1/25 AMT '69 Cougar Eliminator

[tim boyd]

Thanks everyone for your feedback on that '69 Cougar XR7 build....it was a fun build for me. Best Regards....TIM

[fseva]

Frank...sounds like your mind is made up...

I'm not saying it never happens, but I can definitively say it's never happened to me.

Tim, the long and the short of it is that even if I could show you an instance in which I expected to see a negative comment that did not show up in one of your SA reviews, it wouldn't change your mind about this issue. You and me are not the ones who ultimately make these kinds of decisions anyway. But it matters not, and I won't be losing any sleep over it. I will simply use other methods to find the info I need. And SA will survive because that's what they do best. Who cares? Life is too short!

[Fat Brian]

The reason these old kits don't get really negative reviews is that most of us know what to expect and don't evaluate them based on current kit quality. I can understand a person new to the hobby who is just shopping at Hobby Lobby or Michael's and just by the luck of the draw has only bought a few newly tooled kits would open this kit or one of similar vintage a be taken aback a little. Most reviews of these older reissues do mention the kit is an old tool and has some short comings but they don't blow them up because we don't hold them to as high a standard in the first place. The best thing to do is do some research about a kits history so you know what to expect, just because it's old doesn't mean it's necessarily bad.

[Rodent]

What was the last version of the kit that had XR-7 badges? The countdown? I thought I had 2 versions in my stash, but I can't find them. I may have sold them off a few years ago. IIRC, I had a countdown and the first Eliminator version at one time.

[Bob Ellis]

This is the last AMT '69 Cougar kit with XR7 trim . It was issued some time around 1980 with Matchbox / AMT at lastly as ERTL / AMT about 1982 or 1983. No custom parts and a hole through the hood. Had a Boss engine maybe from the Pinto kit.

Some of the AMT Countdowns were issued as AMT, Matchbox AMT, and even ERTL AMT. The '69 Cougar did not become a Matchbox or ERTL Countdown kit.

I think after the above kit disappeared in the early '80s with XR7 details, it went in hiding until the ERTL Eliminator and 428 Cougar kit about 1991. They fixed the hole in the hood and replaced the engines.

Edited March 13, 2015 by Bob Ellis

[unclescott58]

I maybe in a minority here, but I'd like to see the kit converted back to an XR-7.

Scott

[Edsel-Dan]

I would actually like that too

Especially if they returned the original engine and exhaust system.

[Rodent]

Thanks guys. I was very confused last night when I dove into the stash looking for the two Cougars that I thought I had. If I was to build one,it would be an XR-7 as a tribute car to the one a family friend had when I was a wee rodent.

I haven't seen the later releases, but I suspect that they all still have the XR-7 interior.

[Can-Con]

Thanks guys. I was very confused last night when I dove into the stash looking for the two Cougars that I thought I had. If I was to build one,it would be an XR-7 as a tribute car to the one a family friend had when I was a wee rodent.

I haven't seen the later releases, but I suspect that they all still have the XR-7 interior.

No, it's not the same. The interior was changed when the new engine was added

[Rodent]

No, it's not the same. The interior was changed when the new engine was added

Ugh. Seems like that would have been a lot of work for the likes of Ertl.

[unclescott58]

No, it's not the same. The interior was changed when the new engine was added

Any pictures of the interiors? I too am surprised that Ertl would have done that change to this kit. I'm not doubting you Steve, it just would be interesting to see the differences. I only have an Eliminator, so I have no way of comparing the two.

Scott

[Can-Con]

They went from this style , same as the original kit,,

To this,,

It's after midnight here now but I'll take a couple pics of the kit parts and post them tomorrow.

[Can-Con]

Not sure how well you'll be able to see the unpainted white interior from the Eliminator but here's the pics.

The white one is from the Eliminator, of corse and the tan one is from the '70s "street machine" version XR-7.

They deleted the console from the newer interior, also added a clock to the passenger side of the dash board that's not on the original.

[Snake45]

Oh yeah, the difference is obvious. I have an old builtup annual I was gonna try to photograph but your pics make the point perfectly.

Amazing that AMT went to the effort to retool the interior.

[Bob Ellis]

You have to give it to ERTL for going the extra mile. I didn't realize how well the altered the interior.

If you want an XR7, you have to find an old kit.

[Dave Darby]

Now that's the kind of healthy attitude I was hoping to find here! And I hope that if I say something that seems to be "whining", that the forum in general won't jump all over me and make me feel like I don't belong here. That is not healthy and it's one that will eventually discourage open discussions.

I think the issue that set folks off (and I'm sorry, I realize this is an old thread). is when you started accusing Round2 of trying to rip people off. The model car industry is not the big corporations with large budgets it was 55 years ago. You may be surprised to learn that most of them have well fewer than 50 employees, In fact I believe Round2 has fewer than 10. It costs northerly of 200,000 dollars to cut a new tool, plus create box art, and new instructions. And you know what? Chances are, if someone did do a new Cougar, the body probably wouldn't be as nice as the kit you were complaining so loudly about. Round2 puts an awful lot of effort into its re-issues, Nobody there is getting rich, but they are making a lot of historic model kits available to us, at the lowest price point they can afford to sell them for. If all of the big box stores were still buying cases of model kits, the prices would be lower, but they aren't. That is why kits cost as much as they do today. It's not gouging. It's survival. So before you come in with guns blazing about the latest rip-off old tool model kit being "foisted on us" take a deep breath, and do a little research. Remember, tone is everything.  BTW, I built a copy of that Cougar for AMT about 22 years ago, and I thought it was a really nice looking kit. (You can see it below.)

[Sledsel]

if you do not want the scoop, the hood is a pain because the plug is very thin.

Also, the later kits the seats need reclined a little, or the front shimmed up.

Builds to a good looking model though.

[Bob Ellis]

A lot of the changes in the 69 Cougar kit occurred 25 years ago under ERTL, so Round2 had nothing to do with it. They made improvements where the could such as tires.

I would like to see a 1970 Cougar from this kit, but then people would complain that they ruined the 1969?

[Snake45]

On 3/10/2015 at 12:04 PM, Pete L. said:

Fellas,

 

I want to know if anyone will release the Dyno Don "Super Cat" drag car decals along with his Pro Stock Cougar decals ??? I haven't seen many pics of the ProStocker, I wonder if there was ever a magazine article on the car ?

There's some info on the "Pro Stock" (not really) Cougar in the Dyno Don book. It was a prototype for a proposed limited production run of Boss 429 Cougars that never happened. They gave it to Nicholson to play with on the 1969 match race circuit. He couldn't get the Boss 429 to run the way he wanted, so replaced the engine with a tried and true SOHC 427 (and not with Mercury's blessing). The car still wasn't a big winner for him, and he didn't like it much, and eventually went back to a '65 A/FX-builit Mustang which he campaigned in A/MP and on the match circuit. I don't think this Cougar was ever campaigned as a real Pro Stock (which debuted in early 1970).  I'd still love to do a model of it, though, as it's hellacool looking, and it wouldn't be hard to do if anyone would make the Eliminator stripe decals in that yellow-orange. 

[Pete L.]

Quote

Snake, Thanks for the info on the Dyno Don's Cougar !!!

 

 

[Bob Ellis]

MPC did a bunch of odd stuff. 69 Coronet called Mission Impossible. 69 Cougar called Super Cat. 70 Impala called Bat Machine. Round 2 could Make a 70 Cougar without killing their 69.

[Rob Hall]

I wonder what became of the MPC '70 tooling..I have unbuilt MPC '69, '70 ht, and '70 cnv in my stash..

[Snake45]

12 minutes ago, Bob Ellis said:

MPC did a bunch of odd stuff. 69 Cougar called Super Cat. 

That was a real car, a promotional giveaway deal involving Don Nicholson and Car Craft magazine. There are pics of it in the Dyno Don book (and, of course, in the old CC magazines). 

[vamach1]

At least they are not bringing back Palmer kits.    With any of these older reissues I expect an old kit in a new box with new decals and better tires and fresh chrome.  No more no less.

[Bob Ellis]

The palmer Owens boat with twin Evinrudes is decent