AMT vs MPC '32 Chevrolet kits

[Mike999]

Casey added box art photos, which I found helpful since the old photos were gone.  Here's some (quick) parts layout photos of the Gangbuster '32 Chevy.  This is the one I found yesterday at a local flea market.

 

[Casey]

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Edited February 10, 2019 by Casey

[unclescott58]

I'm glad Casey bought this one back. I missed it the first time, and found it interesting to read. 

[1930fordpickup]

On 10/4/2018 at 2:49 PM, Mike999 said:

Casey added box art photos, which I found helpful since the old photos were gone.  Here's some (quick) parts layout photos of the Gangbuster '32 Chevy.  This is the one I found yesterday at a local flea market.

 

Mike these are very addictive models, I will do you a favor and take it off your hands to save you. Nice find by the way. I need rear doors.  

[Mike999]

7 hours ago, 1930fordpickup said:

Mike these are very addictive models, I will do you a favor and take it off your hands to save you. Nice find by the way. I need rear doors.  

Thanks. But like I said in the other thread, this is one of my Grail Kits and I couldn't believe I found it at a flea market.  I'm real old, so maybe you can get it at my Estate Sale.

The seller said it came from a Western Auto store in Lyman, SC.  The store closed about 15 years ago and its whole inventory has been sitting in a warehouse ever since.  He didn't find any other kits in that Western Auto stash. I asked.

From reading other threads in here and other forums, those rear doors are very hard to find.  Ditto for the "paddy wagon" bench seats and interior divider panel.  IIRC, the paddy wagon parts were not even in the 1966 re-issue of this kit.  You probably noticed the big ugly tire mark on the panel truck floor.  Fortunately it's on the bottom of the part.

[1930fordpickup]

3 hours ago, Mike999 said:

Thanks. But like I said in the other thread, this is one of my Grail Kits and I couldn't believe I found it at a flea market.  I'm real old, so maybe you can get it at my Estate Sale.

The seller said it came from a Western Auto store in Lyman, SC.  The store closed about 15 years ago and its whole inventory has been sitting in a warehouse ever since.  He didn't find any other kits in that Western Auto stash. I asked.

From reading other threads in here and other forums, those rear doors are very hard to find.  Ditto for the "paddy wagon" bench seats and interior divider panel.  IIRC, the paddy wagon parts were not even in the 1966 re-issue of this kit.  You probably noticed the big ugly tire mark on the panel truck floor.  Fortunately it's on the bottom of the part.

I love it When someone finds a grail this way. 

I had one of these but when the x Girl friend left so did that and a couple of others. I should have paid more attention when she asked what the most valuable kit was one day. I was vague but she got me. I am still better off. 

[Draggon]

I had the original panel kit from 1966. For reasons unknown, sometime shortly after I cut the cowl and doors away from the rest of the panel body. Of course the panel part is gone and I still have the cowl/doors. 40 some odd years later, when I realized the Vampire Van is the same kit and I used to have the panel part, I was pretty disgusted with myself. 

[Eshaver]

Here is a built example of the MPC- AMT 1932 Chevrolet Cabriolet being serviced

[Casey]

On 12/7/2013 at 5:37 PM, Mark said:

Next up was the AMT/Ertl Connoisseur Classics issue. To get back to stock, separate spare tire well parts were tooled (smart move!) and the seats restored to stock. Most of the Blue Ribbon Rod parts were left in, but unfortunately the slotted wheels were replaced by Keystone style wheels. None of the optional parts are shown in the box art. I asked someone from Ertl about that back in the day...his reply was that the cars issued in that series were inconsistent in terms of optional items. The Lincoln and Chrysler had extras from the Gangbusters issues, while the Chevy had hot rod parts. Every one of this issue kit I have had, or have seen, has poor quality plating (wrinkly, runs and sags, etc). This is the most recent '32 Chevy issue.

Nice shot of the parts here:

 

Was the MPC '32 Chevy "Blue Ribbon Rods" the only kit ever issued in that series? The MPC '28 Ford pickup was teased in the 1978 MPC catalog, but I don't think it was ever issued under that Blue Ribbon Rods series, nor in the picture box art:

 

Not sure which year catalog the below is from but both are pictured, and the '28 Ford pickup has the same kit number:

 

[larman]

47 minutes ago, Casey said:

Nice shot of the parts here:

 

Was the MPC '32 Chevy "Blue Ribbon Rods" the only kit ever issued in that series? The MPC '28 Ford pickup was teased in the 1978 MPC catalog, but I don't think it was ever issued under that Blue Ribbon Rods series, nor in the picture box art:

 

Not sure which year catalog the below is from but both are pictured, and the '28 Ford pickup has the same kit number:

 

They made a '28 Ford Pickup, it was a roadster body though, not the closed cab shown here. It had a box similar to the '32 Chevy and a small block Chevy engine. Also had independent rear suspension, maybe Corvette? It's a pretty nice kit for the time.

[Force]

3 hours ago, larman said:

They made a '28 Ford Pickup, it was a roadster body though, not the closed cab shown here. It had a box similar to the '32 Chevy and a small block Chevy engine. Also had independent rear suspension, maybe Corvette? It's a pretty nice kit for the time.

Quite right, I have that one.
The 1929 Woodie came 1962 and they did a 1928 Pickup based on the same tooling 1965, the 1928 Pickup with the Chevy small block and Corvette rear end came 1978...I built one back then and I do have another unbuilt one in the stash.
The  more stock 1928 Roadster Pickup shares most of the tooling with the 1929 Woodie and has been out as 4'n1 kits labeled as 1929 a couple of times, The Wild Ones version from 1966, Woodie/Pickup from 1987 and the latest reissue was the Buyers Choice Woodie/Pickup version from 2001.
The street rod version of the 1928 pickup from 1978 looks to share some of the tooling with the other kits but a lot of the parts are different like half of the chrome sprue, engine/transmission, rear end and some other parts and this kit has never been reissued in that state.

Edited February 13, 2021 by Force

[Mark]

The Ford roadster pickup was probably intended to be in that Blue Ribbon series (which turned out to be a series of one).  I'd guess that it and the Chevy didn't set the world on fire sales-wise.  Had they done so, MPC might have issued the Ford as a third entry, with the woody wagon body.  It wouldn't have been outrageous to see the Switchers based kits like the Ts and Deuces issued also.

The Ford was of course based on the stock kit, with a bunch of alterations: the Chevy engine and Corvette rear suspension, and the repro Halibrand (Mehelich?) wheels which are very nicely done.  It's a shame they didn't throw in a different front axle to get the front end out of the sky, even at the cost of losing the working steering.  That, and the steep angle of the engine/transmission, are the only minuses in that issue.

Ertl later undid most of the "Blue Ribbon" alterations in the Ford, but did leave the transmission hump in the floorboard piece.  They also didn't put back the spare tire recess in the front fender.

[Dave Darby]

6 hours ago, Force said:

Quite right, I have that one.
The 1929 Woodie came 1962 and they did a 1928 Pickup based on the same tooling 1965, the 1928 Pickup with the Chevy small block and Corvette rear end came 1978...I built one back then and I do have another unbuilt one in the stash.
The  more stock 1928 Roadster Pickup shares most of the tooling with the 1929 Woodie and has been out as 4'n1 kits labeled as 1929 a couple of times, The Wild Ones version from 1966, Woodie/Pickup from 1987 and the latest reissue was the Buyers Choice Woodie/Pickup version from 2001.
The street rod version of the 1928 pickup from 1978 looks to share some of the tooling with the other kits but a lot of the parts are different like half of the chrome sprue, engine/transmission, rear end and some other parts and this kit has never been reissued in that state.

Actually, the tool originated as a 1928 Sedan in about 1965, and was boxed as an AMT kit. Then, MPC modified the tool to create a pickup/woody kit under their own label (guessing around 67-68) called "The Wild Ones" that also included a "Hot Curl" figure. After that the Woody and Pickups were issued as separate kits. Then the 1978 issue with the aforementioned small block chevy and vette rear suspension. After Ertl purchased AMT and MPC, it was semi restored back to the "Wild Ones" configuration (minus the Hot Curl figure) with some generic Cragar style mags replacing the Halibrand smoothies of the original (that dated back to the sedan issue.)

Edited February 13, 2021 by Dave Darby

[Danno]

Here are some very cob-webbed gray matter cells trying to work together:  Didn't the '28 Ford Tudor sedan kit actually originate as a special run for distribution to Ford dealers only, prior to this public issue?  Seems to my recollection that the kit was highly sought after.  It was in a box much plainer than retail sales boxes. As a result of the clamoring demand, this kit was released (but later). 

Feel free to jump in or jump on me, correct away if my memory is skewed.

??

[Casey]

3 hours ago, Mark said:

The Ford roadster pickup was probably intended to be in that Blue Ribbon series (which turned out to be a series of one). 

Thanks, Mark.

[Casey]

10 hours ago, larman said:

They made a '28 Ford Pickup

I was trying to keep things strictly related to the Blue Ribbon Rods '32 Chevy, and Mark answered my question. There's an existing topic discussing the MPC '28 Ford, so I didn't want to delve any deeper into that subject here:

 

[Mark]

2 hours ago, Danno said:

Here are some very cob-webbed gray matter cells trying to work together:  Didn't the '28 Ford Tudor sedan kit actually originate as a special run for distribution to Ford dealers only, prior to this public issue?  Seems to my recollection that the kit was highly sought after.  It was in a box much plainer than retail sales boxes. As a result of the clamoring demand, this kit was released (but later). 

Feel free to jump in or jump on me, correct away if my memory is skewed.

??

That was the AMT '32 Victoria.

[Dave Darby]

6 minutes ago, Mark said:

That was the AMT '32 Victoria.

Like Mark said, along with the 25 Model T (with stock height coupe roof), the 32 Ford Roadster, and the 36 Ford. The 28 Model A sedan was an MPC tool that, like the 65 Dodge Coronet was sold under the AMT label. 

[Danno]

8 minutes ago, Mark said:

That was the AMT '32 Victoria.

Ahhh. Thanks, Mark.  Well, dusty old gray matter was somewhat close!

 

We now return this thread to Casey's previously scheduled program, already in progress.

??

[Danno]

Thank you, too, Dave.  You've reminded me of the MPC connection, too.

 

We now return this thread to Casey's previously scheduled program, already in progress.

??

[Force]

Well I did my comments based on the information at the Scalemates website.
They have the AMT 1928 kit dated 1964 and show no relation to the MPC kits, the MPC 1929 Woody 1962, the 1928 Pickup 1965, The Wild Ones 1929 Woody/Pickup 1966 and the 1928 Street Rod pickup 1978, the 1929 4'n1 kit 1987 and the BC 1929 Woody/Pickup 4'n1 version 2001.
So Scalemates is a decent source of information but not that accurate all the time since the timelines and kit relations often are off.

[Greg Myers]

kinda like looking for something on the interweb, just meanders off in all directions. MPC vs AMT '32 Chevrolet ??

[Dave Darby]

57 minutes ago, Force said:

Well I did my comments based on the information at the Scalemates website.
They have the AMT 1928 kit dated 1964 and show no relation to the MPC kits, the MPC 1929 Woody 1962, the 1928 Pickup 1965, The Wild Ones 1929 Woody/Pickup 1966 and the 1928 Street Rod pickup 1978, the 1929 4'n1 kit 1987 and the BC 1929 Woody/Pickup 4'n1 version 2001.
So Scalemates is a decent source of information but not that accurate all the time since the timelines and kit relations often are off.

Scalemates is rarely correct.

[Snake45]

Would be great to see Round 2 tool up a new Sedan Delivery body and then reissue this one. 

[Force]

2 hours ago, Dave Darby said:

Scalemates is rarely correct.

You are right about that.
Even if it has lots of good information the website is confusing as some information is missing some are totally wrong.
I only have the BC version of the Woody/Pickup and the 1978 version, so I know that information is correct, the other ones I don't have.