Update on AMT Kart/Cycle article in December 2009 Model Cars

[tim boyd]

Not long ago I ran across a full page ad for the "McCulloch 300 Racing Kart" in the June, 1962 issue of Car Craft (p.12). The simularities between this Kart and the AMT Kart are many - leading me to now conjecture that the AMT Kart was based on a McCulloch Kart chassis (as well as McCulloch engine), probably the immediate predecessor to this "300" Kart which is billed as "new" in the ad (and thus would have postdated the intro of the AMT '62 kits).

On another board RICHNV has just posted a picture of a mini bonneville streamliner from the December 1961 issue of Hot Rod, that while not identical to the AMT streamliner body, certainly has many simularities and could have influenced the AMT team to include this addition in the '63 F100 AMT kit.

Best regards....TIM

[jbwelda]

edit: oops just noticed its a F100 not a F150 pickup the kart came in! no wonder my ebay searches never turn anything up!

i thought this (the kart and cycle) article was the best i have seen in Model Cars in many years.

the article was full of interesting history, like i didnt know the kart and bike were available scattered over a number of kits. i dont remember that anyway, but i would have been bugged to the max to just get a couple little parts per kit! and i had forgotten the triumph had been included in a chevy truck kit similar to the ford/kart combo. gives me another kit to dream about on ebay! and even though i have read the article twice now, just thinking about it makes me want to read it again. great photos too, brings back memories!

i have a fondness for the two vehicles and was just thinking the other day (before seeing the article) that AMT ought to reissue that Ford F150 pickup with or without the bonus kart (of course would prefer the kart too but as the article points out it is available from RMM in resin). i have been looking for an F150 for a long time to complete my set but they are too expensive when available, even without the kart. it would be an excellent release and if the molds are still around (i guess the concensus must be they are not?) i would love to see AMT release the motorcycle and the kart in a parts-pack sort of kit!

heres a RMM kart i built; ive still not built the triumph:

Edited February 9, 2010 by jbwelda

[Gray Smith]

I just picked this issue up today and saw the article, I plan to read thru it in a few minutes, although i'm pretty sure i'll be giving Norm a call soon to order up both of these kits...

Thanks Tim

Gray

[tim boyd]

Heh JB....thanks for the feedback on the article. Your's is looking mighty sharp! That bright yellow is probably a whole 'lot safer out on the scale salt flats than my metallic blue which would kind of fade into the distance. Congrats on a fine build...TIM

[jbwelda]

thanks tim, i think you got your shell halves to fit better than mine, and my canopy still needs some trimming (luckily its only held in with future right now) so it can come up some on its opening.