What kit did this grille come from?

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

I received this kit in the mail today. It's an AMT 1972 Chevelle SS annual that is unbuilt, open, complete except for a few small optional parts. Most parts were off the sprues.

Great box art, huh? Here's a close up of the end panel with the kit number. Note the SS emblem on the grille.

Here's the grille that was inside the box.

See the difference? The grille has a "bow tie" instead of the SS emblem. I've only seen one built up Chevelle with the bow tie grille and I'm not sure it wasn't an old aftermarket part.

Did this kit come with an "SS" grille or a "bow tie" grille? The rear bumper has the "SS" on it. If not, which AMT 1972 Chevelle kit came with the "bow tie" grille? Or, could this have been a running change to the 1972 annual kit?

[Bob Ellis]

I know this is an old thread, but interesting. Recently, I got an unbuilt '72 Chevelle annual kit with "'72" on the box. It has a bow tie where a SS should be.

Since MPC got the promo contract for the Chevelle in 1972, AMT probably didn't know what to do and the box was designed later. AMT got the '71 grille right, but missed it on the '72. Another problem was 1972 Chevelles were supposed to look like the '73s. A long strike at GM in '70 delayed the design. Maybe AMT didn't have any inside information. All AMT '71 and '72 have an incorrect '70 front fender light, forever.

When Woolworths ran out of 99 cent '72 Chevelles ( I got 3 back then), I wanted another. Around 1973 or 1974, AMT released Red Alert Chevelle. They used a '72 body because the old '70 kit became a '71 and then a '72. I remember seeing a correct '72 grille with SS in that Red Alert kit. It didn't have any stock wheels (since '70) but it was okay as a basis for a '72 Chevelle. I believe the MPC '72 became a NASCAR and all the details smoothed over, so AMT is about the only choice of a decent kit.

The annual/Red Alert returned in the late '70s or early '80s as a Matchbox AMT Street Machines kit. I think this is the last time the nice '72 Chevelle SS grille existed. After this kit became a '70 Chevelle again, the re-issued '72s had a very bad grille.

I have three Matchbox ERTL AMT '72 Chevelle street machine kits. One box says Matchbox, another with a ERTL sticker over the Matchbox and finally a ERTL only box with a superseded kit number. All are blue plastic and the contents appear about the same a Red Alert. I am not convinced ERTL ever did a production of this kit. My feeling is they had a huge supply or '72 Chevelles leftover from matchbox after they folded their tent. It might explain why when ERTL re-issued the '72, it had a new awful looking grille. They may have broken the insert too, but I tend to think the insert got lost after leaving Matchbox. Who knows.

I just compared an AMT '71 Chevelle body to a very recent ERTL RC '72 body. The tool is very tired now. The roof drip line is non existent and the door and trunk lines hit and miss. Might be a good time for Revell to create a new '71 or '72 tool of the Chevelle.

[Snake45]

Not long ago I (finally) completed one of those light blue street machine issues of the AMT '72 Chevelle. Not my best build ever but I was pretty pleased with how it came out. Mine had SS in the grille. It's completely OOB except for the wheels from an old AMT '70.5 Camaro.

[Bob Ellis]

Snake, that grille is good. Modelhaus doesn't have copies of it, just the MPC version, probably to repair promos.

[Snake45]

Snake, that grille is good. Modelhaus doesn't have copies of it, just the MPC version, probably to repair promos.

That's too bad. I was going to order one of those to complete a Jimmy Flintstone El Camino body. I have another copy of the AMT '72, or maybe it's a restorable builtup (I don't remember, I just know I do have the thing) and thought maybe I could build that Elky without having to trash out the other Chevelle entirely.

[JS23U]

I have that 72 annual, too. Mine has the bowtie, as well. AFAIK starting with the Red Alert it had the SS in the grill. Did anyone notice that the 71 AMT annual lacks the SS emblem on the rear bumper? Maybe it is possible to build a stock non-SS with these two bumpers. Although I don't know if the bowtie in the grille is correct at all...

[Bob Ellis]

Too bad AMT a the bowtie on the '72 grille because their was nothing but a small "Chevrolet" in the bottom left side of the real Malibu grille. Otherwise, you would have a perfect non SS grille for a 72.

The '71 didn't have SS on the rear, but it's on the grille.

The Red Alert did have SS on the grille and a SS on the rear bumper.

I am going to check out if the MPC grille from Modelhaus will fit. I think it will be too narrow but it's worth a try. If too narrow maybe shims will help?

The MPC bumpers have better defined SS badges as the AMT versions look more like noodles.

Edited October 2, 2014 by Bob Ellis

[ChrisPflug]

Currently an old "Red Alert" kit on the big online auction site- seems to have the SS grille but a plain rear bumper

Another listing has an SS rear bumper

Both are off the tree so can't say if original

Edited October 2, 2014 by ChrisPflug

[Bob Ellis]

Chris, You are correct, and I deleted that Red Alert picture because I found another with SS on the rear bumper. The one with SS on the rear was chrome in the AMT sealed bag. So, I assume that is correct (Red Alert has SS on the rear bumper) and the other was a bumper from a '71 mixed up in a pile.

[ChrisPflug]

Without completely hijacking (it seems the original question has been answered) this thread but staying on the subject of 70-72 Chevelles....

I believe AMT had the promo contract for '70, MPC for '71-'72?

What is the consensus of the "better" body, original MPC vs AMT

What about 80s reissues like the MPC SSlasher and the blue AMT Street Machine- fairly faithful to the original or quick restoration of tools formerly converted to stock car?

How does the fairly recent Revell snap '70 look "in person"- looks good from pictures I've seen in ads and box art but haven't had one and don't recall seeing a pic of an actual build

The '72 is missing from my collection- do have a later AMT reissue but the grille looks so bad I got a resin '71 conversion front end

[Snake45]

I am going to check out if the MPC grille from Modelhaus will fit. I think it will be too narrow but it's worth a try. If too narrow maybe shims will help?

The MPC bumpers have better defined SS badges as the AMT versions look more like noodles.

Please let us know how that works, preferably with pics. I'm very interested in that for obvious reasons.

[Snake45]

What about 80s reissues like the MPC SSlasher and the blue AMT Street Machine- fairly faithful to the original or quick restoration of tools formerly converted to stock car?

How does the fairly recent Revell snap '70 look "in person"- looks good from pictures I've seen in ads and box art but haven't had one and don't recall seeing a pic of an actual build

For what the '80s "street machine" version looks like OOB, see my pics of the red one above.

I have a Revell '70 snapper in the paint shop even as we speak. To me, it looks better and more accurate than either the AMT '70 or the Revellogram 1/24. Haven't actually compared it to the AMT '72. If paint goes well, I might be able to post pics of this in the next couple weeks.

[Bob Ellis]

In my opinion, the original MPC '72 Annual kit had the best body shape and emblems. Maybe because MPC got the promo contract. You need to find this original kit because MPC turned it into a NASCAR Hurtubise race car.

The SSlasher and SS454 '80s issues were quasi restored after Hurtubise but really aren't too good. The turn signals on the front of the SSlasher are horrible. I believe they don't include the special SS steel wheels that the original kit had. Modelhouse has them.

The AMT '72 sort of survived. Even when new, it had a funky body line on the front fenders above the wheel opening to the doors. To me, it was based on an artist rendering of a reflection or shadow. I guess it can be reshaped. The MPC has the correct shape (even with the SSlasher version).

The Revell is a '70. The body shape may be the best, and some have said so. I wonder if buying Modelhaus '72 MPC bumpers could be married to this kit to make a perfect '72? You have to create turn signals.

The 1980s AMT Red Alert or street machine '72 is second best after the original MPC annual kit.

Recent issues of the AMT '72 are disappointing. I have been using them for parts only. The front and rear bumpers are NG. The body is extremely tired. Compare it to the crisp Revell '70 and you will be amazed.

In order of choices I suggest; find an original MPC '72, find a AMT Red alert or Street Machine, create a perfect '72 using the Revell body.

I guess it is possible to fix a SSlasher using Modelhaus bumpers and wheels. With some Evergreen styrene and Model Car Garage etched emblems, it might be pretty good too. You could buy a promo and cut it open too.

I am curious what others may suggest. Sorry for the long answer.

[Snake45]

I am curious what others may suggest. Sorry for the long answer.

I think you're on the right track, maybe even right on the money. I've come to respect your eye and your judgement on the late GM A-bodies.

[Bob Ellis]

It turns out that the Modelhaus MPC '71 and '72 Chevelle bumpers fit on the AMT '72 Chevelle. I believe a 0.010" shim is necessary as the head not quite as wide as the opening; better slightly narrow than too big. Here is a '71 bumper set into an AMT '72 so that if a '71 is your interest, it can be done. The MPC rear bumpers fit the back too but set in a little too far. Shimming is required again.

[Snake45]

Thanks, Bob. Very interesting and informative.