MPC Super Charger - 1974 Charger rundown

[Stef]

9 hours ago, drodg said:

Thanks everyone this is great info even though we got in the weeds a bit.  

Totally agreed 128%! You guys rock! I'm just a dude who butchered my original Super Charger back in 85-86, and it remains one of my all-time fave kits that I've never had the chance to track down yet. Just knowing you cats love it as much as I do warms my cold, dead, black heart.

Straight reissue, partial or total remaster, whatever, I'm confident Round 2 will bring this kit back from the grave.

Thanks again everyone for your facts, stories, pics, knowledge, and deep reverence for this oft-overlooked kit.

Godspeed, good sirs.

[Can-Con]

OK, You guys are making me think I'll now have to finish this one up soon. The detail painting has been done since these pics were taken [over 15 years ago]

[CapSat 6]

56 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

OK, You guys are making me think I'll now have to finish this one up soon. The detail painting has been done since these pics were taken [over 15 years ago]

That’s gonna be nice!!! Definitely check back in with that one!!! 

[tim boyd]

43 minutes ago, CapSat 6 said:

That’s gonna be nice!!! Definitely check back in with that one!!! 

x2!!!  Nice job too on the canopy vinyl roof converssion....TB 

[Musclecarbuilder]

On 6/10/2025 at 10:49 PM, CapSat 6 said:

I’m starting a new topic here…I don’t want to fully hijack the “what should Round 2 run” topic…

The Super Charger kit. The last time we saw this, it was about 40 years ago. (!). It’s possible, however not confirmed that Round 2 still has this tooling. They did just bring back the MPC ‘72 Chevelle, after a similar length of absence. 

It’s well known that the body for this one, after being mildly modified, was used in MPC’s Richard Petty NASCAR race car kit. It was then retooled once more to something more street stock. Don’t let the build on the box fool you- it comes with nice factory stock ‘74 Charger bumpers and grilles, unlike the pictured built prototype. 

The question is: would it be worth Round 2’s time to pump some of these out? 

This is the first ever model kit my dad ever built! He said he bought it at a drug store for 3 bucks and brush painted the whole car Testors red and silver enamel. He still has it upstairs in our attic.

[Stef]

49 minutes ago, Musclecarbuilder said:

This is the first ever model kit my dad ever built! He said he bought it at a drug store for 3 bucks and brush painted the whole car Testors red and silver enamel. He still has it upstairs in our attic.

Pics please! Mine was similar, no doubt. First, built it with unpainted red body, then took it all apart and rebuilt it with brush-painted Testors 1146 Silver body!

[Musclecarbuilder]

27 minutes ago, Stef said:

Pics please! Mine was similar, no doubt. First, built it with unpainted red body, then took it all apart and rebuilt it with brush-painted Testors 1146 Silver body!

I'll get ya some pics tomorrow, I gotta go digging through the attic for it. 😁

[Robberbaron]

This thread brings back memories for me of the Super Charger that got away.  I recall being in a local store in the late eighties, think it was probab!y Child World. (remember those?)

Looking through the model kit aisle, I was seeing the typical stuff you would find anywhere.  Then suddenly I saw a single, solitary MPC Super Charger kit.  I picked it up and looked over the box art.

I wasn't familiar with this kit at all.  All I knew is that I hadn't seen it anywhere else.  From the box art style, it was obviously an older release that was now out of production.  Think it must have been hidden in a corner in a warehouse for years before suddenly getting discovered and put out for sale.

Since I was completely unfamiliar with the kit, I recall looking at the box art and trying to figure out if I could build it stock.  I could live with the custom wheels on the box art, but I was worried that the hood would be molded open for the big scoop.  I also didn't care for the window tabs on the box art model (although it's so heavily retouched it's more of a painting than a photo).

I hesitantly put it back on the shelf and walked away.  Never saw one again in the flesh after that.

Really appreciate all the pics and other good info posted here.  I'd definitely be in for one or two of these if they repopped them.  As for the wheel arches, the shape and size is so close to stock that personally I could happily live with them as-is.

And I had the same thoughts when I saw the SSlasher Chevelle: "Hey, if they're bringing that back, maybe they could do the Super Charger too?"

Edited June 13 by Robberbaron

[1972coronet]

I had an earlier version of the Super Charger - earlier, as I don't remember its having the pitch-black tined windows. That godawful tinted glass came along in, what, 1983 ? I know for sure MPC was using it L.A.M.F. starting with the 1984 Corvette annual (oddly - or not - the promos of the respective kits were sans that stupid deep-tint glass).

But, I digress... 

The one I built was moulded in red. I could swear this must've been around '79 / '80, as I used it for "Show & Tell" in grade 3 . I definitely remember explaining to my classmates what the Christmas Tree was used for, and its nomenclature (haha).

[Luc Janssens]

Just for brainstorming purposes...

If Round2 decides to redo the Charger and Roadrunner via their modified cloning program, should it be released as the originals were, or would you like to have some period correct 70s style Street Machine parts as optional parts, or something else?

Just wondering this side of the big pond.

Edited Monday at 08:42 AM by Luc Janssens
Opened up to more options

[Rbray47]

On 6/12/2025 at 10:52 PM, Musclecarbuilder said:

This is the first ever model kit my dad ever built! He said he bought it at a drug store for 3 bucks and brush painted the whole car Testors red and silver enamel. He still has it upstairs in our attic.

Similar reason I built one. My brother came home from the Navy in the 80s with this kit partially built in his stash. I wanted one since, and about 10 years ago I bought one from ebay. Also during that time frame I built several from my childhood. 

[John M.]

I have one on my shelf that I built right out of the box years ago. 

[CapSat 6]

6 hours ago, Luc Janssens said:

Just for brainstorming purposes...

If Round2 decides to redo the Charger and Roadrunner via their modified cloning program, should it be released as the originals were, or would you like to have some period correct 70s style Street Machine parts as optional parts?

Just wondering this side of the big pond.

To me, ideally, the ‘73-‘74 Charger wouldn’t be 100% a clone of the original annual kits, or the Super Charger. 

I would like to see them do a stock Charger Rallye (with domed hood and stock decal options) with custom parts that are perhaps a mix of the original annual parts (like the Wagon parts and custom front end), headers, the Max Wedge intake, stock and custom wheels (perhaps the Cragar SST’s from the Super Charger). 

Another release could be a Charger SE body, which has never been done as a kit. That could also come with the custom parts. 

The ‘71 and ‘72 Road Runners could use a little fine tuning to certain things, like a stronger windshield area, as the A pillars on many of these bodies are warped or bent, the front bumper and grille set up never looked like it was shaped quite right, and there was never any lower grille detail on them. Finally, the inner front fenders were never really shaped right, and separate exhausts would be nice. Otherwise, the custom parts that the Road Runners (and ‘71 GTX) came with would probably work pretty well. 

[CapSat 6]

Now that I think about this, if Round 2 develops new '72-'74 Chargers and '71-'72 Road Runners, they could also bake in new NASCAR bodies for use on their generic MPC chassis while they are at it. 

[Ragtop Man]

On 6/11/2025 at 1:25 PM, CapSat 6 said:

The '72 kit did come with the Air Grabber and Louvre inserts. Those hoods might have still been in Dodge's production plan early on, but by the time the promos came around, the '72 Promos had the correct domed/ plain hood. 

I think 1:1 '72's were initially available with the Air Grabber, but from what I have heard, they made maybe 10 or so cars with that hood (and even fewer with the 440 Six Pack engine). They went to the domed hood for '72, probably because muscle model sales were dropping significantly, and it simplified production, as it was just a stamping without any kind of insert.

I had read somewhere that by 1973, most dealers wouldn't order 440 cars unless they were paid for up front or with a huge deposit, since insurance and fuel became big questions for many potential buyers during that era.

Chrysler read the tea leaves- the Charger went from "Muscle Hero" to "Luxobarge" in just a few short years.     

Agree - if a dealer lands on a combination of features at a good price that turns very quickly, they will keep re-ordering units for stock until the District Managar stuffs them with Station Wagons in July when the market is dead.

"Tim, we've got an objective on wagons right now, let's order a few...for you. Then we can talk about those Charger Rallyes ..."

All the reasons you cited are exactly why 'muscle' just went over a cliff. 

[JS23U]

A littler teaser. This is a replica of my own 1:1 71 Super Bee. Or better what it must have looked like when rolling off the dealer's lot...
I used the MPC 72 Baker NASCAR body and combined it with the new tool AMT 71 Charger R/T. Most all of the parts fit quite well, with a little adjusting here and there.
I had to source or fabricate a few parts like taillights and bezels, hood insert, scratch side markers and the likes. The reason for taking the MPC body was the smooth doors. The R/T (and the 72 Rallye) have door gills. I didn't dare to fill them in and expect that they wouldn't shine through the paint after time. And the old MPC body still stands its ground when it comes to proportions.

[stavanzer]

Just now, JS23U said:

A littler teaser. This is a replica of my own 1:1 71 Super Bee. Or better what it must have looked like when rolling off the dealer's lot...
I used the MPC 72 Baker NASCAR body and combined it with the new tool AMT 71 Charger R/T. Most all of the parts fit quite well, with a little adjusting here and there.
I had to source or fabricate a few parts like taillights and bezels, hood insert, scratch side markers and the likes. The reason for taking the MPC body was the smooth doors. The R/T (and the 72 Rallye) have door gills. I didn't dare to fill them in and expect that they wouldn't shine through the paint after time. And the old MPC body still stands its ground when it comes to proportions.

Awesome Build!

[Carmak]

Some observations on the MPC 72 and 73 Charger stock car kits.

 

*The 1972 Baker Dodge Charger kit (the white #11 car).

All of the examples I have seen (I have 3) are essentially stock 1972 Charger Hardtop bodies with door handles, sides markers, wheel lip trim and emblems. The bodies do not have the Charger Rallye door indents (the MPC 1972 Charger annual kit represents a Charger Rallye). These kits also have flat hoods. I am not 100% sure all versions of this kit use a stock body. Please comment if you have seen one that has been modified to cover the door handles. As Jens demonstrates a couple posts up this is a great body to kit-bash with the AMT 71 R/T kit.

 

*The 1973 Petty Dodge Charger kit (first version of the kit/early examples)

The very early examples of this kit use an essentially stock 1973 (1974?) Charger Hardtop body with door handles, sides markers, wheel lip trim and emblems. This version of the kit has a flat hood. I have one example of this body and I have seen one other. The modified body version (that also has a bulge hood) is much more common. If you can find this body it would be great to kit-bash with either a Super Charger kit or the AMT 71 R/T kit.

 

The Baker kit can often be found at a very reasonable prices as a rebuilder. The early Petty kit with the stock body can be hard to find in any condition.

[JS23U]

Craig, my two versions of the 72 Baker model both have the completely stock body with all details. That's why I obtained the second one, I want to build a grocery getter 72 318 Charger from it. That body is too nice to not build a stock one! Would be nice to have standard front grilles and taillight/bezels for a stock 72...

Do you have photos of that "stock" 73 Petty kit body? Would be cool to compare it to with the 73 annual.

[Carmak]

37 minutes ago, JS23U said:

Craig, my two versions of the 72 Baker model both have the completely stock body with all details. That's why I obtained the second one, I want to build a grocery getter 72 318 Charger from it. That body is too nice to not build a stock one! Would be nice to have standard front grilles and taillight/bezels for a stock 72...

Do you have photos of that "stock" 73 Petty kit body? Would be cool to compare it to with the 73 annual.

I will try to get some pics up tonight.

[CapSat 6]

1 hour ago, JS23U said:

Craig, my two versions of the 72 Baker model both have the completely stock body with all details. That's why I obtained the second one, I want to build a grocery getter 72 318 Charger from it. That body is too nice to not build a stock one! Would be nice to have standard front grilles and taillight/bezels for a stock 72...

Do you have photos of that "stock" 73 Petty kit body? Would be cool to compare it to with the 73 annual.

We can wait for pics, but I can also confirm that the “Early” Petty Charger used a completely stock body, that looked identical to the body in the ‘73 and ‘74 annuals. It has all stock trim, including the fluted rocker panel trim that the later “Super Charger” does not have. The box art shows what looks like a photo of Petty’s ‘72 car that has been retouched to look like a ‘73 (the quarter window area, mainly). The hood would have been a stock flat hood with engraved hood pins (the blue flat hood pictured). 
 

 

[tim boyd]

4 hours ago, JS23U said:

A littler teaser. This is a replica of my own 1:1 71 Super Bee. Or better what it must have looked like when rolling off the dealer's lot...
I used the MPC 72 Baker NASCAR body and combined it with the new tool AMT 71 Charger R/T. Most all of the parts fit quite well, with a little adjusting here and there.
I had to source or fabricate a few parts like taillights and bezels, hood insert, scratch side markers and the likes. The reason for taking the MPC body was the smooth doors. The R/T (and the 72 Rallye) have door gills. I didn't dare to fill them in and expect that they wouldn't shine through the paint after time. And the old MPC body still stands its ground when it comes to proportions.

Jens....that is one beautiful piece of work...big congrats!   TB 

[niteowl7710]

On 6/16/2025 at 8:47 AM, CapSat 6 said:

Now that I think about this, if Round 2 develops new '72-'74 Chargers and '71-'72 Road Runners, they could also bake in new NASCAR bodies for use on their generic MPC chassis while they are at it. 

I dunno, it would be pointless to shell out all of that licensing money to NASCAR, the teams, the driver(s) {family}, et al to replicate something that Salvinos JR has already done...umpteen times.  There are so many SJR '70s Chargers floating around you're starting to not be able to sell them for retail anymore.  The Roadrunners are a little more scare on the ground, but they've released at least 3 boxings of those as well.

[CapSat 6]

1 hour ago, niteowl7710 said:

I dunno, it would be pointless to shell out all of that licensing money to NASCAR, the teams, the driver(s) {family}, et al to replicate something that Salvinos JR has already done...umpteen times.  There are so many SJR '70s Chargers floating around you're starting to not be able to sell them for retail anymore.  The Roadrunners are a little more scare on the ground, but they've released at least 3 boxings of those as well.

The Salvino’s kits are a factor. I was thinking from the standpoint that another version could be baked in for each…licensing would be an issue, but then again, Round 2 does tons of licensing, and have had vintage NASCAR licensing for their slot cars, diecasts and other products, too. I wouldn’t know if it would be financially logical or not, but for all we know, it might be a matter of negotiating some kind of rider on an existing license that they might already have. 

They could also look at either putting out generic versions of both kits (like the old Model King re-releases from about 15 years ago) or getting licenses for lesser known (and perhaps less costly) drivers from the era. 

Lots of these cars were driven in USAC, for example. 

Edited Tuesday at 04:41 PM by CapSat 6

[Mark C.]

As much as I am a fan of vintage NASCAR models, I have to agree that Salvinos has pretty much cornered the market on 1970s Chargers and Satellites/Road Runners.

If it were my call, I would rather that Round 2 focuses their manpower and budgets on bringing out street versions of the Charger (and by extension, Road Runner). Then there are all those other languishing subjects that haven’t been brought back yet.  I say leave the 1970s NASCAR Mopars to Salvinos (I’ll admit that I say it with trepidation, though, as they have recently priced themselves out of my budget until they bring out a new body, like a Magnum or Superbird, or some other subject that hasn’t been done, like a Montego, etc).

Great thread!