What was the real story as to why Racing Champions cancelled the 68' Coronet R/T

[GMP440]

I remember back a few months ago the Racing Champions realized there was something wrong with molds for the ex MPC 68 Coronet R/T. Supposedly,

the company acquired a mint 68' Coronet kit to check the parts that were needed. As a result, they discovered problems. What exactly were the problems

that needed to be fixed? Also, was there any thought about trying to resurrect the Feverbee. This was the kit that had the drag racing racing chassis

and parts to do a funny car. In 69' the kit returned as the Super Hemi. Maybe, they could search their inventory to see if in fact they still have the

Feverbee or Super Hemi toolings. Possibly, this could be the same situation that happened with the 71' Cyclone; in which they were searching for the

drag version but instead, they found a different version of the kit.

[crispy]

If my memory serves me right, I believe their was glass and some chrome missing from the mold. I'm not absolutely 100%, but that's what pops into my head.

I really don't think we'll see anything from them until we get a new buyer.

Chris

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

If you really have the jones to build a '68 Coronet, they are available in resin from Modelhaus, R&R, and by the unknown caster of resin kits to Hobby Heaven and Model Roundup. I got one from Model Roundup that I'm cleaning up. It's decent but in retrospect I would get the Modelhaus or R&R version. I got Modelhaus chrome and red taillights for mine and had to remove the molded in hood. The hood was glued in on the master and not to even at that. I'm using glass from an AMT '68 Road Runner but I'm undecided on the '68 RR chassis or an old style wire axle Mopar B Body chassis. You guys that know me know which one I'll probably use.

With the cleanup work (flash removal, pinholes, bubbles, remove hood, open taillight cavities) plus what I paid for Modelhaus parts I would have been money ahead. I've seen the R&R and it's a good one too.

I got the one I did because Modelhaus had dropped theirs from the catalog when AMT pre-announced the Coronet for reissue and I thought the one I got was all there was. R&R's is a newer release too. Watch for some pics of mine soon.

[Casey]

The legend lives on...

[GMP440]

Thanks for bringing back a topic I stated about ten years ago.

A very requested kit.  I wish Round 2 could fix whats missing and reissue the 68 Coronet R/T.  

Maybe Revell or Moebius could take the lead on this kit for a release.

[Mark]

The Coronet does exist...it is now the '70.  The original chassis got shortened a bit, and migrated to the original MPC '71-'74 Charger kits.  

Someone at RC2 probably looked through old catalogs or a tool listing and thought the '68-'69 version still existed.

 

[Can-Con]

1 hour ago, Mark said:

 

Someone at RC2 probably looked through old catalogs or a tool listing and thought the '68-'69 version still existed.

 

Seeing how it was Racing Champions, I think it's more likely they were looking at the '70, thought it was a '68 and didn't know the difference. 

[Luc Janssens]

Think Revell has a better hand of cards, now with the '70 Charger which I suppose they have in 3D files....

Round-2 can cut corners by just copying an old annual, molded-in headlamps et all.....

[pack rat]

5 hours ago, Mark said:

The Coronet does exist...it is now the '70.  The original chassis got shortened a bit, and migrated to the original MPC '71-'74 Charger kits.  

Someone at RC2 probably looked through old catalogs or a tool listing and thought the '68-'69 version still existed.

 

 

4 hours ago, Can-Con said:

Seeing how it was Racing Champions, I think it's more likely they were looking at the '70, thought it was a '68 and didn't know the difference. 

That pretty much sums it up right there.

But....It's more fun to speculate that the incomplete/damaged '68 (but not the '69??!!) Coronet tool is just sitting there somewhere, meanwhile, in another corner the Feverbee/Superhemi tool is just waiting for someone to trip over it........welcome to the internet.  

Edited December 31, 2017 by pack rat

[Mark]

Not the first time this happened...there was the '60 Starliner convertible in one of the mid-Nineties catalog.  The first draft '87 catalog included a reissue of the '64 Galaxie (not the Craftsman kit, but the 3-in-1 kit which had been butchered into the Modified Stocker long before.  The same catalog included a '70 4-4-2 reissue.  AMT did sell a '70 4-4-2, but it was a repackaged Jo-Han kit...Ertl couldn't reissue something AMT never actually had.  That late RC2 period included a bunch of announcements that didn't couldn't materialize, though...