Do you build models of cars that you have owned...? PART 1

[Ramfins59]

For those who might wonder, I have searched for this particular topic before posting this, but nothing has shown up. Maybe some of you have posted build pics of some of your 1:1 cars but I guess it was not under a particular "thread" like this one.

Believe it or not, I personally did not start driving until I was 27 years old. I lived in the Bronx, NY and in the city limits of N.Y. there was no need for me to have a car at that time because of all the local and convenient public transportation ( buses, subways, taxis...). I married in 1968 and my wife & I bought our first home on Long Island in 1975 which is when we bought our first car.

It was a 1967 Ford Galaxie that I bought from my aunt for $300. It had a 289 engine which started smoking a lot several years later and a friend of mine installed a 302 from a wrecked car. The engine cost me $100, another $100 for parts for the friend to rebuild it, and $100 to the friend for his labor. The engine eventually blew in 1983 and I junked the car.

I bought a '67 Galaxie Convertable kit from a guy in the LIARS Club back in 1994 and another club member helped in converting the 2 door convertable into a 4 door hardtop, using the top from a '65 Ford Galaxie kit. The paint was Model Master Champagne Gold if I remember correctly with a black top (all enamel spray cans at that time).

[Scale-Master]

I have actually built more models of cars my parents have owned than I have of my own. But I still intend to do one of my Vega's and my '73 Camaro. Maybe another version of my Corvette too since I have changed it since I did a model of it when it was almost new.

I would imagine a lot of people here build replicas of their own rides.

[Swifster]

Many of the cars I've had have had no model kit to match. I could do a beat to heck '71 Plymouth Duster. I could do my '89 Taurus SHO I guess. No Studebakers either.

[Scale-Master]

That is a problem. I still wish someone would produce a '68 Vista Cruiser...

[Chuck Most]

I have, but it actually took three tries before I actually built something that resembled what I owned.

I've owned a '71 Dodge Charger, and toyed with the idea of turning the AMT R/T into my base model version. I got as far as filling in the 'gills' in the doors. When I had a '66 Cutlass I used it as reference to build the AMT 442 kit, though the fact my Cutlass was a non-442 (AND a four-door) meant the model wasn't of the 1:1. I did use the Monogram '87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe to build a model of my 1:1 without the faded paint on the quarters- that is actually the only vehicle I've ever owned with a direct scale kit available.

I'm currently working on converting an AMT '92 Ford F-150 longbed into a model of my current pickup, a 1994 F-250 regular cab 2wd. Fortunately the kit has the 351 and AOD as does my 1:1- I even dug up an airbag steering wheel from a '91 Taurus SHO. (AMT never changed the steering wheel to represent the '94-up airbag unit). Once I figure out a way to duplicate the XLT wheel covers I'll be in business!

[Monty]

I have actually built more models of cars my parents have owned than I have of my own. But I still intend to do one of my Vega's and my '73 Camaro. Maybe another version of my Corvette too since I have changed it since I did a model of it when it was almost new.

I would imagine a lot of people here build replicas of their own rides.

I didn't realize you were a Corvette owner too. Would you mind posting up some pics of the model you built? I owned my 1980 for 20 years, but never got around to building one of the MPC kits of it. Fortunately, I've got pictures and memories, so it can still be done.

[Rob McKee]

I haven't really owned any cars that have been kitted. So, I build all the cars I wish I owned or had now.

[Bartster]

When I first pulled all my old kits out of the closet back in October, I got to wondering how many new kits I had missed out on. So when I got web access in December I started searching & was pleasently surprized how many cars I have owned that had been released. I'm starting with my '69 Chevy truck & going from there.

[RodneyBad]

Actually that is what I'm good at.

My First car.

1969 Plymouth Sport Satellite (proper hood issue going on tho)

First Truck.

1975 Dodge PowerWagon (haven't painted the tailgate, Lost Matching paint)

My Work truck.(back then)

1992 Ford F-350 with Metro Century wreckerbed

Dads Car.

1967 Plymouth GTX (I want one day,Never got around to painting the hood but it is somewhere )

Second truck.

1977 Dodge PowerWagon ClubCab (two-tone green when matching paint is found)

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaah, A Resin was available.

Third Truck

2000 Dodge Dakota(will be Black), Yaaah a model that was made (lift added tho )

The Next few cars, Models aren't made..

Edited January 31, 2012 by RodneyBad

[Mike Kucaba]

I've started on a 1/18th die cast "66 Chevy II SS. It was an L-79 optioned car with 4-speed. It was a dark green metallic with a metallic looking light green interior.

[Dingo5162]

Yep sure as heck have my very first car I ever owned is in my display case as a model, it's a Toyota Corolla with a Celica GT motor in it.

Dingo

Edited January 31, 2012 by Dingo5162

[Dirkpitt289]

I've wanted to but never have. I have been tossing around doing my first 3 cars which was a 65 Mustang Convertible 6cyl (Finding a 6 cyl engine is the hard part) 65 Mustang 2+2 and an 83 Mustang GT. I've been having a hard time finding the 83 kit also. I know they make it but the cost can get up there

Edited January 31, 2012 by Dirkpitt289

[Devilsnake98]

I've done a few of mine.. 98 svt cobra mustang coupe black on black, 86 mustang lx hatchback- had to cheat it with an old svo kit so it's not exact, and a 71 Datsun 510 2 door, but added different wheels than my actual car had.

Also have done a few for friends and family... My dads 65 Chevy II out of the 63 trumpeter kit, sbc 400/ th400, mustang II front suspension, ladder bar rear suspension, roll bar, torque thrust d's, a friends 92 3000gt vr4, mostly stock, and another friends 92 caprice ex- cop car, satin black blue interior, vortec 350 carb converted, 15x7 15x10 staggered Chevy rally wheels, loud dual exhaust.

[High octane]

No I don't. I did one in the past but I guess I got rid of it when I got out of the hobby for a time. People ask me if I'm going to build a model of my car and I tell them that I can always go in the garage and look at it. I have a lot of other projects I'd rather be building.

[Greg Myers]

I find myself cheating. Building it the way I dream about, not the way it was / is.

[59 Impala]

Yep, I built a '59 Impala, '71 Nova, a '70 Chevelle SS, and a '74 Camaro like the ones I used to own. Next I have '76 Firebird Formula (mine was an Esprit), '86 Z28, and a '02 Z28. I want to build one of an '87 Dodge Power Ram, '95 Tahoe 2dr and a '77 Jeep CJ5. Problem with these last ones i they don't make a model of these. Oh well, that's the way the old ball bounces I guess. Dan

Edited January 31, 2012 by 59 Impala

[Green Duster]

Oh yeah. As many I could. My 71 Duster, 73 Satellite, 73 Charger, my current 73 Duster. The wife's

2000 Dakota R/T, and I did my 1999 Dakota SLT. thats the ones off the top of my head.

[Draggon]

I might like to, but there are no kits for a 71 Superbeetle, the Aoshima one is too far off in general, and is of a 73 or later with the curved winshield and huge taillights. Way too much to modify. There isnt to my knowledge any 1962 Buick Skylarks, either coupe or convertible, both of which I owned. I had a 79 El Camino, and have a couple kits of that, but I have avoided it because the kits seem very "off" to me. It was my daily driver for 17 years so I am quite familiar with its lines. No 93 Grand Ams, Mazda Proteges, and the Civic Ferrio kit is rare and way expensive. I currently have a 98 Durango, got it from a freind, doesnt even have 40,000 miles yet, and no kit of it either. I really really want the AMT 64 Buick Wildcat. I had a 1:1 mildly customized, and loved that car. They are available, but too much moolah! Oh well

[Foxer]

You shouldn't have asked this with me in the house, Richard! I'm with Rodney in that this is what I love most ... building the cars I've owned. I'm fortunate in that many are available in kit form .. or near enough that a few mods are required. Hope you don't think I'm trying to steal your thread, but you asked!!!

Just one photo each since I need some limits imposed on me. Many are still on the bench so will try to find something close to where it stands.

My first car ... to be a 1951 Plymouth

second one, '59 Chevy Impala

a pile of VW's...

.. both of these were my wife's

my dad's '56 Kombi

[Foxer]

continuing .. my '67 TR4A

then there were five Porsche 924/944's .. '77, '81' 87 and 91 .. the '84 is missing yet.

Dad's '92 Crown Vic

Edited January 31, 2012 by Foxer

[Foxer]

wife's Subie Legacy's 91 and 95

and my '2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe 6MT

All of these have required some modifications, some quite extensive such as filling 13 of the 23 windows in the VW bus to make a Kombi!

Edited January 31, 2012 by Foxer

[Dave Van]

I have built a few of my cars I've owned. The last one was my 1999 Concorde. I took the AMT kit, removed the aero kit, filled the wing slots and found stock wheels and tires. Added my tag at the time. Painted it the same candy apple red paint that cost me $300 when I bought it and made the emblems on my ALPS printer. The best highway car I ever owned.

Edited January 31, 2012 by Dave Van

[Junkman]

Unfortunately, no model kits exist of most of the real cars I've owned. But if it does, it will always resemble the real car I had.

I have now many diecast models of my former real cars, where available. I was able to fill quite a few gaps in the past ten or so years, thanks to a thriving diecast industry.

[Qwit Pushin]

A '55 210 2-door I owned about 10 years ago. All original, including paint. It was a sweetheart, hated to sell her, but home remodeling projects necessitated the sale.