’83 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
As I alluded to in Joe Dennis’s recent Cutlass post, and following on from Eric’s comment, I enjoy building mainstream versions of ‘fancy’ cars. This is a long-standing thing with me: back in my childhood days I preferred ordinary toy cars rather than specialized ones. In hindsight, I think this was probably because it allowed more scope for my imagination. My imagination goes to some strange places….
Just to clarify what we’re talking about here, this isn’t like building the stock version of a 3-in-1 kit; that’s easy, and I do that a lot. But today’s topic is different, this is converting a one-version-only kit to a different, often more basic version. Sometimes it’s easy, other times it takes a lot more work.
The Cutlass above was a 442, but by some judicious cutting and filling, and the addition of a lot more chrome, it became a passable Cutlass Supreme. Since building it I’ve become aware of a few details that could have been done better, but I’m happy with it. Revell has since spun off another version of the kit, but still no Cutlass Supreme.
’76 Ford Torino
Another example is this Gran Torino. A typical, common seventies American car, but nobody was going to make a model of one. So when Revell brought out the Starsky and Hutch car, I got the first one I saw.
This time I started by lowering the rear suspension. Being a mid-seventies American car, it just had to have a vinyl roof and opera windows. Cutting the windows was a lot of work, as the plastic was unexpectedly thick here. Then it was just a matter of adding the vinyl to the roof, gluing on the side protection strips, and finding some appropriate-looking wheel covers.
’53 BelAir.
Sometimes the modifications are more drastic. This 1953 Chevy sedan was a drag/street car. I lowered the suspension, found some stock wheels (with caps from a ’51), swapped the 409 for a Blue Flame six, upgraded the side trim from 210 to Bel Air, fitted more accurate bumpers (also from a ’51), and carved the missing hood badge from sheet plastic. It’s not perfect, but it has the look I was after.
’40 Ford.
This was a hot rod version of a ’40 Ford pickup. Once upon a time, the kit had offered a stock version as well, but that was before I got into building. I reworked the suspension so it sat level, installed a regular Ford flatty and some wheels and bumpers from a ’40 sedan. Oh, and filed the louvres flat on the hood.
’64 Phoenix.
A bit more bodywork here. This 1964 Dodge was a 330 Ramcharger two-door, with the 426. I decided a conversion to a local Dodge Phoenix was in order. That meant filling and rescribing door lines, adding side trim, and downgrading the engine from a 426 to a regular 383. And going for a nice period two-tone; I remember them in grey with the red flash.
The one thing I didn’t do was convert it to right-hand drive, though I have done that sometimes.
’64 Fairlane.
Sometimes an aftermarket company makes the parts needed for a conversion. This 1964 Fairlane was a Thunderbolt drag car. I reworked the suspension, but the whitewall tyres, wheel covers, un-bulged hood and bench seat are from the Modelhaus.
’66 Chevelle.
When I built this, the only kit of this era Chevelle was a flip-front drag car/street machine. But there was a stock ’70 SS454. How about if I did a chassis swap? How hard could it be? Not hard at all, as it turned out. I cut the fenders separate from the flip-front, glued them in place, filled the hole in the hood, and glued on a cut-down set of valve covers to sort of mimic the fancy hood trim Chevy used. Sort of, as this was about 1980, long before the Internet made researching these things easy.
You might be thinking “Then he’ll have done a flip front ’70!”, and you’d be right, but I don’t have pictures of it.
’66 Chevelle.
Another Chevelle. The wagon kit is a street machine only, but that’s never stopped me.
’70 Maverick.
Another drag car returned to the street. The colour scheme gives you an indication of when I built this. For this one, I just slapped a flattish manifold on the 429 and carved the un-bulged hood from sheet balsa.
’71 Cuda.
This was a Hemi Cuda. I filled the fender vents, added a vinyl roof and wire wheel caps, and dropped in a 318.
’77 Monaco.
This was a police car kit. I just upped it a few trim levels with the side trim and vinyl roof, and did a repaint. Wheel covers from a ’56 Ford looked about right.
’71 Cuda.
To finish by going off-topic, sometimes the imagination takes off. This was another Hemi Cuda kit. I imagined what Chrysler Australia might have done if they’d been handed the job of selling the Cuda. I fitted a resin Hemi Six in E49 tune, rearranged the graphics, and changed it to right-hand drive. You might wonder at the Olds wheels, but they look just like Chrysler Australia’s styled steel wheels.
And they bring us back to where we started.
’83 Cutlass.
The hours of work this must have taken is as mind boggling as the end result.
You Sir, are an artist! When I first looked at the pictures I was wracking my brain as to why I hadn’t noticed these model kits before. Then I read the article and was even more blown away.
Thanks, Bill. I’ve been doing this for ages, as long as I’ve been modelling. That Maverick was one of the first kits I built, around ’73. Sometimes the idea is so obvious (Cutlass Supreme, Gran Torino) it kind of knocks me on the head as soon as I see the base kit, other times it’s more subtle (Monaco Brougham).
As a fellow modeller, I’m enjoying your series. Thanks! I usually build stock too, Currently working on the Chevelle wagon and “Supernatural” Impala
Thanks Chris. There used to be an Impala like the Supernatural car in my town, up until about five years back.
Another thumbs up for ‘ordinary’ car models. Some nice period colour combos there too; the Dodge Phoenix is an good one, with the interior matching the side stripe.
It’s a darker grey than it should have been, but I love those oh-so-sixties red interiors.
Yet another great post, thanks for sharing. I prefer stock versions and seeing what you have done in converting these is inspiring.
Thanks. Since writing that article I keep finding more I could have included. 🙂
Just, wow. All of these models and conversions are impressive, but the Gran Torino is especially so. What kind of precision those opera windows must have taken with the exacto knife, let alone applying the “chrome” with maybe a toothpick (?).
Basic editions also appeal to me more than models of hi-spec cars. I recently bought a 2:18 scale model of a ’79 Ford Mustang Ghia in red, which I selected over what I assume would have been the more popular choice of the Pace Car Replica edition.
Thanks. I find that Gran Torino seems to really resonate with Americans, its been especially popular wherever I show it online.
I find the kit body, as molded, doesn’t look quite right – or maybe it’s because they’re so rarely seen without that roof and windows treatment? I find a sure way to attract haters online is to complain about a kit, especially if it turns out they were involved in the development of the kit. I just fix what I see as the flaws and show the end result.
That opera window – I shudder to think how long it took. That wasn’t an exacto knife job, as the plastic was too thick. After I’d traced an outline onto the plastic I used a sub-1mm bit in a pin vise and drilled a series of closely-spaced holes anlong the outline. Then I used the knife to ‘join the dots’ until I could punch out the window. The a lot of filing…
Some guys do use a toothpick for chrome paint. I use Bare Metal adhesive chrome foil, cut in thin strips and stuck on.
Thanks for posting more examples of your Mainstreaming models – these are fantastic! I’ve often wondered if modelers were tempted to do this sort of thing, and now I know.
Some cars seem to be represented in the modeling world only as special types. Crown Victorias for instance (has there ever been a model made of a non-police Crown Vic?). So seeing these examples of dragsters, etc. turned into great-looking production cars is wonderful.
That ’76 Torino is outstanding – the opera window work must have been time-consuming, but it was worth it in the end, because those windows, and the color combination, really make that car incredibly realistic. The Chevelle wagon and the gold-colored Hemi Cuda are also great. And that ’77 Monaco looks like it just drove off of a movie set.
Thanks for all of this – it’s great to see these models!
Thanks Eric. The internet makes researching these much easier. Being in Australia, I’ve never seen many of these cars in the metal, or maybe one at a show.
Often I’ll base my colour schemes on what Holden, Ford or Chrysler were using here at the time. So the Torino was an Aussie Ford colour, the Chevelle a Holden colour. The Monaco colours came from a car I saw online; I just used the closest coloiurs I had on hand. Some guys will use the actual car colour; I’m not that obsessive. Quite.
As an American who’s learned a lot about Australian cars from CC, I love the six cylinder Cuda. On the other hand as an American whose daily life was full of Gran Torino’s and Cutlass Supremes filling the roads, I’m not sure it would have occurred to me to model one. However, I did make a stock conversion at least once, I think: I put a small block Ford V8 under the hood of the AMT Maxwell Smart Sunbeam Alpine to make a stock Tiger. At least for a while … I then modded it into a C Production road racer.
Interesting that you did that. AMT later converted the kit to a Tiger, I probably would have too. I have a Tiger around here somewhere. The early version with Max’s spy gear brings big money noawdays. Oh well, nobody builds these as an investment!
I also prefer the stock models to the street or hopped up versions of these cars and probably for some of the same reasons, including an over-active imagination in my case.
That Gran Torino conversion is truly a work of art, with the opera windows representing what must have been great effort and hours of work. The finished product looks exactly like a car owned by our neighbors in suburban Chicago back in the 1970s.
That Aussie Dodge Phoenix is also an awesome feat. I never thought of converting a two-door to a four-door model, but when the actual car shared a roof and greenhouse between the two body styles, it becomes possible, at least in the hands of a skilled modeler. Well done!
Thanks William. I had attempted four door conversions earlier. The hardest part is scribing the new door lines the shape they should be. A straight line is easy; curves less so. I suspect that Dodge’s door lines are like handbuilt Italian supercars, slightly different from side to side.
I’m in awe. They’re all great. The Fairlane is spot on, and the Cutlass and Monaco are especially nice. And I agree with Eric; the Grand Torino is really, really beautiful. Immaculate.
Thank you.
Here’s an F-85 for you. 🙂
Thank you, sir!!
No idea what became of them; had a “F 85, tudor sdn” about this color. Also had the sister wagon ((Buick)) to the one pictured. Painted it black.
As I had two cans of paint, the “Olds” was “red/orange” out/black in.
Buick was the reverse. I did not paint(highlight) the chrome strips on the sides. H’mm ; must a been the “very early “70’s”. Yikes.
Fabulous! All of them, but especially the six cylinder ‘Cuda. Kudos!
Thaks Paul. That Cuda was fun. I’ve always loved the shapes and graphics of Mopars from that era. I just took things a step further. Or went off the deep end!
Very cool builds!
Thanks.
I’ve done quite a bit of this myself, in fact your Cutlass Supreme is a near-twin to mine except I kept the kit rally wheels. Probably my weirdest is the Chevy Spectrum converted from Hasegawa’s Isuzu Gemini Irmscher (complete with conversion to left-hand drive).
I want to get another one to convert it to a prefacelift car but you may beat me to that one, Peter, because it’s way down my list and didn’t Holden only take the early version up?
There does seem to be an “if it’s common in scale it’s rare in real life and vice-versa” effect, but non-US based kit companies .
Now that’s an interesting idea. I’ve seen the Hasegawa Gemini, often going out cheap, but the front drive Gemini was never a good seller down here. It was just one more entry in a crowded market segment, with no compelling reason to buy it. You’re right, Holden only did the pre-facelift version. Guess they realized it wasn’t really competitive. Replacing the imported Gemini with a rebadged but locally made Nissan Pulsar was more profitable.
Ultimately, I have far too many projects on hand to do one more, of a car which really has little interest for me. You go for it!
I’ve built the Gemini kit, and used the facelift indicators to fill in the guards for the pre facelift version.
Fortunately the kit comes with two sets of lights.
Fabulous job on all of them! Mine’s not nearly as well-done or accurate, but I wanted to recreate the ’69 F-100 in which I learned to drive and later taught both my sons (also documented here: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/coal-requiem-for-a-truck).
I used a die-cast of “Uncle Jessie’s” 1971 (IIRC) F-150 from “The Dukes of Hazzard” TV series as my starting point. It’s a bumpside, where my ’69 was a dentside, and other details like the grille and marker lights are different, but it was close enough for what I wanted (I just realized I never weathered the wheels, either).
Just saw your reply, Mr. S. Neat idea, and excellent execution.
Hat’s off!
Thanks. Weathering is another subject in itself, which I’ll write about some other time. And it’s all too easy to think you’re finished then find something you forgot – like those wheels. Been there, done that…
If you want another go at it, Moebius now does an excellent kit of every year of dentside Ford pickup, each with a different engine/trans setup. Here’s my ’71; I haven’t built up the ’69 yet.
Thanks for the heads-up. Unfortunately, they only have a short-bed available for the ’69. At any rate, I have four other diecast models in line to be repainted to match former cars I’ve owned… that should keep me busy for a while!
Cool models, I assembled some kits years ago but the results were converted to slot cars as we had a huge track in the rec room at boarding school and they didnt survive.
Im still capable of ignoring a carefully displayed Ferrari at shows to look at something ordinary parked nearby that is now an unusual sighting
Yeah, I’ll ignore exotics to look at cars I can identify with.
Dang. Just dang. At a loss for words. Dang. Good job, man. Dang!
Thanks.
Here’s one I missed earlier. ’68 Plymouth police car turned mainstream.
I love it!
I have often thought of converting a ’64 GTO kit into a Tempest Custom 2-door post since my dad had one when I was a kid. This is inspiring me to give it a try.
Now that would be a relatively easy conversion, Bryan, depending how far you want to take it. The Monogram kit is a great starting point. Good solid parts, and goes together well.
The body’s right, you’d just have to remove the GTO scripts and the hood scoops. Removing the GTO from the grille would be a challenge though. The hood – from memory I reckon you’d need to file the scoops flat and fill the indentations where the chrome trim attaches. There’s probably somebody out there who makes a non-GTO hood in resin for this kit, but I wouldn’t know where to look.
Evergreen makes the strip styrene you’d need for the upper body chrome, and the trim behind the front wheels (I’ve googled this, it took my fancy). Actually Evergreen’s strips come in a bewildering variety of sizes, so you might need to do some research there, to figure out what size to buy. Maybe look at #121, that’s .020 x .030″.
Then there’s the engine to consider – if you want to take it that far – and the wheels.
Have fun!
Thanks for the reply! My dad’s car was a six cylinder, so I might try to source a Chevy inline six somewhere. It also had the Deluxe wheel covers, which is what the ’64 Le Mans promo came with. I would hate to cannibalize a promo to get those, but maybe if it was in really rough condition it wouldn’t bother me too much. Also, the taillights and rear panel could be a bit of a challenge. Also the bench seat interior, but I could probably come up with something for that.
I love this, all the model cars I still have 1:18 diecasts consisting largely of Ertl muscle cars but there are a few in my collection with paint scratches and missing pieces where I’ve been very tempted to “downgrade” them in trim. Yellow GSX into grandma spec Skylark, Roadrunner into belvedere etc. 1:18 is unfortunately limited on ways you can scavenge though, you pretty much have to sacrifice one good model to enhance(or I guess dehance) another. And some models are expensive! I’d really like to get an autoworld 71 Dodge Superbee and convert it into a 318 Charger in B5 blue with a canopy top like my Dad’s first car but that’s a pricey idea, especially since my model building skills aren’t nearly as great as my expectations!
Yeah, those 1/18 diecasts can sure get pricey. I don’t have any for that reason, plus whatever I get I’m going to want to modify in some way or another, so I figure I might as well build the whole thing.
AMT did both a ’71 Charger R/T and a Super Bee (both big block cars). The 318 engine’s in their ’71 Duster kit – well it’s a 340 but they;d look the same in scale. I’ve modified a few of them, but I don’t have your Dad’s spec all in the one model.
I missed your reply first time around, that Charger looks great!
I modified quite a few of my 1:18s, mostly adding details like plug wires and other details to engines, undercarriage detail and sometimes changing around wheels from other “parts cars”. I repainted a couple too, though it’s not really my strength. One good thing with 1:18 is you can strip the bodies to bare metal without chemicals melting them.
Funny enough I bought a older Ertl Starsky & Hutch Torino off eBay on a whim recently, and I was just thinking of this post contemplating turning it into a Brougham with the vinyl top and opera windows but on the slot wheels it came with as a sort of tribute to the black 74 Cougar I almost owned.
Great work, they look like die cast. Why do many of them have no side mirrors ?
A lot of the older kits (pre-’80 or so) never came with mirrors, and I just didn’t think to add them.
Wow! Just beautiful. I’m curious to know if you’ve ever done, or even seen a model of the 1978 Ford Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee? We have one, in Diamond blue, that we are currently restoring.
Thanks. I don’t think there’s ever been one of them, certainly not from the big manufacturers. That’s a shame.
Boy, am I impressed with the ‘64 Dodge Phoenix. It looks as if it has just rolled off the Chrysler Australia, South Australia assembly plant. Its so good, that I am surprised you did not convert it to right hand drive! (The RIGHT side of the car). Anyway stunning models.
On another subject, I have a resin ‘unbuilt’ 1962 Chevrolet Impala four door hardtop model. Would you be interested in building this model for me as an Export RHD 1962 Impala 4 door hardtop? I have the appropriate 1961 Pontiac dash to use for the RHD conversion.
Let’s know.
Thanks Carl. That’s a great compliment, asking if I’d build that Impala for you. But, I’m sorry I’d have to say no, as I have a progressive nerve disease affecting my legs and now arms as well. I’m building a lot less, and finding it harder to these days. Two years ago I would have said yes, but now I don’t think I could.
You know Peter, in some respects, I do wonder at times, if I should attempt building my export 1962 RHD Impala Sport Sedan, myself. While I can’t say that I have much experience with building scale models, it’s a challenge that I think I might enjoy.
Perhaps I should practise with some simpler models first before attempting my export RHD ‘62 Chevrolet Impala. The Australian die cast model maker ‘Trax’ did a very limited run of a resin scale model Export RHD 1962 Chevrolet Impala 4 door hardtop. The model was actually based on my car and the run sold out very quickly.
Trax also did limited numbers of RHD Australian (GMH) assembled 1962 Chevrolet Belair 4 door sedans in two different colours. These models also sold out quickly.
The history behind GM, Ford and Chryslers assembly of US cars from 1949 until 1970 is of considerable interest to me.
Love the ’83 Cutlass! I had a beautiful 1987 1:1 model up until 2018 very similar to this.
This picture is of my actual car.
Nice!
Thanks! It was a good car, reliable. Not terribly fast with the 307 V8 (140 hp) and 2.56 rear gears, but still liked it. Could have changed the rear gears to 3.07 or 3.08 but never did.
Wonderful workmanship and very much like the idea of converting specialized models to stockers. Love the ’77 Monaco, always been a fan of the mid-70s mid-sized Mopars, particularly the 4 door sedans. Try to find one now that hasn’t been turned into a dumb cop-car clone.
Thanks! Yes, I’m always saddened when an original something is turned into a clone, tribute, or what have you. Especially when the police in my country never used the black-and-white livery so common to US police cars – yet you see it on the strangest vehicles. Seems some folk just have to conform to the perceived cultural norm, and don’t have the courage to stand out, to be different, to be themselves. Or else they don’t appreciate what they have is a survivor from the time when you used to be able to spec out a car the way you wanted it.
End rant. 🙂
Two thumbs up on your model building skills. I smiled when I looked at the Gran Torino vinyl roof and opera windows!
You’ve inspired me to dig out the few unbuilt model car kits I have in the garage. There is also a Gemini capsule model from 1966 I’m supposed to restore this winter. One of my grandsons is interested in helping with that project.
Thanks Garry. I was going to say my grandson is a bit young yet, but considering the Lego Technic Mars Rover he built at Christmas, maybe he’s not. Hmm – have to think about that…
Peter, this was just as fun to read the second time around. While I haven’t commented often, I thoroughly enjoy seeing your models.
All of these are great, although I am a bit partial to the ’77 Monaco. It looks fantastic.
Thanks Jason. On the box it was portrayed as the Joker Goon car, and it had been sitting unsold. I picked up the kit cheap, and thought “Why not?”. I took a bit of artistic license with the side trim to make it look better. There’s so much gingerbread on seventies US cars!
Got a great laugh out of the 1st photo.
Actually drove a full size green version of the ’83 Cutlass two door for 11 years.
Has the super stock wheels, handling suspension, bucket seats, & counsel.
Not fast, but I could drive in style anywhere I went.
I do miss that car!!
You know, it always puts a smile on my face to read comments like this. Seems so many Americans and Canadians have fond memories of these cars. Whereas to me they’re an ‘alternative universe’ sort of thing. Seems GM, and especially Oldsmobile, really lost their way in not having anything the market identified as a viable successor to these cars.
The big “green Merc” that never gets it’s own pic looks so cool! The “53 Chevy” is straight out, beautiful!
This one? It’s just built out of the box, with no conversion work involved, so it didn’t fit this theme.
Glad you love the Chevy; after I painted it I wasn’t sure I liked the colour combo. I’d picked up the kit cheap from a friend, and especially enjoyed that conversion.
’64 Merc! Love the color.