surprised there has'nt been a any topics about this kit yet.

[gasman03]

its AMT very limited reissue of MPC's 1980 Monte Carlo kit, the kit is dying to have some 100 spoke daytons and hydrolics. if yea want one, better get it now, I luckly got the last one my local HS had, and all the places I checked have sold out of the ones they where able to sell, BTW, there will be a review of it by me soon

[SonyMobile]

I saw that posted on Lay It Low, looks like a nice kit, just wish I would have ordered a few while Dennis at model express had them, I dont know if he still does or not, I imagine they sold out pretty quick, apparently it comes with a trailor and a chopper?

[SpoonMan Dos]

Looking forward to your review, and this completed.

[mike@af]

I can see why no one has said anything about this kit.

[935k3]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

I can see why no one has said anything about this kit.

I am with you on this one. That is one boring car and the real car was made at a time when American cars were of dubious quality. I just don't get the interest in this car, an earlier 72 version would be more interesting.

[willimo]

Hm... it looks like it shares its body with the Buick Riviera (I think). Wasn't that offered turbocharged and intercooled from the factory? Forgive me, I am not very familiar with that era of American iron.

Edit: I meant Regal. Like I said... not too familiar with these.

[Vric]

very limited ?

I seen this one for many year on every Hobbyshop

[Jay!]

What's RCHTA stand for?

[GvEman]

I know that the real car is actualy like 4 cars... pntiac and chevy hadd the same chasi and stuf... but i do not know...

[simdel1]

Originally Posted by jay@af

What's RCHTA stand for?

a very quick google search produced this:

rchta.org

and combined with this quote from the description of an ertl 1:18 corvette model also badged a 'rchta show special' or something...

Commemorates the 2002 International Model & Hobby Show held in Rosemont, IL.

i think it might commemorate the 2003 show of the same name. maybe.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by 935k3

I am with you on this one. That is one boring car and the real car was made at a time when American cars were of dubious quality. I just don't get the interest in this car, an earlier 72 version would be more interesting.

I'm with you on the basic styling of the Monte, which is a far cry from 1970-1972 when it looked really good. But then again, I preferred the Grand Prix, the GTO, and the Cutlass over the Monte Carlos of that era. AMT has had a very good '70 Monte Carlo on the shelves for a long time, only recently has it become scarce.

But by the late 70's, GM cars were pretty reliable...the first round of downsized full-size cars in '77 and the mid-size cars in '78 were pretty well designed/engineered for the time period. I had a '78 Pontiac Grand Am coupe (my parents owned it from '78 to '84), very similar underneath to the Monte Carlo, but with improved suspension and steering. The Pontiac's quality was a good deal higher than any Ford or Chrysler that were cross-shopped, it replaced a miserably unreliable Audi 100 LS. My '76 Subaru was a farm implement by comparison. The Pontiac handled amazingly well, and was the most silent riding car I had ever been in. It looked a hell of a lot better than the Monte Carlo, and the Pontiac Grand Am was quite rare even when new. The Cutlass from this era was the best selling car for a long time.

This car shares nothing w/a Riviera which was a full-size car. This car was similar to a Buick Regal and Century, which you could get with a turbo-the very first turbo 3.8/231cid engines from Buick which later pumped out gobs of power in the Grand National and GNX. It's also similar to the Pontiac Grand Prix, Grand Am, LeMans, Chevrolet Malibu, Olds Cutlass. There were coupe chassis and sedan and wagon chassis as well. El Caminos ran the wagon chassis.

This kit has never been reissued, and has sold out it's run of 4000 in well under a month. Somebody wanted 'em. This is not the 1/24 Monogram SS which has been available for eons, which must be what Vric is referring to. The only time this kit (originally MPC) was on the shelves was for the '79 version (called Wheeler Dealer, see what they go for on eBay), and updated in '80. After that, gone. These kits were annuals. Something that isn't done anymore. Lindberg may be making a hopper Monte Carlo, but I don't pay attention to toys like that. Lowrider fans much prefer cars like this w/some chrome vs. the SS w/all the plastic body-colored cladding.

Jay, RCHTA is the old name of the fall hobby show, once called Radio Control and Hobby Trade Association, or something to that effect. This kit was available as a pre-order for distributors from the September '03 RCHTA (it's not really called that anymore) show in Chicago. Nobody could order more than 180 of the kits, and the kits at the mail-order discounters have pretty much dried up already. I'm sure Hobbytown will have 'em at full retail (choke). Add the fact that the kit has a very cool chopper and trailer, and you can see why there is interest.

[dag65]

Originally Posted by Vric

very limited ?

I seen this one for many year on every Hobbyshop

Recently reissued in a limited special edition run.

[tonioseven]

I have mine tucked away safely!!

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by tonioseven

I have mine tucked away safely!!

Me too!

Three of 'em.

Ten bucks apiece, not a bad deal.

Need one for stock, one for a Perry's Malibu coupe, and one for a scratchbuilding concept for a late 70's Seville (same roof and trunkline). Who knows if that'll ever get off the ground?!

[tonioseven]

I was supposed to get 2 of them but only got 1