History of the Monogram/Revell 1/24 37 Ford Street Rod Kits
Aug 5, 2023 17:19:46 GMT -5
via mobile
HotRodTom likes this
Post by kenny on Aug 5, 2023 17:19:46 GMT -5
Monogram when it was still an independent company introduced a super duper neato “1/24 Fat Fendered 37 Ford Street Rod” Tudor Sedan Kit in 1987. Molded in Orange, with a stockish transverse beam sprung front axle & wishbone, optional louvered hood & hood sides in addition to a stock looking hood option. Power train was a very 80’s billet blinged out SB Chevy, auto trans, and corvette IRS that carried over through all variations of this kit to the present day. I could argue there have been 4 or 5 or 6 distinct issues/revisions of this kit, ignoriing just plastic color or box art. 3 different body styles. .
1. First we have the original Monogram sedan kit that existed from 87-94, molded in orange. There are a few parts unique to the 87-94 molded in orange sedan kit. Mainly the 80’s looking pinwheel wheels, louvered hood & hood sides option, frame to easily use the front beam axle, and chrome mufflers. Interesting trivia even though the original 1987 boxart shows a vintage style round side mirror, this version only had modern fad flag style side mirrors.
2. In 1994 shortly after the R/M merger we got the “Revell” “Convertible” (-sic cabriolet) version molded in blue.
Lots of new parts, new cabriolet body, fabric uptop, unique 90’s interior, unique dashboard, oval aircleaner, custom taillights (kinda resemble 40 Ford taillights but not really), trailer hitch & trailer. Permanently revised wheels: goodbye 80’s pinwheels, hello 90’s fad wheels lol. Also all new independent front suspension, although that came at the expense of the louvered hood & sides option. I love getting new parts, but I mourn losing old ones. Very interesting and cool: the dropped I beam front axle, spring, and wishbone are still on the trees but the frame was permanently altered to prevent easily using those old parts. Another permanent alteration to the tool, in place of the chrome mufflers we got small round vintage style chrome side mirrors and a second set of windshield wipers. They also made the carburetor permanently taller maybe for clearance of the oval aircleaner but that aircleaner hasn’t been seen since the cabriolet version.
3. In or about 2000 we got the “Revell” Coupe kit molded in white.
I really like this issue because it is molded in white and I believe only added parts without permanently deleting any old ones. New parts included Cragar S/S wheels, Coupe body and another 90’s dated unique interior. The rest of the kit is pretty much the Sedan kit as permanently modified in 1994.
3.1 Around 2007 we got the “Revell” “Rod & Custom” coupe kit molded in white. Not really a full blown unique variation but it does have unique parts easily transferred to any of the other kits.
Included is everything in the 2000 Coupe kit with the *added* options of low profile “California wheels” type wheels/tires, further dropped front spindles & IRS, and an optional corvette style TPI fuel injection setup for the small block Chevy.
4. The Revell –or- Revell/Monogram –or- Monogram Classic Cruiser Sedan kit post 1994.
Molded in red or white. We get the sedan kit but with the tooling as permanently modified in 1994. IFS frame, no louvered hood option, 90s vs 80s style fad wheels. This one does have the small round vintage looking chrome mirrors that were added in 1994, just not called out in the instructions.
4.1 There is another issue of the post ‘94 sedan with no unique plastic parts but includes a cardboard backdrop of a retro drive-in restaurant. Although its just cheesy cardboard, the artwork is cool.
I’m certainly not an official kit historian, just an occasional builder and kit part variations geek. Please chime in with any additions or corrections to the above. Tell us if you have favorites from this series or share your buildups.
1. First we have the original Monogram sedan kit that existed from 87-94, molded in orange. There are a few parts unique to the 87-94 molded in orange sedan kit. Mainly the 80’s looking pinwheel wheels, louvered hood & hood sides option, frame to easily use the front beam axle, and chrome mufflers. Interesting trivia even though the original 1987 boxart shows a vintage style round side mirror, this version only had modern fad flag style side mirrors.
2. In 1994 shortly after the R/M merger we got the “Revell” “Convertible” (-sic cabriolet) version molded in blue.
Lots of new parts, new cabriolet body, fabric uptop, unique 90’s interior, unique dashboard, oval aircleaner, custom taillights (kinda resemble 40 Ford taillights but not really), trailer hitch & trailer. Permanently revised wheels: goodbye 80’s pinwheels, hello 90’s fad wheels lol. Also all new independent front suspension, although that came at the expense of the louvered hood & sides option. I love getting new parts, but I mourn losing old ones. Very interesting and cool: the dropped I beam front axle, spring, and wishbone are still on the trees but the frame was permanently altered to prevent easily using those old parts. Another permanent alteration to the tool, in place of the chrome mufflers we got small round vintage style chrome side mirrors and a second set of windshield wipers. They also made the carburetor permanently taller maybe for clearance of the oval aircleaner but that aircleaner hasn’t been seen since the cabriolet version.
3. In or about 2000 we got the “Revell” Coupe kit molded in white.
I really like this issue because it is molded in white and I believe only added parts without permanently deleting any old ones. New parts included Cragar S/S wheels, Coupe body and another 90’s dated unique interior. The rest of the kit is pretty much the Sedan kit as permanently modified in 1994.
3.1 Around 2007 we got the “Revell” “Rod & Custom” coupe kit molded in white. Not really a full blown unique variation but it does have unique parts easily transferred to any of the other kits.
Included is everything in the 2000 Coupe kit with the *added* options of low profile “California wheels” type wheels/tires, further dropped front spindles & IRS, and an optional corvette style TPI fuel injection setup for the small block Chevy.
4. The Revell –or- Revell/Monogram –or- Monogram Classic Cruiser Sedan kit post 1994.
Molded in red or white. We get the sedan kit but with the tooling as permanently modified in 1994. IFS frame, no louvered hood option, 90s vs 80s style fad wheels. This one does have the small round vintage looking chrome mirrors that were added in 1994, just not called out in the instructions.
4.1 There is another issue of the post ‘94 sedan with no unique plastic parts but includes a cardboard backdrop of a retro drive-in restaurant. Although its just cheesy cardboard, the artwork is cool.
I’m certainly not an official kit historian, just an occasional builder and kit part variations geek. Please chime in with any additions or corrections to the above. Tell us if you have favorites from this series or share your buildups.
It's an interweb thing.....