get a good result filling in the hole in the hood where the hood scoop was supposed to go.  Too bad the correct flat hood wasn't included.

[Mothersworry]

On 8/25/2025 at 12:24 PM, Ragtop Man said:

20 hours ago, Ragtop Man said:

LP Sears had an excellent toy department. Thier 1:1 tool department was paid on straight commission - and those guys knew their stuff.

Sears' customer base in the area was the Arsenal of Democracy, guys who worked with their hands since they could stand, and read a blueprinprint with one eye closed. Looking back, the manufacturing in the SW Detroit area was mind-boggling.

My dad (a Ford engineer) who grew up the same way was always impressed that he got exactly what he needed, every time. I still have a few of the tools, at least those that did not get burglarized in the garage break in of '81. 

Back in the late 60's early 70's this time of year was rough- the pediatrican was about two miles away from Sears, so middle August we got shots and went back-to-school shopping (read: bore-doom) in the same kick.

Mom could be a soft touch, tho. The bag of cashews were obiligatory, and after all wardrobe fitting, we'd head back to sporting goods or the model aisle to pick something out, and maybe a stop for lunch at Sanders.

 

The Sears in Lincoln Park had a few model car contests in the late 60's. The contests were a promotion thing from one of the kit makers...don't recall which one though. Lookin at all the built models provided lotsa inspiration fer a young kit killer like myself. Still have the box fer a Lil Coffin bought there.

I had the same program, school clothes and shoes, winter coat and other such stuff. Hated it, I wanted jeans and Keds Redballs but you just did not wear "workers cloths" or "gym" shoes to school...button up shirt and slacks...had to look "respectable" donchano. 

Haven't been to the LP Sears site area in quite a few years, sorry to hear that it's gone.

Edited 7 hours ago by Mothersworry