Old car kit ...any value?

[MikeeD]

Ok...I just accquired this kit, it's complete far as I can tell. Has the original yellowed (aged) instructions. Includes decals, the whitewall decals are shot from age, the rest are great! The axles have some rust. Copyright on the box reads 1958. Scale I'm not sure of...1/29 maybe? Looks like a pretty cool kit, lots of custom pieces. Haven't seen too many custom 4 door cars.

Anybody have any idea what this is worth, if anything?

I almost hate to build it, it's so old.

Do I have something here or just an old 4 on the door Merc?

[AMT Pacemakers]

BUILD IT!! cause ya can't take it with ya. Well you could

CCSS

[The Modeling Hermit]

The scale on that is 1/32. It was part of a group that consisted of a 55 Ford convertible, 56 Buick 4 door hardtop, 56 Mercury 4 door hardtop, and a 56 Cadillac convertible. There might have been another, but I can't remember right now. They were made up of multi-piece bodies, that went together quite well for the era, but could still be tricky. If you look way down in the "under glass section, you'll see a 62 Mercury that I built. It took me years to work up the courage to do so, but I sure enjoyed building it, and I enjoy looking at the completed car and the box.

[MikeeD]

Wow...interesting. Thanks for the info. Yea, I think it might take me awhile to get the nerve to tackle this too. Not because of complexity, mind you, but nerves...

It does look like it would go together pretty well though, I kinda hand fitted some of the parts and they matched up pretty well considering it's age. I just hope my eyesight is up to it...and these old fat fingers.

CCSS....You're right man...but it's taking that first step...you know? It's kinda skeery...

Thanks guys.....'preciate it!

[Junkman]

There was also the Chrysler New Yorker:

And a stock Continental MKII:

Initially the models were offered only in stock form and there was a 1955 and a 1956 lineup, all in 1/32. These kits can be considered the very first annual kits.

Available were the following kits:

1955 Ford Fairlane Cvt

1955 Mercury Monterrey HT

1955 Buick Roadmaster HT

1955 Cadillac Eldorado

1955 Chrysler New Yorker HT

1956 Ford Fairlane Cvt

1956 Mercury Phaeton 4dr HT

1956 Buick Roadmaster HT

1956 Cadillac Eldorado

1956 Chrysler New Yorker HT

1956 Continental MKII

A few of the 1956 models were then revamped into these 'customizing kits' and released in 1958. I'm not sure whether the entire 1956 lineup made it, but I doubt it (I only ever saw the Mercurys and the Chryslers). I will stand corrected if they did.

The kits are collectable and can command comparatively stiff money considering they are 1/32. 75$ for a customizing kit in the condition yours is in is not unheard of. The stock models, especially the much rarer 1955 models, can easily set you back three digits.

Edited May 1, 2010 by Junkman

[Jim Gibbons]

Pretty neat kit. Unfortunately, it can't be built totally stock as the '58 releases had grilles, etc., modified for the customs. The '56 Chrysler custom was released in the SSP program a while ago, along with the '56 Continental, Ford Sunliner, and Eldorado. I have original copies of the '55 and '56 Chysler New Yorkers. The '55 versions are worth more, as the tooling on all those kits was modified for the '56 models. The Mercury was actually a thin B pillar sedan (Monterey, I believe) for '55, then became a hardtop as FoMoCo introduced that style beginning in '56.

They do go together fairly well, but are a little fiddly. You'll need to do a bit of seam filling due to the multi-piece body, and will have to make your own glass from clear plastic sheet. I was really lucky to get both Chryslers for a total of $75 in the late 90's, and I've started building them. The '55 is a bit warped, and has been tricky to correct, but once the roof is on, it should square up. I did lose the left side grille in a move, so unless I find it, I have some scratch building to do. I love these kits, and hope the 56 Ford and Cadillac will be released again in the SSP program.

[Railfreak78]

I love it due to being a 4 door! cool find and have fun with it.

[MikeeD]

Whoa...$75.00?...$90.00?...Oh man, you guys are gonna scream...lol...I just paid 6.50 for this off e-bay! No joke!

And actually, when I was buying it, I thought it was a 2dr ht!...lol it had a little pic and didn't show well to me.

Imagine my surprise when I opened it! And now, I find it's worth alot more...I may just put it on the shelf for now.

Thanks for all the info guys..I feel much better now..

[Jim Gibbons]

Whoa...$75.00?...$90.00?...Oh man, you guys are gonna scream...lol...I just paid 6.50 for this off e-bay! No joke!

And actually, when I was buying it, I thought it was a 2dr ht!...lol it had a little pic and didn't show well to me.

Imagine my surprise when I opened it! And now, I find it's worth alot more...I may just put it on the shelf for now.

Thanks for all the info guys..I feel much better now..

Wow! You stole that kit at that price! Oh, well...I needed some $ before my disability kicked in, and sold an Aurora 1/32 Beatnik Bandit for $15 back in '97. Kicking myself now!

[MikeeD]

Wow! You stole that kit at that price! Oh, well...I needed some $ before my disability kicked in, and sold an Aurora 1/32 Beatnik Bandit for $15 back in '97. Kicking myself now!

Ouch! But that was probably good money then. Wish I had another one of those, last one I built cost a buck and a half! And a Big Deuce was $19.95. Now they're $200.00! Unbelievable!

[MikeeD]

There was also the Chrysler New Yorker:

And a stock Continental MKII:

Initially the models were offered only in stock form and there was a 1955 and a 1956 lineup, all in 1/32. These kits can be considered the very first annual kits.

Available were the following kits:

1955 Ford Fairlane Cvt

1955 Mercury Monterrey HT

1955 Buick Roadmaster HT

1955 Cadillac Eldorado

1955 Chrysler New Yorker HT

1956 Ford Fairlane Cvt

1956 Mercury Phaeton 4dr HT

1956 Buick Roadmaster HT

1956 Cadillac Eldorado

1956 Chrysler New Yorker HT

1956 Continental MKII

A few of the 1956 models were then revamped into these 'customizing kits' and released in 1958. I'm not sure whether the entire 1956 lineup made it, but I doubt it (I only ever saw the Mercurys and the Chryslers). I will stand corrected if they did.

The kits are collectable and can command comparatively stiff money considering they are 1/32. 75$ for a customizing kit in the condition yours is in is not unheard of. The stock models, especially the much rarer 1955 models, can easily set you back three digits.

Oh man would I love to have that Continental...I always thought those were beautiful cars!

But you know, I don't really remember these kits back when I was really into this in the mid sixties. Course, I was only in my teens then and into hot rods, but still, I built a million models then. But too, there was a LOT of models out there to choose from during that time and you could get just about anything, so I probably just overlooked them.

Great info though...thanks...Learn something everyday..

[Terror]

I say let the collector buy it built!

[elan]

Build it! Kits were meant to be built. Just like hot rods were meant to be driven, but thats another story.

You will enjoy building a lot more than if the box sat on a shelf. In fact you could build it and leave the box on the shelf, the best of both worlds.

[Harold]

Revell reisued several of these kits a few years (less than 10) ago. Are you sure its not a reissue?

[MikeeD]

Revell reisued several of these kits a few years (less than 10) ago. Are you sure its not a reissue?

I don't think so, The box is dated 1958 and the instructions have that ancient yellowed "patina".

This just has the look of a really old kit.

And for the record...I do believe I'll build it..eventually...

Edited May 3, 2010 by MikeeD

[styromaniac]

Wow! You stole that kit at that price! Oh, well...I needed some $ before my disability kicked in, and sold an Aurora 1/32 Beatnik Bandit for $15 back in '97. Kicking myself now!

An Aurora 1/32nd "Beatnik Bandit"kit? I doubt it- me thinks you meant the "Beatnik Box"..that little companion pick up to the "Wolf Wagon", the "Scat Cat" and those other 1/32nd Table Top hot rods.

[HotRodaSaurus]

I don't think so, The box is dated 1958 and the instructions have that ancient yellowed "patina".

This just has the look of a really old kit.

And for the record...I do believe I'll build it..eventually...

Check also the box construction, if it is fairly stiff it is probably original. Does the box base have the corners joined with brown tape? The re-issue box is similar to the original but slightly larger and also made from thin card similar to most current kits.

Sometimes the big givaway can be an official Ford, GM or Chrysler authorisation though this is usually followed by the re-issue date as well, as originals had a similar official marking.

John