MPC 1971 R.R. + AMT 1971 Charger R/T =

[1972coronet]

After more than twenty years , I finally got me a coveted , 1987-issue MPC 1971 Road Runner .

I have see a couple of examples -fine , wonderful examples- of bashing the AMT 1971 Charger R/T with the 1973-1974 MPC Road Runner , and am now wondering how many of you have utilised the aforementioned Charger with the 1971 R.R.

Obviously , the Charger has a different interior ; door panels and upholstery pattern are vastly different from the same year R.R. , albeit , with the same Rallye Instrument clustre (steering wheel , too).

What I'm attempting to ascertain here :

What would be the best approach to interface the R.R.'s interior door panels with the Charger's chassis ?

How about the R.R.'s seats -actually , just the rear seat- to the Charger's platform ?

Please provide photos / technique(s) , if possible .

Thanks !

[charlie8575]

Although I haven't tried this personally with anything, my recommendation would be to cut the floor out of the original interior bucket, then the front header, and then mount the modified "U" to the platform-style floor.

I may have to do something like this with my Wildcat to get the interior painted if I can't get it disassembled, but I would suggest trying this on a less-valuable interior bucket first to get the technique right.

Charlie Larkin

[ChrisPflug]

The whole interior tub is shallow enough to fit on top of the platform floor from the Charger- the platform interior can also be used with some trimming- the lower door panels are the same from the Charger to RR. Possibly sand off the upper door panel detail from the Charger and rework? The Charger back seat has a fairly similar pattern to the RR with buckets

The pattern for the door panels in the tub is only correct for a bench seat RR (base Satellite trim level) which also used a much "plainer" back seat- bucket seat Road Runners got the upgraded "custom interior" door panels as used on the Sebring line. (Closest to the Charger door panel would be the woodgrained premium trim used on the Sebring Plus and GTX)

Edited December 1, 2013 by ChrisPflug

[ChrisPflug]

Here's an MPC '72 with the AMT Charger engine compartment and chassis under the original tub

[ChrisPflug]

And here's an assembled Charger interior/chassis test fit to a Road Runner body

[ChrisPflug]

Have a few MPC '71 Road Runner and GTX projects of my own

[1972coronet]

Although I haven't tried this personally with anything, my recommendation would be to cut the floor out of the original interior bucket, then the front header, and then mount the modified "U" to the platform-style floor.

I may have to do something like this with my Wildcat to get the interior painted if I can't get it disassembled, but I would suggest trying this on a less-valuable interior bucket first to get the technique right.

Charlie Larkin

Thanks , Charles . That is definitely one of the ideas I was toying with trying .

[1972coronet]

Chris , thank you for your detailled reply .

I wonder -and I know that you can answer this for me , judging by your collection- if the R.R.'s interior tub was retooled for the rare , mid-1971-release GTX ; that may explain the upgraded door panels in the 1987 reissue (and perhaps the 1972 annual as well). Check one of your original-issue 1971 'Runner annuals for its door panel inscriptions (ha!) to see if the 'panels are similar to the Monogram 1971 "Satellite" (whose door panels are of the R.R. pattern) .

It's good to know that the MPC's tub will fit-over the AMT Charger's platform . I just can't bring myself to build my R.R. in its "out-of-box" state ! That bland engine compartment with its squared shear panels and its 1966 & earlier type brake master cylinder ; that lack of cowl is a sore point as well .

It's too bad that I haven't the skills to scratch-bash a correct front bench seat for my '71 R.R. ... But , then again , I may just bite the bullet and utilise the whole interior from the Charger (minus the distinctive '71-'72 Charger interior C-pillar sail panels) . I'm not going for a factory-stock build anyhow ; and further , I may even swap the AMT '71 340 / 4 speed into my 'Runner , complete with Six Barrel induction ( ).

Thanks again , Chris and Charles

[ChrisPflug]

The original issue Road Runner and GTX both came with identical tubs and the "vertical pleated" door panel design- not really correct for either car. The Monogram 1/24 "Satellite" is the only one I know of with the "right" style door panel and it's too big to really use sections of

Edited December 1, 2013 by ChrisPflug

[1972coronet]

The original issue Road Runner and GTX both came with identical tubs and the "vertical pleated" door panel design- not really correct for either car. The Monogram 1/24 "Satellite" is the only one I know of with the "right" style door panel and it's too big to really use sections of

Thanks for digging one of your originals out , Chris .

It would seem as though MPC was being even more generic in their approach here ! I'm pretty sure that their similar-years Chargers (1971-1972 annuals) have the exact same interior , right ?

[ChrisPflug]

The Chargers have fairly accurate tubs- the '71 is similar to the Plymouth but has the woodgrain strip molded in, the interiors were correctly redone for the '72s. The Charger tubs even have a molded in rear window defogger

The Charger chassis is cruder though with a metal front axle through the block and screws at the rear

Accurate and nicer being relative- what's cool on a vintage annual wouldn't fly on a new tool

Toughest thing on building these older kits is figuring out what to leave to keep the character of the original kit and what to upgrade

On another note-doesn't the fresh, crisp white plastic of the original look inviting compared to the thin yellow stuff of the '87 issue?

[1972coronet]

The Chargers have fairly accurate tubs- the '71 is similar to the Plymouth but has the woodgrain strip molded in, the interiors were correctly redone for the '72s. The Charger tubs even have a molded in rear window defogger

You're right . I'd forgotten about the moulded-in rear defogger in the Charger interior (!)

The Charger chassis is cruder though with a metal front axle through the block and screws at the rear

I never knew that . I did however recognise that the Charger had a Torqueflite , whereas the R.R. had a "4-speed" behind its generic MPC Chrysler B/RB ...

Accurate and nicer being relative- what's cool on a vintage annual wouldn't fly on a new tool

Got that right !

For their intended purpose -to be promotionals-come-kits- they fit the bill , but that's where it ends . However , there is something to be said about curb appeal .

Toughest thing on building these older kits is figuring out what to leave to keep the character of the original kit and what to upgrade

The "George Washington's Axe" deal kind of applies here ( ha ha ha ) , much as it would in the "1:1" realm , albeit without breaking any laws .

On another note-doesn't the fresh, crisp white plastic of the original look inviting compared to the thin yellow stuff of the '87 issue?

YES ! Now , back in July 1987 when this kit was reissued ( I was born in 1970 , so I missed out on the original issue) , the yellow-coloured plastic didn't bother me . The example that I bought ; its moulding was so nice , that I simply left the body in its moulded colour , and merely sprayed a gloss clear on it . The yellow looked kind of like GY3 Curious Yellow to me , so I decided to keep it as such.

However , now a days , I almost disdain plastic that's any colour except for white (!!!) . Conversely , I do like it when chassis / drivetrain parts are moulded in black (think : Monogram's 1971 "Satellite" and 1971 HemiCuda "custom" ) . I leave the K-Member and axle in their as-cast state (of course , I remove the parting lines and flash) , as that black plastic just looks right ; the semi-gloss is something that , in my opinion , simply can't be accurately replicated with paint .

Additionally ; the last '71 Sat I built , I left the interior as-is , but painted the seat inlays and the doorpanel details , in a Gun Metal that's close to GA4 Winchester Grey , then dull coated .