Craftsmen Kits

[Mike 1017]

I just got the AMT Craftsmen GTO. Do all of the Craftsmen Kits have just an Engine Plate and no engines?

Thanks

Mike

[Carmak]

The AMT Craftsman kits do not have engines. They are "curbside" style kits as are many European and Japanese kits.

The AMT "Craftsman" kit type dates to the 60's when AMT would sell unassembled promo cars (typically molded in color) as an entry level kit for younger builders.

The modern Craftsman kit are designed to accept an engine if the builder chooses as they have a separate engine plate, the hood opens, they have a firewall and radiator support detail.

In the future these kits may be issued with engines. The 63 Nova wagon was initially issued as a Craftsman and later issued with an engine and other parts (trailer with a separate engine).

Craftsman kits also work well with the trend of using 3D printed engines.

Hope this helps.

Carmak

[blizzy63]

The new AMT/Round2 "Craftsman Plus" '65 Pontiac GTO hardtop kit (AMT1410) has only an engine plate but the hood does open.

With the help of the readily available AMT '65 GTO convertible kit (e.g., AMT1191) as donor kit, you can add the engine and engine compartment detail to more fully complete the kit.

[Mike 1017]

Thank you, Craig and Robert, for the information

Mike

[michelle]

there are three of the craftsman series cars that have the hoods molded in like a promo body 
the 64 mercury comet caliente 
the 70 buick wildcat 
and the 64 galaxie 
so even though the chassis have the seperate engine plates the only way to put a engine in them is to carefully cut out the hood and then find all the underhood details like a firewall and radiator battery mast cylinder and power booster and washer fluid container that will fit since those 3 do not have any of that due to the promo bodies 
 

[Mark]

Those three are older, promo-based kits.  The Galaxie didn't need a separate hood as AMT made another Galaxie at the time that had one.  The '70 Wildcat may have been announced as a 3-in-1 kit (several 1970 3-in-1s were announced but never appeared).  But there was a '69 Wildcat kit with an engine, and it probably didn't sell well.  They're hard to find now.  So the '70 only appeared as an unassembled promo. 

The ones being designed now (including the coming '60 Chevy wagon and '65 Barracuda) will all have the separate hood and engine insert, to give a head start on an engine installation for those who want it.