MPC 64-67 Vette

[Modlbldr]

So, I got a built up Vette from a friend who bought it at a yard sale for me. It needs a couple of parts. I thought it was the Streaker Vette but looking at the Streaker on the net it has 5 hole kidney bean wheels. My kit has 4 hole wheels with a tiny hole or divot between the kidney bean holes on each wheel. Could this be the MPC 64 Vette?

I am missing the hood and one front tire and wheel. I would like to post a request for parts in the Wanted section but I want to know what kit to ask for parts from. Any help identifying this kit would be great. It is molded in white plastic, if this helps.

Later-

Edited March 30, 2014 by Modlbldr

[Modlbldr]

After looking through some more photos online I believe it is the MPC Golden Wheels 67 Corvette. Can anyone confirm that kit having 4 hole kidney bean style wheels? I still can't get a clear view of the wheels in that kit.

Later-

Edited March 31, 2014 by Modlbldr

[Monty]

Nobody has a MPC 64 Corvette that can confirm the kit came with 4 hole kidney bean style wheels?

Later-

The MPC '64 Vette is a pretty rare kit, but I believe the best way to tell it from the AMT kit is to look at the chassis. The MPC chassis is fairly detailed and IIRC had actual metal coil springs as part of the front suspension, whereas the AMT '63 kit was stuck with a 2-wire-axle promo-type chassis with pretty much everything molded in. I've never seen an actual AMT '64 Corvette chassis, but it's highly unlikely that they retooled it much, if at all.

If you don't mind an educated guess from someone who's been in the hobby for over 40 years, the 4 hole kidney bean wheels are most likely from an AMT kit. The small divots you describe are also on many of their 5-slot wheels; I'm told it's a molding issue. For a while there, they were sticking them in everything from street rods to Corvettes. I hated the look of those 4 slot wheels (to this day I've never seen a 1:1 car with them on it) and I never bought any of the kits that had them.

I hope something I wrote will prove helpful in identifying what you have.

[pack rat]

had actual metal coil springs as part of the front suspension

The MPC '64 has steerable wheels and separate coil springs, but the springs are plastic. Not sure when they started using the metal springs.

[Monty]

The MPC '64 has steerable wheels and separate coil springs, but the springs are plastic. Not sure when they started using the metal springs.

Well, now I'm curious. My info came from an article about George Toteff (MPC founder) by one of the hobby's better-informed writers.* He said Toteff wanted MPC's first kit (the '64 'Vette) to be leagues above anything the competition had in terms of detail - hence the metal coil springs. I can't seem to find anything definitive about the MPC '64, but I did find this about the Mako Shark they released in 1966:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MPC-Corvette-Mako-Shark-Plastic-Model-Car-Kit-Vintage-1-25-500-200-/151161081074

Kit #500-200 issued in 1966.

Original kit included: hinged roof opens, independent rear axle, authentic treaded vinyl Indy tires, head rests, optional rear window (clear or louvered), full front end swings open, working front end suspension (with actual metal springs), one-piece hollow tires, front wheels turn, 25-piece transport trailer (with operating hinged loading ramp), disc brakes, retractable rear bumper and 427 engine.

MPC didn't seem to update these chassis very often, which might explain why the metal springs were stil in the '74-ish kits.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1975-MPC-Model-Corvette-Kit-1-7506-Corvette-Looks-Complete-/331160378052

While they look neat when done correctly, I'm guessing I wasn't the only young builder who thought the metal springs made assembling the front suspension much more of a PITA than necessary.

* The name escapes me at the moment, but he's recognized as an authority on model history.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Monty

[Modlbldr]

After looking through some more photos online I believe it is the MPC Golden Wheels 67 Corvette. Can anyone confirm that kit having 4 hole kidney bean style wheels? I still can't get a clear view of the wheels in that kit.

Later-

[pack rat]

Well, now I'm curious. My info came from an article about George Toteff (MPC founder) by one of the hobby's better-informed writers.* He said Toteff wanted MPC's first kit (the '64 'Vette) to be leagues above anything the competition had in terms of detail - hence the metal coil springs.

I'm curious too. I always assumed the '64 had metal springs until I purchased one last year. The springs are plastic and the lower A arms are molded together as one piece with no provision to pivot.

I have an incomplete '66 with separate A arms that looks like it had the metal springs (springs and instructions are missing). Looks like the metal springs were introduced in '65 or '66. I know someone who has a '65 for sale that I'll be seeing this week....I'll have to check it out (I'll probably end up buying it..LOL)

[Mark]

The MPC '64 Corvette had a steerable front end, but not the working suspension. That was added to the 1965 kit. The coil springs were molded plastic for '65 and '66, and changed to metal for '67. The reissue '67 kits (Streaker 'Vette, Night Stalker) use the '64 chassis with the molded-in exhaust detail removed. MPC '64 and '65 kits are not 100% stock; no stock wheels are included.

The '68 kit was all new; its chassis was used in MPC Corvette annual kits through 1977 but the metal springs were eliminated after the '75 annual kits. '78-'82 annual kit chassis are very similar to the '76-'77 but the parts are different; MPC tooled an all-new kit for '78, the chassis has the correct small-block engine and catalytic converter exhaust. The later chassis is a good swap to correct '75-'77 kits, rather than searching out an engine and scratching the exhaust system.

[ToyLvr]

The MPC '64 Corvette had a steerable front end, but not the working suspension. That was added to the 1965 kit. The coil springs were molded plastic for '65 and '66, and changed to metal for '67. The reissue '67 kits (Streaker 'Vette, Night Stalker) use the '64 chassis with the molded-in exhaust detail removed. MPC '64 and '65 kits are not 100% stock; no stock wheels are included.

The '68 kit was all new; its chassis was used in MPC Corvette annual kits through 1977 but the metal springs were eliminated after the '75 annual kits. '78-'82 annual kit chassis are very similar to the '76-'77 but the parts are different; MPC tooled an all-new kit for '78, the chassis has the correct small-block engine and catalytic converter exhaust. The later chassis is a good swap to correct '75-'77 kits, rather than searching out an engine and scratching the exhaust system.

I agree with Mark's assessment. Although I don't have the MPC '64 Vette (wish I did!) in my collection, I do have an example of '69 through '76, and Mark's info is correct.

I also have an unbuilt '64 AMT Vette kit, and I can tell you that it's definitely the old "screw bottom chassis" design that uses metal axles and has limited detail.

See attached photo of the AMT '64 kit for comparison.

Edited April 1, 2014 by ToyLvr

[Modlbldr]

Ok. Let me try to get this back on the topic of post #2. I believe this is the kit I have.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/191082326878?nav=SEARCH

The chassis pan has MPC molded on the inside of the gas tank area. It is molded in white plastic.

Now. Here comes MY question. Does anyone know if THIS kit has the 4 hole wheels? I am not asking about an AMT kit, or about metal springs.

Sorry if I offended anyone. Thanks for any help.

Later-

[Monty]

That particlular kit is probably from the '80s based on its Centerline wheels.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQvp_DnMoS6XhGyhN7sLqj3Bc3CeGAzIi2MRdPNnJRlpPpVAN_j

MPC had a couple other '67 'Vettes (The Streaker & The Night Stalker) but neither had the wheels you're asking about. I assume MPC did a '67 annual, but I can't find anything on one.

I brought up the AMT wheels because I've never seen any MPC wheels with 4 kidney bean-type holes. Let's see if Mark B will check in again. He's got an encyclopedic knowledge of this stuff.

[Modlbldr]

Thanks for that, Monty. I appreciate the help.

Later-

[pack rat]

Does anyone know if THIS kit has the 4 hole wheels?

Later-

Sorry about wandering off-topic Tom. I have that kit and it has chrome-plated five-hole Centerlines like the pic Monty posted, with the holes not molded open. The back of the gas tank is blank...but my Streaker Vette has "MPC Mt Clemens Mich" molded to the back of the tank.

Like Monty, I'm puzzled about the 4-hole wheels. Maybe someone did some parts-swapping back in the day?

[Mark]

Those four-hole wheels were probably from some AMT kit. I've never seen them in anything from MPC. The MPC Streaker 'Vette has nice five slot wheels, I believe the Night Stalker issues have Centerlines (there were two Night Stalkers; they may have different wheels from one another). A ton of AMT kits had the four-slots: '65 Chevelle Modified Stocker, '72 GMC stepside, '34 Ford three-window coupe, '23 Ford roadster, and a bunch of others I can't remember offhand.

[Modlbldr]

Thanks for all the help guys. Sorry about getting my panties in a bunch.

I guess it must have been a case of parts swapping. I guess I'll have to find a set of the 5 holes from the Streaker Vette or I may need to use a set of the stock 67 wheel covers from my new Revell 67. Anyone have a spare hood they aren't using that they would like to trade?

I've been looking at colors for it and I'm thinking either Goodwood green, Lynndale blue or Elkhart blue.

Later-

Edited April 2, 2014 by Modlbldr

[Monty]

Thanks for all the help guys. Sorry about getting my panties in a bunch.

I guess it must have been a case of parts swapping. I guess I'll have to find a set of the 5 holes from the Streaker Vette or I may need to use a set of the stock 67 wheel covers from my new Revell 67. Anyone have a spare hood they aren't using that they would like to trade?

I've been looking at colors for it and I'm thinking either Goodwood green, Lynndale blue or Elkhart blue.

Later-

MPC paired their big & little 5-slots up on a lot of cars. Here's a souce for those that you may not have thought of:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MPC-32-FORD-SWITCHERS-SEDAN-PHAETON-olde-issue-many-versions-possible-/191119382032?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item2c7f9a5610

If you can't find them anywhere else, this kit has the 5-slots you want.

Here's that same set in resin made by a member of this board and a great guy to deal with. If you don't mind spraying some Alclad or sending the wheels off to be plated, this might be the way to go:

http://scenesunlimited.homestead.com/Wheels.html (Look under Ansen/Fenton)

Lastly, if you just have to have those ugly four-slot wheels, he offers them in white resin as well.

(Look under Drag Racing)

HTH

Edited April 3, 2014 by Monty