Model Car kit prices

[special-K]

Yeah, I guess. The cheapest I remember was when the price was part of the printing on the box at the bottom of the side panel as part of the model #. That was early '60s AMT 3 in 1s right after SMP and the price was $1.49. What is really expensive are what the 67-72 original kits are going for now. These re-issues coming out start out at collector prices for sure

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by special-K

That was early '60s AMT 3 in 1s right after SMP and the price was $1.49.

You probably have a better memory than me. My dad was in the military where the Post Exchange (on-base store) price would have been discounted somewhat, but I'm just guessing when I say $1.00.

I also remember that I liked the AMT kits much better than Revell and Monogram. I probably built 50 or more over my Jr high and high school years, several of them being variations of highly modified 40 Ford coupes. Did one with canted quad headlights (ala Edsel) using balsa wood and lots of body filler! Also did lots with opening/closing doors and trunk lids using a jewelers saw and Exacto knife blade attached to a wood burning tool to cut the plastic.

I'm surprised I didn't grow up to be a paint and body man!

[dieseldawg142]

prices are pretty much what drove me out of the hobby.
last model i bought at a store was the sport stepside last oct and it cost me $48 taxes in...
even though junk is a little more expensive north of the 49th, 50 bucks for a plastic toy is too much to stomach for me...

[special-K]

Originally Posted by MikeB

You probably have a better memory than me. My dad was in the military where the Post Exchange (on-base store) price would have been discounted somewhat, but I'm just guessing when I say $1.00.

I also remember that I liked the AMT kits much better than Revell and Monogram. I probably built 50 or more over my Jr high and high school years, several of them being variations of highly modified 40 Ford coupes. Did one with canted quad headlights (ala Edsel) using balsa wood and lots of body filler! Also did lots with opening/closing doors and trunk lids using a jewelers saw and Exacto knife blade attached to a wood burning tool to cut the plastic.

I'm surprised I didn't grow up to be a paint and body man!

Same here, including liking AMT the best. Revell was next, but they did some funky stuff on some. Like the body had to be glued together. I think the '57 Ranchero was like that. I loved their Henry J gasser, except headers looked like 1" tube with collectors that were 6". Front wheels and tires looked like 13". I always switched that stuff out. Monogram was my least favorite. They did their models in 1/24 scale. Just had to be different. They were good for monster kits, not cars, which I never built. No boats, planes, or monsters. Only cars and trucks

Originally Posted by dieseldawg142

prices are pretty much what drove me out of the hobby.
last model i bought at a store was the sport stepside last oct and it cost me $48 taxes in...
even though junk is a little more expensive north of the 49th, 50 bucks for a plastic toy is too much to stomach for me...

Yeah! And they don't even put it together for you . Seriously, Like MikeB, I built a ton of models when I was a kid. I ended up with my own junk yard of parts. A kid could never afford that now. By the time you buy paint and glue you would have a heap of money into just one

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by special-K

Seriously, Like MikeB, I built a ton of models when I was a kid. I ended up with my own junk yard of parts.

That's a great way of describing it! I used buy some kits just to build up my parts stash. I even ordered some "chrome trees" from AMT.