Wouldn't it be cool to see what Tamiya could do with an American muscle car?

I think back in the day when Revell and Monogram, and to a lesser extent AMT and MPC mainly did car kits, they probably had some sort of deal going with the Big Three automakers regarding kits of new cars. Back in the day, there was almost a new car kit for every model year of some of the more popular cars.

Tamiya was likely left out during this time because they mainly did motorized kits and military.

That might have been before the bean counters found out they could make a few extra dollars from the model manufactures for using their cars. Honestly, how much could the auto makers be getting for those rights? Do they not realize that if they forgo that money, the cost of kits goes down and more kids might try building them and thusly brand loyalty is born. Next thing you know is that kid is buying a new car because that's what he built as a kid!

Hey Upsjuan:

     You know you could be on to something. Back in the day when they weren't fashionable I bought my first Rambler American after building a model of the 65 .Neat, Clean and of Course Underpowered .

uspsjuan

That might have been before the bean counters found out they could make a few extra dollars from the model manufactures for using their cars. Honestly, how much could the auto makers be getting for those rights? Do they not realize that if they forgo that money, the cost of kits goes down and more kids might try building them and thusly brand loyalty is born. Next thing you know is that kid is buying a new car because that's what he built as a kid!

 

Back in the day, the model companies also provided those pre-built promo car models for dealerships and banks that provided car loans. They worked hand in hand with the car designers to get their new cars into the public view.

Promo models are a thing of the past and model makers no longer retool this model year to update it to next model year like in the past.

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/the-lost-art-of-the-dealer-promo-model/

Hi Rob;

       The real point I must make is that nowadays , you almost cannot tell one model year from another. So,why bother?

That all depends, most manufacturers work on a 5 year body style. Sometimes if it had lackluster sales, they will end the body style a little early, but if it was popular, they keep it in play for longer. For instance, I drive Subaru Outbacks. They changed the body style in like 2005 from the older version. It was not widely accepted and a totally redesigned body style was introduced in 2010. It's remained virtually unchanged since then. The previous body style was used for around 10 years as well. Shortly after the '05 body style was introduced, someone offered me some crazy money for my '03 in late 2009. I took it into the dealership for routine maintenance and to see what it was worth and they offered me more money than the crazy guy offered me. Then I got my 2010 and loved it even more.

I see the detail on that and and just have to shake my head in disbelief again. Here I am paused in an APC build after launching two clear lenses off into earth orbit and wondering how I am going glue these and the blackout lights on without doing the same. Luckily on these two clear lenses they were supposed to be painted anyway so I can make do with something else.

Getting back to the root discussion. The level of detail in Most of the muscle car kits is lacking. While the body is the correct shape and looks fine. The rest of the car is a complete let down. Engine bay detail is lacking at best. If the car had a full frame, then give me a full separate frame with a suspension that looks like a suspension. It doesn't have to be workable, just be acceptably accurate. On to the interior, Can we sharpen up the detail in there. If they can make an aircraft interior with accurate sharp detail then why not an auto? I would happily pay a premium price for a muscle car made with todays manufacturing standards.

I happen to see this on my Facebook page this morning.  Tamiya is releasing a Ford Mustang GT4 kit.

I saw this too!  Very excited.  I will defintly buy this one - saw a price of $54 somewhere.  I need an extra set of wheels - those are the same wheels I have on my Boss 302 Laguna Seca.  The standard Boss 302 kit from revell has the correct wheels, but I want to do my car - the Laguna Seca edition.

Anyhow - everyone buy these up and maybe Mr Tamiya will build more American race cars.

 

Nice!

I saw this kit after a friend tagged me in a comment about it on Facebook.  I have to admit that this came from way out in left field, like the corner where the foul line, home run post, and fence meet on the ground. I would have thought that they would have done another GT3 car rather than a US spec GT4 racer (the Mustang isn't campained in Europe, whereas the Camaro is). Perhaps if sales are good enough, they'll do the Camaro as well(and hopefully the DTM Crossbow).

As to what UPSJuan was saying about being willing to pay a premium price for a new tool muscle car kit. You and others may be willing to drop 50-60+ bucks on a new muscle car, but the majority of car builders aren't for many reasons. Also the market wouldn't bear it. Lets say Tamiya came out with a 1970 Boss 429 Mustang, and like modern Tamiya stuff it would be beautiful. However, the price point is 55.00. Revell/Germany decides it's time to dust off it's still good but by modern standards, not great 1970 Boss 429. It's price point is 30.00. Which do you think people are going to buy. If you're thinking that can't happen, you're wrong. A number of years back, Trumpeter decided it was going to come out with a modern, recessed panel lines, new tool 1/48 C-47. Monogram decided to re-release it's ancient, but still good 1/48 C-47. The Trumpy kit retailed at 99.00, the Monogram 45.00. I saw one Trumpy C-47 in my LHS at the time, and have never seen one again.  Another problem with the car model market is that it can really only sustain one manufacturer making a certain model, the exception being the Corvette, but even that has been taken over by Revell/Monogram now (AMT and Revell/Monogram both make Vettes up to C6, but AMT did not make a C7).  AMT/MPC are great for nostalgia reasons, but their molds are old and tired for their more popular kits.  Right now the best muscle car molds are the Revell/Monogram and will be unless Moebius decides to go there.  Another problem is that there is no real entry level car kits for beginners that are priced as such. I build 1/72 aircraft and I would have no problem recommending Hobby Boss's easy build kits or Airfix's line of 1/72 WWII fighters. At 10-15 bucks, a parent can take a risk on a kid getting frustrated or bored and not finishing a kit. There is no low buck option in the car world. The snap togethers are just as expensive as the glue kits, and sometimes more frustrating. I was at my lhs years ago and Tamiya had just came out with their Ferrari 360.  I was watching as this 9-10 year old boy fell in love with the car (what kid wouldn't). I knew it would be a difficult kit for a first timer and I asked the mom if it was his first kit. She said it was. I explained to her that I would have some difficulty with that kit and I had been building cars for many years and it was probably best if he started with one of the Revellogram or AMT/MPC offerings. She thanked me as I showed her where they were and left them to it.  Tamiya's niche is that it is for the more experienced modeler, whereas Revell has to make a kit that is simple enough for a beginner to get through relatively unscathed and still hold the more advanced modeler's attention. Outside of it's C6, I don't think AMT/MPC has done a new tool car in at least a decade maybe longer. The good news is that you have a relatively cheap canvas to hone your skills on. Look at the engine that Mustang89 did. You can build the same skills over time. If you think detail is soft on the interior? Get your knives out and learn how to scribe. Buy aor make a set of punches for dials and window cranks.  You think that the detail is soft on the chassis? There are outfits that provide small enough nuts and bolts to add that detail. You don't like the springs or shocks? You can build your own. There is enough knowledge here and elswhere on the web to get you where you want to be as a builder, not just as an assembler.  This is just my opinion of where the car model hobby is at, your mileage may vary.