History of Monogram's Squarebody GM Pickups

[Bucky]

This has been a fscinating topic! I never realized there were that many General Motors truck kits available. I myself have the recent issue of the Chevy stepside, an original Blazer, and an original Jimmy. I just acquired an original GMC Sport Pickup from Ebay that hasn't arrived, yet. Would a rear differential from one Monogram's GM van kits be accurate for the rear ends in question, here?

[Fabrux]

I believe the van kits in question are 1:25 scale, so the axle might be a bit too small for these trucks.

[Casey]

Would a rear differential from one Monogram's GM van kits be accurate for the rear ends in question, here?

No, they're just as bad as the pickup rearends.

[Jordan White]

A few things that haven't really been mentioned that I've noticed.

1) In the GMC Jimmy kit, the extra parts all represent Hickey parts available at the time (hood, grille guard, rear spare/fuel carrier). I'm building a version of the Jimmy that Hickey customized, called the Desert Fox (this one has an incorrect red grille guard, so it may have been pre-production).

2) The Jimmy kit did include a set of headers, along with a dual-intake air cleaner.

3) The wheel arch dimensions of the truck compared to the Blazer/Jimmy I believe to be different. This is based on the flares provided in the Jimmy kit; while they appear to fit the arches correctly on the box art, they are much too large for the truck wheel arches. In order to mount them, one would either have to cut out the fenders (which makes sense since the style is generally used to cover larger openings), or cut down the flares to fit the openings (I chose the latter, since it was easier to accomplish IMO).

4) Neither the Jimmy kit nor the GMC pickup kit come with stock-style steering wheels. The Jimmy comes with a nice "Grant GT-Series" style 4-spoke wheel, while the truck comes with a nice "Grant GT-Series" style 3-spoke wheel.

[Casey]

IIRC, the Monogram Dodge Ramcharger includes a roof rack as pictured on the Hickey Jimmy.

[gray07]

Cool blazer.

[Jordan White]

IIRC, the Monogram Dodge Ramcharger includes a roof rack as pictured on the Hickey Jimmy.

I'm using the one from the re-released Bronco kit. Oddly enough, even though the kits are different scales, the roof rack fits perfectly.

[Fabrux]

I stumbled across a listing for a die-cast 1:24 scale 75 Chevy K10. Look!

A stock steering wheel! Someone needs to find one of these and cast it.

[Casey]

Do these die cast models have factory bucket seats and consoles. too?

[Fabrux]

The truck in that picture has buckets; no idea about console.

[Mopar - D]

This topic on the 70's GM trucks has now got me building what my 74 Jimmy 1:1 was like. I only wish I could find some pictures of it. I've been able to pick up the Jimmy kit and the texture on the roof makes it easier to convert to the 74 model with the full removable roof. My 1:1 had many of the after market items that came in the kit . I've got the new released pickup coming to change out the bumpers and hood. I'm going to scratch build the front grill to the 74 with the 3 block outs.

[Casey]

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Edited December 29, 2018 by Casey

[Fabrux]

I'm still trying to get a set of those decals to put on a white-painted truck...

[Fabrux]

I always love finding new data! An original issue Blazer just popped up on eBay (clicky) and it shows that even in the first issue the door handles were mini and the wheels are actually 6-bolt!

[checkmate]

I've got an original issue Blazer here if you'd like pics of any of it's parts.

What about the Snow Patrol pick up? or was it Revell? I can remember the box art but not who made it.

[Fabrux]

Snow Patrol is the Revell kit. I'm working on the Revell history article right now; there are a couple kits I have next to no information on, may have to just post it up anyway!

[checkmate]

A van list would be great!!!! Hint, hint.

I just checked my first issue Blazer, the box art shows big door handles but the body inside has the tiny offset ones.

[Fabrux]

I'll leave the vans to Casey, they're more his bailiwick.

[Casey]

Another box variation for the "Demolisher":

[Casey]

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Edited December 29, 2018 by Casey

[Fabrux]

Nice catalogue! Makes one wonder why they never made either a GM pickup High Roller or a Blazer High Roller. I guess the Pulldozer is enough of a fuzzy middle ground... Although, it shows that all the Blazer issues had the tiny door handle. Where any ever produced with the correct sized handle?

[Longbox55]

Makes one wonder why they never made either a GM pickup High Roller or a Blazer High Roller.

The GMC version of the pickup was done as a High Roller, upper right corner of the left page.

[Fabrux]

I knew that one, I guess I was thinking more of the Chevy stepside. Still no stock Blazer high roller. They did both an F-150 and a Bronco...

[Ridgeback]

Chris,

Here's a scan from a '84 Monogram product catalog

If they still had the tooling for this, it would make a great release as an 'Armed pick up' That you see in middle east and African conflicts.

I recently bought the Italeri Toyota armed pick up and was pretty disappointed with the lack of interior panels etc, so will be using the gun and various other parts for another project.

[Luc Janssens]

If they still had the tooling for this, it would make a great release as an 'Armed pick up' That you see in middle east and African conflicts.

I recently bought the Italeri Toyota armed pick up and was pretty disappointed with the lack of interior panels etc, so will be using the gun and various other parts for another project.

That's an old Esci kit, I didn't guy it because they left out the hardtop, stupid marketing.

About the Monogram Blue Thunder Chevy, I think it never materialized, maybe because in the show they used an S10 Blazer.

Edited November 10, 2013 by Luc Janssens