To Open or Not To Open, That Is The Question (in Shakespeare voice)

[FoMoCo66]

27 minutes ago, Xingu said:

If you are just curious, it will look similar to this.

Thanks, I think the main reason im going to open this is because of tire melt, don't know if that is a problem on this era of kit or if its just the older ones.

[meechum68]

I am in the Open .. but it's cuz I have this thing about seeing what's in the box on old stuff, and I know I will build it. 

[Chris V]

5 hours ago, FoMoCo66 said:

Thanks, I think the main reason im going to open this is because of tire melt, don't know if that is a problem on this era of kit or if its just the older ones.

Tire burn is a rather rare occurrance in Jo-Han kits, particularly of this era. The tires were molded from a rather “dry” compound. The biggest issue is usually scuff marks because the clear and plated parts weren’t bagged from the factory.

[tbill]

For what you’re into for versus what it’s worth open is still a huge profit if you sell it, as long as there is a kit in that box, you win 😁

[1972coronet]

I have some original, bootleg recordings of Shakespeare ( Live ! At the Lyceum MCCCCCCCCCDC ) , and I can totally hear his voice when thinking of opening a sealed , vintage kit. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 8/19/2025 at 3:20 PM, tbill said:

For what you’re into for versus what it’s worth open is still a huge profit if you sell it, as long as there is a kit in that box, you win 😁

And even if it's a potato, you still have a potato...maybe...   

Edited August 21 by Ace-Garageguy

[1972coronet]

23 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

And even if it's a potato, you still have a potato...maybe...   

Ah, yes... the "San Francisco Stuffed Potatoe" ! 

[gtx6970]

Rare? Not really.

Desirable? Yes. Its a great kit 

 

Expensive? All depends on the buyer.

Most I've seen actually sell are in the $40-50 range

I sold 2 of them last year. One molded white. The other that blue green color

Neither one brought over $60 and I had aftermkt decals in both

 

One each Mickey Thompson and Keeling Clayton sheets 

[Ulf]

Screenshot from this thread, ironic that this particular ad pops up. Regardless of the question of value, to build or not, a reasonable stash has value in itself because you never know what will happen and a reasonable stash with some spread stimulates creativity.         In short, good buy and disregard the contemporary fixation on value and build or kit bash if you want and need to.

[Bugatti Fan]

Are you a builder, collector or opportunist?  That is the question.             

( In an upper class English Shekesperian tone ! )  LOL.

Alas poor Yoric !   You have a dilemma !

 

 

Edited August 21 by Bugatti Fan

[Khils]

On 8/18/2025 at 12:33 PM, FoMoCo66 said:

So the message im getting is to open it. I will probably end up looking trough it sometime this week.

Have you built a funny car yet?

  Every one should do their first one. With your talent I already know the end results...."done up" as the famed Mickey Thompson's or of your choice...you will have ✔️ accomplished several steps.

 First experience opening a sealed Johan kit.

 Enjoyment of building a vintage kit.

 Sharing your finished project at its first show.

 Then there's the aspect of "someone" with lesser skills to build their own...really liking  the finished product ...you could still sell it at a profit of your initial investment.

Tip:    Always sign/ identify Your handy work! ... Concealed or Obvious either is your choice.

[NOBLNG]

Make sure to breathe in that styrene aroma as you open it. That air has been sealed inside the box for 40ish years.😂😂

[Ace-Garageguy]

38 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

Make sure to breathe in that styrene aroma as you open it. That air has been sealed inside the box for 40ish years.😂😂

I gotta be honest...that's something I really enjoy. That virgin old kit smell really takes me back in time.  

[W-409]

Personally if I buy a model kit, I have the intention to build it. No matter if it's a very rare kit in mint condition or a glue bomb, it'll eventually end up on the workbench.

Like someone said earlier, that is a reissue of Mickey Thompson's Titanium Pinto Funny Car. While the original issue can be thought as a rare kit, I don't think this reissue is super rare because there's plenty of them for sale all the time. But, these days, anything with a Jo-Han logo on it, is not cheap. 

So I'd say build it. It's a great kit. If you end up building it, here's my build thread on the same kit. Even though, the progress has been stalled for a while now... 

 

[FoMoCo66]

2 minutes ago, W-409 said:

Personally if I buy a model kit, I have the intention to build it. No matter if it's a very rare kit in mint condition or a glue bomb, it'll eventually end up on the workbench.

Like someone said earlier, that is a reissue of Mickey Thompson's Titanium Pinto Funny Car. While the original issue can be thought as a rare kit, I don't think this reissue is super rare because there's plenty of them for sale all the time. But, these days, anything with a Jo-Han logo on it, is not cheap. 

So I'd say build it. It's a great kit. If you end up building it, here's my build thread on the same kit. Even though, the progress has been stalled for a while now... 

 

Amazing build thread, hopefully you get in it. Also I guess that's why I buy all my kit and built ups, to build them. I think I will leave it sealed until I decided to build it.

[Bainford]

There are many reasons to not open a kit, but never let one of them be monetary value. It's pointless in the end.

[oldcarfan]

For me, I hate to open a truly rare shrink wrapped kit. I have come into a few in my day and usually saved them and found either an opened kit to build or a built up to restore. Then I could display the finished kit in front of the still in box kit. 

[Big Messer]

If you are buying as investment there are better ways to waste money. Same thing happens with diecasts: Smuzzl Company issues a "Limited item", "one of only 5000" guaranteed (yeah, right). With "certificates of authenticity". Everybody buys one. Price skyrockets. A few years later the exact same item gets reissued in a different color/box by the same or another company that bought the molds. Maybe even with extra parts... or LESS parts. But this time they make thousands more. Then you find them at Goodwill for a song. Sounds familiar with plastic kits?.

Last year tried to downsize the stash, not by a lot but wanted to get rid of about 60 kits. After advertising within modeler's circles sold exactly 7. Then had to pack and ship them. Not worth the trouble for me. Did you notice that all vendors carry roughly the same kits back and forth?.  So go ahead, open the box, fondle the parts and have fun building it.

Edited Monday at 05:32 AM by Big Messer

[Big Messer]

On 8/19/2025 at 3:20 PM, tbill said:

For what you’re into for versus what it’s worth open is still a huge profit if you sell it, as long as there is a kit in that box, you win 😁

Not unheard about somebody buying a "sealed box", opening it and finding that someone put something totally unrelated inside and resealed the box.