AMT Chevy S10 Xtreme…1999!

[DJMar]

21 hours ago, Jordan White said:

Honestly they just need to release the Splash kit and throw in the 1995 grille plus a new decal sheet and I would be happy!

I second this, we really need the Splash back in the rotation.

[Chuck Most]

On 5/2/2025 at 9:56 PM, Jordan White said:

Honestly they just need to release the Splash kit and throw in the 1995 grille plus a new decal sheet and I would be happy!

They'd need to throw in the '95 interior as well.

[Chuck Most]

I remember getting one of the originals and being thoroughly disappointed. Can I get away with saying Xtremely disappointed? No? Okay...

I knew it was the show truck, not a production Xtreme, and even though the side of the box proclaimed a 2.2 and a manual transmission. Pre-internet me thought perfect, I could make a neat little fleet truck. Nope,it had the same power train as the other S truck kits. Nice bench seat and floor shifter though. Lowered suspension proved once again that Ertl was blissfully ignorant of what a scrub line is, but the stance looked decent. 

Updated grille isn't going to move the needle much for me, especially if that's the extent of the updating. We're a long way from the 90s when they'd update things like the steering wheel and intake to depict the changes to the real vehicle for 1995, I accept that. I'm hopeful that if this version meets with a little unexpected success, maybe there will be a more thorough 1998-up S Series update later. 

[Jordan White]

1 hour ago, Chuck Most said:

They'd need to throw in the '95 interior as well.

True, luckily they (presumably) have that too!

[Dragonhawk1066]

Can't wait for the S-10 Extreme! A Syclone and/or Typhoon would pry some cash from my wallet as well, LOL.

[Dave Darby]

On 5/2/2025 at 10:36 AM, SteveG said:

The reason this kit has been absent since 2002 is that it was missing some of the Xtreme version mold inserts. In the process the retooling the missing parts I able to get enough extra bucks to tool up the '98 style grille, front bumper and lamps.  Everything else is the same. Kudos to Dave Carlock, I was impressed on how detailed this kit really is.  It's an overlooked gem in my book.  The last box art in 2002 was terrible and did nothing to show how nice it is.  This time we're getting new illustrations by Sean Svendsen. 

I wish I could have done more of the '98 and up restyling updates like the interior parts, however the more I dug, the more changes I found.  Rather than risk having the project kicked down the road, or worse canceled outright, I decided to quit while I was ahead.  

-Steve   

Dave Carlock was with AMT for many years, later with Testors. A super nice guy, he was one of the first people I spoke with at the beginning of my five year tenure of building box art models for AMT/Ertl during the 1990s. Dave passed away in 2015 at the age of 77.

[Luc Janssens]

51 minutes ago, Dave Darby said:

Dave Carlock was with AMT for many years, later with Testors. A super nice guy. Dave passed away in 2015 at the age of 77.

Indeed! Met him on my last big trip across the USA, back in 2005.

Edited May 7 by Luc Janssens

[Muncie]

Good to see this kit back in the line-up.  it would be tough for R2 to cover all of the possibilities from GMC and Chevrolet, but I'll live with it.  I had a 2000 Sonoma ZQ8 that I bought new in late 2000, sold it last spring almost completely worn out at 350,000 miles.  2.2L four with 5-speed manual - with the ZQ8 suspension, it thought it was a sports car, but it would also haul barkdust. Only options on it were the ZQ8 package, deluxe interior (which included an extreme radio upgrade) and tinted back window.  If my memory is correct, ZQ8 also included different transmission ratios so performance was good.  It was very inexpensive to operate.  Sold it a year ago to the son of a fellow co-worker who brought it back to life.  

[peteski]

On 5/2/2025 at 10:36 AM, SteveG said:

The reason this kit has been absent since 2002 is that it was missing some of the Xtreme version mold inserts. In the process the retooling the missing parts I able to get enough extra bucks to tool up the '98 style grille, front bumper and lamps.  Everything else is the same. Kudos to Dave Carlock, I was impressed on how detailed this kit really is.  It's an overlooked gem in my book.

-Steve   

I agree Steve, this sure is an overlooked gem of a model.  Even built box-stock, just with some detail painting (like one I build some years ago) the original S-10 shows lots of detail.

 

[Ragtop Man]

On 4/29/2025 at 9:41 PM, Rodent said:

It is interesting to me how few "exclusive" parts went into the ZQ8 trucks. My utility vehicle that once was a daily driver is a 1994 2.2 5 speed that was originally owned by my neighbor two doors away. I bought it for $1500 in February 2008. I added junkyard ZQ8 sway bars and e-bay 1998 ZQ8 wheels. I didn't swap the steering box or springs. Added aftermarket Bilstein shocks. I can't believe how well it handles, but you have to deal with the pretty much zero acceleration.

I have a Perry's Resin transkit that someday I will build.

The truck is a G-Body by other means. All the other swaps - bars, steering, etc. - are an easy layup but not strictly necessary.  The "Dookie" was a CAFE play to get enough truck credits to keep selling the big ones. My B-I-L was a Brand Manager on Sonoma for a hot second back in the day, did a neat accessories play with it that really sold them through the GMC dealers that were allergic to small trucks otherwise. 

[Can-Con]

On 5/6/2025 at 7:22 PM, Dragonhawk1066 said:

Can't wait for the S-10 Extreme! A Syclone and/or Typhoon would pry some cash from my wallet as well, LOL.

The Syclone  and Typhoon were the previous generation truck. Revell makes an excellent Syclone kit in 1/25. 

I'd like to have a Typhoon kit too or at least a conversion body. One was done years ago when the Revell kit was new but I don't know of any being made right now.

BTW, I could have bought this one for a great price about 15 years ago but had just bought a house so it wasn't in the cards. Only 228 built in black with grey lower panels. [should have bought it anyway. 😈]

[the front fender markers are there because it spent some time in Japan and needed them to be legal there]

[Can-Con]

They're a great little kit, you can do a lot with them. 

[1930fordpickup]

On 5/1/2025 at 7:41 AM, bobss396 said:

I looked into building a real one with a 402 Chevy big block. Space under the hood is limited... but for a model I would go for at least a turbo charged engine.

My buddies son has an Extreme Blazer with an LS and a turbo. Still crazy when the skinny peddle is mashed. No big block needed. 

[Jordan White]

Pic of the box art found on Facebook

[Ragtop Man]

Innaday, GM was a pretty soft touch for the planners on S-Truck - any means they had to increase retail sales penetration would get an audience.  They needed as many 4-cylinder S' in the mix as possible, the better to chin the CAFE bar for the V-8s in full-size pickups that were stupendously profitable.

No one has mentioned - yet - in 1:1 scale the S-Truck is an excellent low-cost frame donor for an early Chevy "advance design" pickup. If I'm recalling the story properly, the rig of choice is an extended cab standard bed, which puts the wheelbase in nearly the perfect location, and cab/bed mounts within backyard adjustment. In 1:25, I'd imagine similar results would be possible, might make a neat conversion if you had a partial or started kit just sitting there looking for some attention. 

 

[OldSkool81]

Question for you American guys and gals; was the Xtreme only an appearance package available on all trims? Because in Canada, it was only available in extended cab, stepside flavor with the 4.3 and automatic. My manager from like 10-12 years ago had an Xtreme that was imported from the US, that was single cab, slab-side bed with a 4-banger and a manual. I dismissed it at the time, thinking it was a fake, but turns out he was right, as it had the MPH-only cluster. Either versions are cool, but had I have the choice in 2012 when I bought my 1998 Ranger single cab, I would've went with the way cooler single cab Xtreme!!!!

Edited Sunday at 03:36 AM by OldSkool81

[Robberbaron]

23 hours ago, OldSkool81 said:

Question for you American guys and gals; was the Xtreme only an appearance package available on all trims? Because in Canada, it was only available in extended cab, stepside flavor with the 4.3 and automatic. My manager from like 10-12 years ago had an Xtreme that was imported from the US, that was single cab, slab-side bed with a 4-banger and a manual. I dismissed it at the time, thinking it was a fake, but turns out he was right, as it had the MPH-only cluster. Either versions are cool, but had I have the choice in 2012 when I bought my 1998 Ranger single cab, I would've went with the way cooler single cab Xtreme!!!!

In my experience, at least in the Chicago area, the single cab regular bed (slab side) Xtremes were the most common, by far.  A buddy of mine bought a black one new in 2000, 4.3/auto.  I recall him saying at the time that most of the ones on dealer lots were 4-bangers.  Not sure if they couldn't keep the 4.3's in stock because everyone wanted them, or if they were loaded up on the 4-bangers because that's where the demand was?

Not sure if you had them in Canada, but the 2-door Blazer Xtremes were also pretty popular down here.  Another friend got a black Blazer Xtreme shortly after our friend got his S-10.  His Blazer was also a 4.3/auto.  I don't know enough about those to know if that was the standard power train.  I suspect it might have been - I knew several people with "normal" 2nd generation S-10 Blazers, and they all were 4.3 /auto.

Edited Monday at 03:24 AM by Robberbaron

[OldSkool81]

18 hours ago, Robberbaron said:

In my experience, at least in the Chicago area, the single cab regular bed (slab side) Xtremes were the most common, by far.  A buddy of mine bought a black one new in 2000, 4.3/auto.  I recall him saying at the time that most of the ones on dealer lots were 4-bangers.  Not sure if they couldn't keep the 4.3's in stock because everyone wanted them, or if they were loaded up on the 4-bangers because that's where the demand was?

Not sure if you had them in Canada, but the 2-door Blazer Xtremes were also pretty popular down here.  Another friend got a black Blazer Xtreme shortly after our friend got his S-10.  His Blazer was also a 4.3/auto.  I don't know enough about those to know if that was the standard power train.  I suspect it might have been - I knew several people with "normal" 2nd generation S-10 Blazers, and they all were 4.3 /auto.

Nope!!! Never saw any advertisement/brochures/real life Blazer Xtremes in my neck of the woods! And at the time as a youngster, I was a huge car freak, went every year to the Montreal Auto Show, collected dealer brochures, and every Christmas I got the "Guide de L'auto" which was the annual auto review bible and reference over here before youtube and online reviews became a thing. I never was aware that there was a Blazer Xtreme, and I honestly first read about it here!!! I really like the idea, but I'm also bummed we didn't get theme here!!!😢

Edited Monday at 10:11 PM by OldSkool81

[Robberbaron]

This one is a dead ringer for the one my buddy owned:

Ended up trading it in for a Charger R/T when those were released.  What was that, about 2006?

[Chuck Most]

On 6/19/2025 at 11:31 AM, Ragtop Man said:

Innaday, GM was a pretty soft touch for the planners on S-Truck - any means they had to increase retail sales penetration would get an audience.  They needed as many 4-cylinder S' in the mix as possible, the better to chin the CAFE bar for the V-8s in full-size pickups that were stupendously profitable.

No one has mentioned - yet - in 1:1 scale the S-Truck is an excellent low-cost frame donor for an early Chevy "advance design" pickup. If I'm recalling the story properly, the rig of choice is an extended cab standard bed, which puts the wheelbase in nearly the perfect location, and cab/bed mounts within backyard adjustment. In 1:25, I'd imagine similar results would be possible, might make a neat conversion if you had a partial or started kit just sitting there looking for some attention. 

 

If I remember, the S chassis wheelbase could be relatively easily adjusted for such swaps because you could grind away some welds and "telescope" the frame rails. 

 

I actually used the Xtreme chassis under this '50. 

https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/162345-1950-chevrolet-turdy-one-hunnert/

Edited Tuesday at 02:23 PM by Chuck Most

[espo]

On 7/15/2025 at 9:21 AM, Chuck Most said:

If I remember, the S chassis wheelbase could be relatively easily adjusted for such swaps because you could grind away some welds and "telescope" the frame rails. 

 

I actually used the Xtreme chassis under this '50. 

https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/162345-1950-chevrolet-turdy-one-hunnert/

The S-10 chassis under an early GM pickup has become an economic chassis swap on the 1:1 trucks.