Archie's car

[unclescott58]

This showed up in another post.

Didn't Aurora make a kit of Archie's car at one time? I think the kit also came with models of Archie, Veronica, and Hot Dog, besides the car. From what I rememember, I don't think Archie's car was normally this cool in the comics, or in model form, as seen on the cover above?

Scott

[unclescott58]

Here's a few more Archie covers I'd like to share.

Interesting to note, in recent years Archie gave up his jalopy and moved to a Mustang.

Scott

Edited September 7, 2014 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

Okay, now I went hunting on line to see if I could find anything on the Aurora model model kit I remembered. Very little out there. But here is what I found.

Wow! It does not look good. I understand this was aimed at kids. But even as a kid I would not have been happy with this.

I wonder what kit would make decent model of Archie's car? The one that comes to mind is AMT's '27 T touring car. Yet that doesn't quite seem right. I've always assumed that Archie's car was more of a Model A. Anybody else got any ideas?

Scott

[rmvw guy]

Neat stuff but, I don't have a clue. Thanks for starting this one, hope to see more.

[mnwildpunk]

On a side note just like every comic book character they killed off Archie

[ChrisBcritter]

Yeah - looks like Tyler Perry's Madea did it:

Brilliant web design there...

[Dave Van]

The first cover car is more like this....a Monogram Ford

[Chuck Most]

What Dave said- I'd have to say the Monogram Model A Phaeton would be the one to start with.

[unclescott58]

The first cover car is more like this....a Monogram Ford

Does Monogram still offer this kit guys? I thinking I may have to do a model of Archie's car.

Scott

Edited September 7, 2014 by unclescott58

[rasafyff]

I think the first picture looks like it has a chrome 32 Ford grille.I would use the MPC Switchers 32 Ford phaeton. It already has a supercharged V-8 and slotted wheels.

It shouldn't be hard to find that style of blower scoop.

Also,the car looks like it has an updated/modern rear axle.Which the Switchers 32 Ford has.

You could use the headers/side pipes from the Switchers 25 Ford T.

I guess you could get the rear fenders from the Revell 26 Ford.

[Chuck Most]

Does Monogram still offer this kit guys? I thinking I may have to do a model of Archie's.

Scott

I don't know if it's still in production, but it was reissued as a Revell kit not too long ago, so you should have no trouble tracking one down.

[ZTony8]

The old Monogram '30 Model A touring kit (with the multiple variations)would be closer.Just try to find one at less than predatory pricing.

Edited September 4, 2014 by ZTony8

[disabled modeler]

Its always cool to see these oddball kits that were out at one time.

[Brett Barrow]

I don't know if it's still in production, but it was reissued as a Revell kit not too long ago, so you should have no trouble tracking one down.

Kit # 85-4242, was issued around 2009, but isn't currently in the lineup. Shouldn't be too hard to find. This kit is also a source for the popular "Guide" aftermarket headlights.

Edited September 4, 2014 by Brett Barrow

[unclescott58]

I think the first picture looks like it has a chrome 32 Ford grille.I would use the MPC Switchers 32 Ford phaeton. It already has a supercharged V-8 and slotted wheels.

It shouldn't be hard to find that style of blower scoop.

Also,the car looks like it has an updated/modern rear axle.Which the Switchers 32 Ford has.

You could use the headers/side pipes from the Switchers 25 Ford T.

I guess you could get the rear fenders from the Revell 26 Ford.

That one cover is the only time I've seen Archie's car look anything close to a '32 (at least with a '32 grille shell) or with a supercharger (much less a V8). If you read Archie comic books like I did as a kid (I had 2 sisters, so we got lots of Archie comic books in the 60's), you knew Archie was always broke. And could barely afford to keep his "jalopy" running. Much less turn it into a hot rod. So, for now I'm leaning more to Dave Van's and Chuck Most's idea of the Model A phaeton.

But, I'm also posting more photo here to get more ideas. The more I think about it. The more I want to do it.

Scott

Edited September 7, 2014 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

In the late 60's there was a very popular Archie's cartoon series. Below are photos of the car from that. This helps explain the Aurora model. Their is no way I'd want to build one looking like that.

Here's a Marx toy based on that.

And cereal premium out at same time. (Did not want the yellow one. Was happy that I got the red one. Wish I had it today.)

Scott

Edited September 7, 2014 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

One last picture. I'm one of those guys who always like Betty better than Veronica. Betty was blonde and more down to earth. And as you can see by this cover, she liked a lot of things guys like. Plus this one again shows Archie's later ride. The Mustang. Which I have no interest in replicating for now. I built a copy of Revell's '65 Mustang convertible not that long ago. I did not paint it red, like Archie's. But, I'm very happy with the results.

Scott

Edited September 7, 2014 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

And one more I found, that I almost forgot to post.

That's it for now.

Scott

Edited September 7, 2014 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

Here is another one I wanted to show earlier.

Scott

* Note: Found out from Tom Geiger tonight (9/6/2014) that this is a McDonalds Happy Meal toy.

Edited September 7, 2014 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

I don't know if it's still in production, but it was reissued as a Revell kit not too long ago, so you should have no trouble tracking one down.

I went to Revell's web site and looked that the instructions for this kit. Other than the V8 and no top down boot. This could make a very convincing model of Archie's car.

Scott

Edited September 7, 2014 by unclescott58

[unclescott58]

Or at least what Archie's car should be.

Scott

[Tom Geiger]

From various artwork it appears Archie's car morphed from a Model T, Model A and even a '32 phaeton... Note that there is no gas cap on the cowl of any of the images! I'd go with Dave Van's version, painted red of course. Just find an image you like and build Archie's car to match it. Kinda like trying to pin down a Nascar car that had decal changes all season.

[unclescott58]

From various artwork it appears Archie's car morphed from a Model T, Model A and even a '32 phaeton... Note that there is no gas cap on the cowl of any of the images! I'd go with Dave Van's version, painted red of course. Just find an image you like and build Archie's car to match it. Kinda like trying to pin down a Nascar car that had decal changes all season.

The more I think about it and look at old comic book art, not just here but in other places. Plus going back to the Archie comic books I read as kid. I'm thinking more and more that AMT's '27 Model T touring car would be more correct than Monogram's Model A. Most of the Archie comics I read were from the late 50's through the late 60's. A late T just looks more right to me, based on that era of the comic book I read.

Now to find the kit.

Scott

Edited September 7, 2014 by unclescott58

[Tom Geiger]

Can't disagree Scott! Archie comics started in 1939. Figure that Model As and '32s were still all over the place as normal cars. The T would've been considered a jalopy back then.

[unclescott58]

Can't disagree Scott! Archie comics started in 1939. Figure that Model As and '32s were still all over the place as normal cars. The T would've been considered a jalopy back then.

And that's what Archie's car was. A jalopy. It was always causing trouble. And the butt of many jokes. Everybody referred to it as a jalopy. And Ts were still everywhere and cheap in 1939. I've heard people tell stories of how common it was to buy old Ts for about $5 just before World War II. They were worth practically nothing at the time. Plus, look at the car on the cover of Archie #2 posted earlier. You can't tell me that's not a Model T.

I would love to hear more opinions like Tom's, pro or con. I'm finding this fun. :^)

Scott

Edited September 6, 2014 by unclescott58