Revell Ford Focus SVT Tuner - 1/25 Scale

In late 2001, Ford's in-house performance group, known as Special Vehicle Team (SVT), introduced the SVT Focus, essentially a renamed European ST170 Focus, to the United States and Canadian markets for the 2002 model year. Ford billed the SVT Focus as the sportiest offering of the Focus to date. Cosmetically, the exterior included unique front and rear bumpers, side skirts, fog lamps, rear spoiler, rear diffuser and 17" alloy wheels wearing fairly sticky "Y" rated 215/45R17 tires from Continental. The car featured a thoroughly reworked version of the 2.0 liter Zetec engine available in other Focus models. Developed in concert with Cosworth, this engine featured many advanced technologies. Included were a special aluminum cylinder head with enlarged intake ports, high compression pistons and forged connecting rods, piston oil squirters, solenoid operated variable camshaft timing on the intake cam, dual stage intake manifold, and a 4-2-1 tubular exhaust header.

These additions, coupled with an increased 10.2:1 compression ratio, bumped horsepower from 130 to 170 while still achieving good fuel economy and low emissions. Ford went to German manufacturer Getrag to provide a six-speed manual transmission which is shared with the Mini Cooper S. This transmission was a twin layshaft design and included a dual mass flywheel to eliminate vibration. Other changes to complete the package included sharper steering through an increased boost ratio in the steering rack, larger disc brakes on all four corners and stiffened suspension with larger anti-roll bars. Inside the car was offered with several leather bits including seats, and steering wheel. The shifter knob, emergency-brake handle, and their respective boots are also in black leather. Options included a powered glass sunroof, 8 speaker Audiophile sound system with 8" sub-woofer, a cold weather package with heated seats, traction control, a 115V block heater, and heated side mirrors and, for 2003 and 2004 models, HID xenon headlamps.

AMT 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 - 1/25 Scale

The 1963 Galaxie was a classic from the first day it rolled off the showroom floor. This car's distinctive lines and styling are timeless and are now among the most collected Fords of any era. These Galaxies offered many choices for the car buyer. The line offered a large choice of models starting with the Galaxie Sedan. These Galaxie were the base model cars with very simple trim and ornamentation, usually equipped with the smaller engine configuration; However, these cars could be special ordered with just about any engine.

The Galaxie 500 Sedans, Hardtop, and Convertible were a step up from the base model Galaxie and featured an attractive full length upper and lower body side molding and attractive cloth and vinyl interior trim package. The Galaxie 500XL models were available in the Hardtop both four door and two door, the Convertible and the 1963 ½ Galaxie Fastback which featured a new sporty roof line with no post and Starliner type looks. The standard equipment on these cars was a deluxe offering with standard bucket seats and console, full wheel covers, wall to wall carpeting, courtesy lights, contoured deluxe seat upholstery among other luxury features.

The 1963 was offered with several engine choices. The Mileage Maker Six Cylinder (All models except 500XL), 260 V-8 at 164 horsepower, the 352 Thunderbird V-8 at 220 horsepower, the Thunderbird 390-4V engine at 300 horsepower, the 406 Thunderbird High Performance with tri-power carburetion at 405 horsepower. Ford later introduced the 427 high performance engine in both a single four barrel version at 410 horsepower and a dual four barrel carburetor at an astounding 425 horsepower. This engine option was offered in a very limited number of 1963 Galaxies. Transmission types were the Synchro Smooth manual column shift, the 4 speed manual on the floor, Fordomatic Drive automatic, and Cruise-O-Matic three speed automatic. Some of the available options for 1963 are as follows: Swing Away Steering Wheel, Power Front Seat, Power Windows, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Padded Dash and Visors, Backup Lights, Deluxe Wheel Covers, Spotlight Mirrors and Select Aire Conditioner. Words fail to describe the beauty and design of this legendary Galaxie. The 1963 will always be of great interest to the car collector and Ford enthusiast.

AMT 1969 Mercury Cougar - 1/25 Scale

Mercury joined the pony car race full speed with its Cougar, based on a stretched version of the Ford Mustang. Only a two door hardtop was available with standard simulated leather bucket seats, hideaway headlights, and a V8 engine, impressive enough to be named Motor Trend's Car of the Year. Two trim packages were also available, available separately or together. The XR-7 package included a wood-rimmed steering wheel, black-face competition-type instrumentation in a simulated walnut dash, toggle switches, an overhead console, a leather-covered T-handle automatic transmission shifter, and combination leather/vinyl seats.

For performance buyers, the GT package, a $323 option, included a firmer suspension with solid rear brushings, stiffer springs all around, bigger 1.1875 inch shocks, a fatter 0.84 inch anti-roll bar, power front disc brakes, 8.95x14 Wide-Oval tires, a low-restriction exhaust system and special identification features. Standard with the GT package was a 390 cid V8 rated at 335 bhp. The 390 used hydraulic lifters, a fairly mild cam and "street type" valve timing that resulted in a favorable 1:10 power-to-weight ratio. A Holley C70F carb with four 1.562 inch venturies and vacuum-operated secondaries sat on the 390 cid engine. With a 10.5:1 compression ratio, it required premium fuel.

Transmission choices included three or four speed synchro gearboxes or a three-speed Merc-O-Matic with manual shift capabilities for down-shifting to second below 71 mph or first below 20 mph. While based on the Mustang platform, the Cougar's suspension was upgraded with a hook-and-eye joint the lower front A frames to dampen ride harshness, six-inch-longer rear leaf springs, and better-rated rear spring and axle attachments. The GT, however, came with the manual transmissions used with the 390 were different from those used with the 289. The 390 came standard with a 3.00:1 rear axle, while a 3.25:1 "Power Transfer" axle was optional.

Revell 35th Anniversary Camaro SS - 1/25 Scale

While the 1993 fourth-generation Camaro was very much new, it was shy of all-new; much of the floor stamping and all of the rear suspension was shared with the third-generation car. But with plastic front fenders, a new short-arm/long-arm front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and a sleek new profile, the '93 was new enough.

Chevrolet did celebrate the car's 35th year, however, with a special graphics package for the Z28 SS coupe and convertible. The flamboyant stripes and logos of the 35th Anniversary package were attractive in their own idiomatic way, but it was hardly the glorious send-off for which Camaro enthusiasts had hoped.

Plastic Model Review:

http://www.scalewiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Revell_2002_Camaro_SS

AMT Pontiac Firebird - 1/25 Scale

The 1993 Firebird was very close to, but not quite, all-new. The body was daringly aerodynamic and incorporated plastic front fenders, but much of the floorpan and rear suspension carried over. The new short/long-arm front suspension was a distinct improvement and incorporated rack-and-pinion steering for the first time, but the real leap forward was in the engine bay.


While the '93 Firebird line was pared down to three models (base, Formula and Trans Am), there were only two engines offered — a new 160 horsepower 3.4-liter version of the same V6 used in the third-generation car and the amazing 275 horsepower LT1 version of the classic 5.7-liter small-block V8. Not only was the LT1 thrillingly powerful, it could be had with a six-speed manual transmission, and it was the standard engine in both the Formula and Trans Am. The LT1's performance was scintillating, with Car Craft magazine recording a conservatively achieved 14.1-second at 98.45 mph quarter-mile performance for a Trans Am and a thrilling 5.6-second 0-to-60-mph time. With practice, other magazines had LT1-powered Firebirds and Camaros regularly running 13s.

AMT 2004 Pontiac GTO - 1/25 Scale

The Pontiac GTO was relaunched in the United States in 2004, based on the Holden Monaro's V platform. The Monaro is a 2-door coupe variant of the Australian developed VT/VX Holden Commodore. The Commodore was in turn developed by enlarging the European designed 1994 Opel Omega B, which was marketed in its original form in the U.S. from 1997 to 2001 as the Cadillac Catera. The revival was prompted by former GM chairman Bob Lutz,[1] who drove a Holden Monaro while on a business trip in Australia.

The GTO was produced by GM's Holden subsidiary in the suburb of Elizabeth, South Australia. It was equipped with the Corvette's LS1 ('04) and LS2 ('05-'06) V8 engine with a choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic. The same model was sold in the United Kingdom as the Vauxhall Monaro and in the Middle East as a Chevrolet Lumina SS. GM North America made a deal with Holden to produce a maximum of 18,000 vehicles per year starting in late 2003 and going through to the end of the 2006 model year. The 18,000 units was the production limit for the model at the Australian assembly plant.

Monogram 1995 Corvette ZR-1 - 1/25 Scale

In 1986, the Corvette team approached Lotus, then a GM subsidiary, with the idea of developing an ultra-high performance vehicle based on the C4 Corvette. With input from GM's "Corvette Team" of engineers and designers, Lotus designed a new engine to replace the traditional pushrod L98 V-8 that powered the standard C4. The result was the LT5, an aluminum-block V-8 with the same bore centers as the L98, but with four overhead camshafts and 32 valves. Lotus designed a unique air management system for the engine to provide a wider power band by shutting off 8 of the 16 intake runners and fuel injectors when the engine was at part-throttle, while still giving the ZR-1 375 hp when at wide open throttle. As Chevrolet had no facility available which could manufacture the new LT5, construction of the engines was subcontracted to Mercury Marine, a company in Stillwater, Oklahoma which normally specialized in high-performance marine engines.

Lotus also aided in the development of the ZR-1's standard "FX3" active suspension system, which would provide the basis for active suspension systems found (as optional equipment) on all Corvettes since. Much of the ZR-1 tuning was done at Belding, Michigan's "Grattan" raceway.
In 1990, the ZR-1 set a 24 hour speed endurance record at the Firestone test track in Fort Stockton Texas using a near-stock LT5 engine with only minor modifications, including removal of the catalytic converters. The Tommy Morrison racing team averaged 175 mph (282 km/h), including time for re-fueling and several driver changes.

In 1991, all Corvettes received updates to body work, interior, and wheels. The convex rear fascia that set the 1990 ZR-1 apart from the base model was now included on L98 Corvettes, making the styling of the expensive ZR-1 even closer to that of the base cars. The most obvious difference remaining between the base and ZR-1 models besides the wider rear wheels was the location of the CHMSL (center high mounted stop lamp), which was integrated into the new rear fascia used on the base model, but remained at the top of the rear-hatch on the ZR-1's. All corvette ZR-1's had a interesting feature, a power key. It was mounted underneath the radio and using a key you could turn the power from "full" which means all the horsepower and "normal" which disabled the secondary intake ports cutting the power to 200 hp (150 kW). This system is commonly referred to as a "valet key", and was reset to "normal" after the engine was shut off.

Further changes were made in 1992: ZR-1 badges were displayed on both front fenders and traction control was added as a standard feature. In 1993, Lotus redesigned the cylinder heads and valve-train of the LT5, resulting in a horsepower increase from 375 to 405. In addition, a new exhaust gas recirculation system improved emissions control. Production of the ZR-1 ended in 1995, after 6,939 cars had been built.

AMT 1955 Corvette - 1/25 Scale

The prototype Corvette had it's first public outing in January 1953 and the car was in mass production by June of that year. A Corvette model has been available every year (except 1983-sold as an early release 1984 model) since then, but in 55 years of production there has only been six different body styles. This car is an example of the original body shape. Sales figures for the '55 model were so dramatically low that the future of the whole Corvette project was put in jeopardy and a total of only 700 units were built. That is the second lowest ever annual production total for the Corvette model name.

Most, but not all 1955 corvettes have the Chevrolet V8 engine. Chassis numbers that start with the letter "V" are original V8 cars. Also the letter "V" in the script word "Chevrolet" on the front fenders is enlarged designating the car as a V8 car. The Corvette in the Mathews Collection is a V8 car. Only five colors were available in 1955; Polo White, Pennant Blue, Corvette Copper, Harvest Gold and as seen on the Mathews car, Gypsy Red.

AMT 1986 Chevrolet El Camino - 1/25 Scale

The Chevrolet El Camino (Spanish translation: "The Road") was a coupe utility vehicle / muscle car built by Chevrolet in the United States from 1959 to 1960, with production resuming in 1964 and continuing through 1987. Produced in response to the success of the rival Ford Ranchero, it was based on corresponding Chevrolet car lines, though in North America, the vehicle is classified as a truck and titled as such. During 1978 through 1987, the El Camino was sold under four main models: The Super Sport, The Royal Knight, The Conquista, and the regular El Camino. It also had a twin called the GMC Sprint and later the GMC Caballero from 1978-1987. In Mexico, it was sometimes sold as the Chevrolet Conquistador.

AMT 1970 Chevy Monte Carlo - 1/25 Scale

The 1970 Monte Carlo was introduced on September 18, 1969, but drew only a cool reception from enthusiast magazines who were still caught up in muscle car mania. But the Monte Carlo, which was only available as a four person luxury two door coupe, was a hit with buyers, who snatched up 145,975 examples. Monte Carlos were based on the Chevelle but rode on an 116 inch wheelbase and had the longest hood ever fitted onto a Chevrolet.

All Monte Carlos came with at least a 350 cubic inch V8, but any big block Chevelle engine was available. At the top was the Monte Carlo SS454, which 3,823 buyers snatched up, which came with the mighty Chevy 454 block. The SS45 package, option Z20, included the 454 big block engine, a heavy duty suspension, "SS454" badging on the rocker panels and deck lid, a remote control sport mirror, thin black rocker panel stripes, heavy-duty battery, automatic level control suspension, air shocks, dual chrome exhaust extensions, 15x7 inch Rally wheels, and GTO-15B white stripe tires.

The vast majority of the SS454 came with the LS-5 454 engine, rated at 350 bhp. But about 10 were snuck out of the factory with the LS-6 454 engine, rated at 450 bhp. A very few four speed Monte Carlo SS454s were made too.

AMT 1969 Chevrolet Corvair -1/24 Scale

The Chevrolet Corvair is an automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1959 to 1969, for the 1960–1969 model years. The Corvair was offered in a wide range of body styles, including four-door sedans, two-door coupes, convertibles, and station wagons. It was also built as a compact van similar to the Volkswagen bus, with styles including a pickup, panel van, and a passenger van called the Greenbrier. The cargo floor was raised above the rear engine, and some pickups featured an unusual side-loading ramp.

The Corvair — like the Ford Falcon, Studebaker Lark, Nash Rambler, and the Plymouth Valiant— was one of the first of a new compact class. These were offered in response to the small, sporty and fuel-efficient automobiles being imported from Europe by Volkswagen, Renault, and others.

The Corvair stood out with engineering significantly different from other American offerings. The Corvair was part of GM's innovative Y-body ("Z"-Body from 1965-on) line of cars, but this was by far the most unusual, due to the location and design of its engine. It was an air-cooled flat / opposed rear-engined vehicle inspired by the Volkswagen Beetle and the Porsche 356. The 1948 Tucker Torpedo had also used this layout to mixed reviews. Most other compacts such as the Chevy II / Nova, and later, the subcompact Vega, were smaller versions of conventional automobiles with in-line water-cooled front-mounted iron 4 or 6 cylinder engines. In contrast, the Corvair's powerplant was an aluminum, air-cooled 140 in³ (2.3 L) flat-6 engine. The first Chevrolet Corvair engine produced as little as 80 hp (60 kW). Later versions developed as much as 180 hp (134 kW), comparable to V6 engines of the 1980s.

Although the Corvair was initially marketed as an economy sedan, with the development of a coupe, it was offered as a sporty sedan before the Mustang became popular in the compact segment. Its final design evoked the later Camaro.

Plastic Model Review:

1969 Corvair Coupe, # 38159, AMT 1/25 2004 reissue, includs full detail engine with stock/rally and custom options, custom grilles, detailed rear suspension, Yenko roof option, custom body options, scoops & spoilers, interior options, stock/custom tyres, stock hubcaps & chromed 4 spoke dished mags.