Cars

When I was younger, I was interested in cars, but mostly older cars like those from the 50’s and 60’s. That’s what I remember being taught about by my Uncle, mostly. However, as I was growing up in the 1980s, all I can remember being surrounded by were rusting 70’s hulks and these lame front-wheel-drive excuses for cars.

They had no power, no style and were a far cry from the cars I got to see at car shows. The seemed weak and worthless.

However, as time has passed, I now see those cars and feel nostalgic. These lame toasters-on-wheels are what my friends’ parents drove, what we rode our bikes around (or into, sometimes…) and used as makeshift snowball barriers. (Don’t tell anyone that, though!) Thus, I have a real thing, now, for cars from the 1980s. It’s broadened a bit since I started building cars, though, and generally you’ll find I build kits of “loser cars”, those that time has chosen to ignore, or that people just don’t seem to know about. It makes for an ecclectic mix indeed.

Oh, yeah, I also like Street Vans. Nothing says late ’70s or early -80’s like those rolling bordellos with the metalflake paint, side pipes and giant murals. You’ll see some of those here too!

Check out the list below for some cars that you might not see too many other places!

Click on the name of the kit (which is hyperlinked) to see a full article on it, with pictures, build history and anything else I think of!

Every kit has a story!

North American and European Cars: (A goodly number of losers among them!)

1/32 Monogram 1982 Ford EXP (told ya, losers…)

1/25 MPC 1982 Ford EXP (because once just wasn’t enough!)

1/25 MPC 1988 Dodge Daytona – the Omni’s, and MPC’s, last blast!

1/24 Monogram 1987 GTA – Poncho’s ultimate 3rd Gen pony car’s first appearance!

1/25 MPC 1979 Chevette Scooter: The most base version of Chevy’s little “econobox that could”! Go Beige or go home!	1/24 Monogram 1985.5 SVO: In Dark Sage (4E) Green, this is the rarest SVO ever produced!	1/24 Revell 1984 Citation X-11 Notchback: Finished in Light Fern Metallic, this X-Car “muscle machine” is one rare beastie.	1/25 MPC 1982 Cavalier: The “sporty” version of Chevy’s long-lived J-Car!
1/25 MPC 1980 Volare Road Runner: The last hurrah for Chrysler’s ’70s-era rear-drivers!	1/25 AMT Ford Probe GT: Ford’s sporty not-a-Mustang from the end of the Automtoive Dark Ages.	1/25 Revell 1964 Fleetside: A classic Chevy workhorse all dressed up fancy-like, and with new shoes to boot!	1/25 MPC 1979 Pinto Cruising Wagon: Econobeater-cool in a street-ready wrapper. Like fake “dollar store” chocolate on wheels!
1/24 Tamiya Sierra XR4i: Ford-of-Europe’s sporty rear-drive coupe. That’s some true ’80s Eurotech right there!	Hawk 1/24 1909 Hupmobile: A true classic of the road, this is an early example of a classic repop!

Japanese Cars: (Some losers, some cool, mostly weird in some way.)

1/24 Tamiya Nissan Skyline 2000RS: The “family” version of Nissan’s vaunted sporty driving machine.	1/24 Tamiya Suzuki Gemma 50 : It’s a blue motor scooter; what else can I say?	1/24 Tamiya 1985 Honda Civic: The all-conquering Civic in all its coal-oil glory!	1/24 AMT 1978 Subaru BRAT: Subaru’s export-only car-truck; take that “Chicken Tax”!
1/32 Arii 1958 Mazda K360: A step up from the “cycle truck”, but not a very big one!

Street Vans: (Don’t come a knockin’…)

Sundance Express: Get your twinkies and Mountain Dew, and flashback to the Vannin’ days!	MPC 1/25 Gold Rush: A massive blast from the past, Gold Rush is MPC’s journey into the Show Rod side of Vannin’!