Are these 2 kits the same kit?

[DREAMSCALE CONCEPTS]

 Hello model car community! I am starting to collect parts to build a CORRECT copy of the MPC PRO STOCK SERIES: 1970 MOTOWN MISSILE CUDA! 
My question is, are the same kit as the MOTOWN MISSILE CUDA?

[Mark]

Some of the parts are the same, others are not.

The Missile kit was released in '73.  It's a replica of the '72 car (MPC was usually a year behind with drag cars).  But that car was campaigned in '73 by Mike Fons, who bought it and kept the Motown Missile name (and used it on his next car also).  The "factory" car became the Mopar Missile for '73, it being a Duster from then on.

Both kits have gutted interiors.  Both have the same interior parts and same hood.  I don't think the Missile has side glass (the red car does not).  The red one may have extremely dark tint glass also.

The Missile has a stock chassis with the stock exhaust system molded in.  The pro street version has a tubbed chassis.  The red pro street car has huge bumper guards that can't be cut off without separating each bumper into three pieces.  

You can build a Missile using the pro street kit, with a fair amount of work.

The pro street car has the "later" body.  After the annual kits were done, MPC butchered that body for a dirt track car.  They later restored it, but the restored body has larger door handles and the headlights are further forward than they were originally.

One other thing: the Missile decals are wrong.  The Motown Missile lettering slants the same way for both sides, making one side wrong.  Some ex-Ramchargers guys were involved with the Missiles.  As with the Ramchargers cars, the lettering leans forward at the top, on both sides.

Edited August 3, 2024 by Mark
Added info

[DREAMSCALE CONCEPTS]

19 hours ago, Mark said:

Some of the parts are the same, others are not.

The Missile kit was released in '73.  It's a replica of the '72 car (MPC was usually a year behind with drag cars).  But that car was campaigned in '73 by Mike Fons, who bought it and kept the Motown Missile name (and used it on his next car also).  The "factory" car became the Mopar Missile for '73, it being a Duster from then on.

Both kits have gutted interiors.  Both have the same interior parts and same hood.  I don't think the Missile has side glass (the red car does not).  The red one may have extremely dark tint glass also.

The Missile has a stock chassis with the stock exhaust system molded in.  The pro street version has a tubbed chassis.  The red pro street car has huge bumper guards that can't be cut off without separating each bumper into three pieces.  

You can build a Missile using the pro street kit, with a fair amount of work.

The pro street car has the "later" body.  After the annual kits were done, MPC butchered that body for a dirt track car.  They later restored it, but the restored body has larger door handles and the headlights are further forward than they were originally.

One other thing: the Missile decals are wrong.  The Motown Missile lettering slants the same way for both sides, making one side wrong.  Some ex-Ramchargers guys were involved with the Missiles.  As with the Ramchargers cars, the lettering leans forward at the top, on both sides.

Thanks Mark for the information! I have the Motown Missile movie off You Tube and it shows that the real car was tubbed or mini tubbed, couldn’t tell. I am a big fan of the barracuda pro stocks from the early 70s , this being my favorite. I am going to try my hardest to make an exact replica of the car, kit and parts permitting. 

[Mark]

I've got a started Missile.  I used a Jo-Han Sox & Martin 'Cuda as a starting point.  I got the grille and taillight panel from a MPC '72 annual kit body that someone had butchered (radiused the wheel openings and sanded off the door handles).  The Jo-Han kit sits a bit higher, I'll have to get a different set of headers in order to drop it down in front.  The Jo-Han Maverick and Comet pro stock kits have the slotted wheels needed for the Missile.

[DREAMSCALE CONCEPTS]

1 hour ago, Mark said:

I've got a started Missile.  I used a Jo-Han Sox & Martin 'Cuda as a starting point.  I got the grille and taillight panel from a MPC '72 annual kit body that someone had butchered (radiused the wheel openings and sanded off the door handles).  The Jo-Han kit sits a bit higher, I'll have to get a different set of headers in order to drop it down in front.  The Jo-Han Maverick and Comet pro stock kits have the slotted wheels needed for the Missile.

I have to get different 1970 bumpers. The Maverick and socks cars are both on my list next!