The VEGA & PINTO Celebration Thread

[Dr. Cranky]

You remember the line from the movie FIELD OF DREAMS:

"If you build it, they will come."

Well, I am thinking if a thread like this exists--a place where we put our memories, observations, plans--of these two kits, maybe our wishes will be fulfilled within the next couple of years . . .

I think the 70s will then be pretty complete, now that all those great vans (not to mention the Gremlin and the Pacers) are making a triumphant return.

If you have vintage VEGA and PINTO kits, boxed or built, feel free to share them . . . I hope this will start a wonderful pre-review conversation.

[W-409]

I'd like to have re-release of Vega. That Twister Vega kit is horrible, but it's Vega and could be modified to look better. I haven't seen any other non-FC Vega kits, are there any?

Anyway, I've built one Twister Vega many years ago, and I remember, that kit was terrible.

[Erik Smith]

My current Pinto stock.

I am not so sure the Pinto would be as anticipated Or popular as the Gremlin. There are some cars/brands that have very dedicated fans - AMC seems to be one. But who knows? The general public will more than likely pass on most of the Gremlin/Pinto releases, so it's up to the serious modeling crowd to purchase. My friends and family who dont build all wonder "why" when they see kits of "infamous" cars.

[Erik Smith]

Oh, one more

Decals are old and cracked though

[Dr. Cranky]

Wow, Erik, lucky you who have these beauties in your collection. I am hoping when and if they put these out, they will try put as many extra parts into the kits as is possible. The 74 3 in 1 is the way to go. We can only keep our fingers crossed.

[Swifster]

From a 'looks' point of view, the '71 to '73 would be the right choice for a Vega or Pinto. Those ugly, big bumper cars do nothing for me.

[Dr. Cranky]

Those early years, Tom, are the cool ones. We'll see if maybe they answer the clamor for such kits to be brought back.

The Pacer would be a good addition to the list too. We can only hope.

[W-409]

That would be great to have as Re-release...

[Dr. Cranky]

Niko, you betcha. I would also like to the the 75 Mustang come back too.

[62rebel]

see how diverse the kit building choices were? both runabouts (hatchbacks) AND sedans.... and there were wagons as well! and few of those kits were "air boxes"..... almost ALL of them had a load of extra optional "goodies".

MPC had a pair of racing bucket seats that they added to almost every compact and medium size kit they made, and those were my absolute favorite seats to use in my builds back then... as a matter of fact; i think they had two versions; a low back and a high back version. they were tooled up for the ProStock cars, IIRC...

got to hit another swap meet soon. i missed SO many annuals the last time we had one.

[torinobradley]

As a former multi-Vega owner and road race type enthusiest, I would love to see both the Vega and the Pinto make their modeling combacks. Would love to use them as the basis to build either the road racers that tore up the tracks in the '70s or models of my own '76 street racer hatchback or '74 V8 wagon or even my brother's '71 Vega Panel Truck (registered as a truck with Texas Truck plates!).

Let's get 'em back!

[brad4321]

Having not gotten into the hobby until 2003, I am amazed at how many cool kits like these are out there. I would never have guessed you could get a drag or rally Ford Pinto! Too cool.

[Dr. Cranky]

Michael L, it's a whole world of fun out there. Why do you think so many of us here stay styrene addicted!

[Erik Smith]

Here is a mini "retro" review of the kit contents, if anybody is interested...

First, AMT "Runabout":

The body (I don't know about the history of AMT and MPC, but I think the bodies in these kits are pretty much the same)

Interior tub and chassis (front suspension looks very Gremlin-esque)

Chrome tree - some nice options for a blown engine, drag wheels, etc (and stock wheels)

The V8, 429, and misc

The four cylinder, seats, tires

Box art

[Erik Smith]

and the 1975 MPC Pinto:

Box art

Body

Chrome (only wheel option is the 5 slots)

MPC interiors are not a tub - separate sides

V8 option, turbo charged 351

Four banger, frame, etc. (the front and rear suspension parts are more detailed on the MPC kits)

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks for sharing, Erik. Oh man, those look like great kits. I'm sure they build up nice.

[horsepower]

From a 'looks' point of view, the '71 to '73 would be the right choice for a Vega or Pinto. Those ugly, big bumper cars do nothing for me.

That '74 3 in 1 MPC kit along with the early bumpers, & valances makes a real nice little sedan, just like the real one I used to have (the first of about 6 sedans & 3 Runabouts, & 2 wagons.) Edited December 26, 2013 by horsepower

[Dr. Cranky]

Those rear window louvers make a nice detail too.

[gray07]

Built this when it came out, forgot all about it until i seen this topic, its been in a tub for about 15 years or longer.

Had this in same tub, anybody know anything about it, its not tubbed, someone cut the fron end off of it i guess to make it flip, ive had it for at least 20 years.

Edited February 16, 2012 by gray07

[Dr. Cranky]

That first one looks like a great candidate for a resto build.

[thatz4u]

Hey Dr. C

I owned a real 72 Pinto back in the day, right now I have the Dyno Don Pinto & a 1977 MPC. I emailed Round 2 & they might re-release some Pinto kit if the get enough interest, so everyone start emailing them.

[Chuck Most]

Ahem...

Not a thing wrong with Vegas or Pintos, but there is another reviled '70's American subcompact which was kitted and hasn't been seen in years...

And lets not forget AMC's other oddball- the Pacer, which was kitted by both AMT and MPC and, again, hasn't seen the light of day in decades.

[62rebel]

the pacer had a beautiful six cylinder engine and trans.... great AMC rims, too. i'd love to see ALL of these hit the shelf again.

the Chevette kit suffered from the limitations the 1:1 car had... Chevrolet never gave it ANYTHING like what it gave the Vega in terms of trim options, dress ups.... even the T1000 Pontiac was almost a stillborn. funny thing, though... i saw Chevettes on the road for YEARS after the last Vega i saw vanished into the sunset..... and there's at least ONE local guy running a Pinto wagon daily here....

to swap engines in a Chevette/T1000 required replacing the rear axle as well, since that car used a torque tube type drivetrain not seen since the '50's in a Chevrolet. even the kit engineers saw that kids would recognize that if they added a v8 to the kit.....

[gray07]

Theres a chevette about 3 blocks away from me that the original owner still drives every day its the year that has the chrome grill on it , i keep trying to buy it and they say no.

Edited February 16, 2012 by gray07

[Casey]

There were both '76 and '77 MPC Pacer kits, NIB, which sold for $32 and $25, so there are still easy to find. If $30 is about what you'd pay for a new Revell Special Edition kit, and $20 gets you a re-issued AMT kit, why even hope for and wait on a reissue? The other issue with re-issuing the Pacer is I think it was last issued as a custom, just like the Gremlin, so Round2 would need to backdate it and restore the body to '78 specs.

I can see the Vega having the most appeal with John Q Public, and I hope Round2 doesn't stay consistent and re-issue the Mustang II in retro box art instead.