Faust Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) They say you can’t go back again. However, that’s not entirely true when it comes to modelling! There’s always a chance to take another run at a kit that you might have botched up in your younger years. For me, such a kit is, of course, a loser car! In this case, it’s the MPC 1982 Cavalier! Sure, you’re thinking that the Cavalier may not be worth re-doing, right? Well, as a car, you might not be wrong on that, but it’s a neat kit of a very important car. The Cavalier nameplate solidered on for a long time, and it’s one of those cars that literally seemed to be everywhere back in the day. Check out my take on this “New for ‘82” Chevy and tell me what you think. If it makes you remember how bad things got, then I’ve done my job! J https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/cars/125-mpc-1982-cavalier/ Edited September 5, 2015 by Faust
Ron Hamilton Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 Nice build. I had a few Cavaliers as demonstrators, and I even owned one. It was not a terrible car, in fact I liked it. I sold a LOT of them too back in the '80's. I cannot remember the last time I saw one in the flesh.I have a kit in my collection, but I cannot build it as a replica of my car without a lot of cutting and cursing. I may just go the same route as you did, and do a nice out of the box build.
Mr Stock Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) Adam that's another really nice build mate, and another loser car too! Lol.Actually the "J" platform car was also a Cavalier over here in the UK although it was known as a Vauxhall Cavalier mk2. Our version was even more bland than the US version !, although it was an extremely popular car in its day and was also available with a few pokey engines too such as the Sri 130. Great job on a very nice looking kit, another I'll have to look out for, ....... Wide track for 82 ! Edited September 4, 2015 by Mr Stock
kruleworld Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 (edited) i like it. a real mainstreamer.a shame you couldn't squeeze the wheels in further. maybe you can get back to it one day and modify the suspension or wheel backs.it'd look better with the inside of the rim's lip filed thinner so it sits deeper in the tire. Edited September 5, 2015 by kruleworld
Jonathan Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 Cool, a car typical of the era! It'd be great if you'd post a teaser pic of the car here with the link to your site. I'd expect you see more visitors.
Faust Posted September 5, 2015 Author Posted September 5, 2015 (edited) I've tried to post pics of it here, I really want to, but it never seems to work. I'll try again, because I agree with you totally, Jonathan.Okay, got it! Thing is, I was trying to use the "Insert Picture from URL", but I had to paste it from my hard drive instead. Knowledge is power! Edited September 5, 2015 by Faust
Daddyfink Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 That is a fine looking machine! I remember when one of our neighbors got one, it was pretty snazzy! Came with some decal package from the dealer on a slightly metallic red paint job. It ruled the roost, until someone bought a Le Car!
slusher Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 Something you don't see built hardly. Great build Adam..
Faust Posted September 6, 2015 Author Posted September 6, 2015 Thanks guys!Yeah, for some reason, you don't see this one too often. Walter: your points about the tires are well-made. I may yet go back and correct things. I'd never thought of that, actually!I really wish they'd have made a conventional Sunbird or Skylark (that was the Buick, wasn't it?); that would have totally rocked!
DR JAY Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 Nice job on a forgotten machine. You did bring back some horrific memories as I used to have to fix these for a living. Engine replacements, Heater cores, ball joints, heater cores, engine replacements, heater cores, ball joints...
Maindrian Pace Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 Great job. I built this kit when it was new, similarly detailed. I bought it for something different, and it went together well. I did alter the front suspension a bit to pull the front wheels into the fenders. I liked the weird blue color the kit was molded in, so I polished the plastic and it looked pretty nice. One of the other Moonlight members and I bought a table at a swap meet, and I sold off a bunch of built cars that I still kick myself for doing. This was one of them. If I can ever 3D print a time machine...
bbowser Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 Nice job on a forgotten machine. You did bring back some horrific memories as I used to have to fix these for a living. Engine replacements, Heater cores, ball joints, heater cores, engine replacements, heater cores, ball joints...LOL, one of the Generals' lesser ideas. Great model though. These things used to be everywhere, now .......?
Tom Geiger Posted September 9, 2015 Posted September 9, 2015 Oh Adam! LOL I just saw this post for the first time. I had to add my own Cavalier to the mix. It wasn't a bad kit to build.
Tom99 Posted September 9, 2015 Posted September 9, 2015 I like it. It's good to see something different being built.
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted September 9, 2015 Posted September 9, 2015 Very Nice Build! I've turned many a wrench on those cars!!
spencer1984 Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Nicely done! I built one of these into a Batmobile a while back, and found it to be a much better kit than I would have expected. I want to build another one some day as the car my parents had for a while in the early '80s.
ZTony8 Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Talk about pokey engines-GM had several P.R.O.M updates for the 1982 models in an attempt to increase performance.They had only limited success.It took the introduction of the 2.2 liter engine(and the 1.8 and 2.0 liter turbo Brazilian engines in the Pontiac,Buick and Olds) to noticeably increase performance.
Atmobil Posted September 10, 2015 Posted September 10, 2015 Adam that's another really nice build mate, and another loser car too! Lol. Actually the "J" platform car was also a Cavalier over here in the UK although it was known as a Vauxhall Cavalier mk2. Our version was even more bland than the US version !, although it was an extremely popular car in its day and was also available with a few pokey engines too such as the Sri 130. Great job on a very nice looking kit, another I'll have to look out for, ....... Wide track for 82 ! Yes, a very nice build indeed, and I wonder if one with a lot of work could maybe convert one in to a Vauxhall Cavalier or as I know it, a Opel Ascona. Or maybe even a conversionjob in to a Opel Manta....hmmm...need to look out for one of these now
Cpt Tuttle Posted September 13, 2015 Posted September 13, 2015 You will need to convert it to four doors then, the two door Ascona was only available as a notchback, fastbacks were four door only.
Faust Posted September 13, 2015 Author Posted September 13, 2015 Whoa... you guys got this body style as a Four Door? We could only get the fastback as a two door! How f'ed up is that! Man, now I wish I had a few more of these things!
Tom Geiger Posted September 13, 2015 Posted September 13, 2015 (edited) Whoa... you guys got this body style as a Four Door? We could only get the fastback as a two door! How f'ed up is that! Man, now I wish I had a few more of these things! http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Chevrolet-Cavalier-1982.jpg Here in the USA we had the full array of pokey little Cavaliers... I've got my eye on building a non-hatchback 2 door. Edited September 13, 2015 by Tom Geiger
Faust Posted September 14, 2015 Author Posted September 14, 2015 Yeah, we got those, but didn't Mattias say they got the four door as a fast back? Or, did I misunderstand.I have seen a resin cast body for the Cavalier Wagon once. It was like $60 just for the body, and I didn't have any kit to go under it at that time, either! I would love to see more econobeater variants, though!These things need to get Round 2'd. Seriously. There's got to be some interest out there, no?
charlie8575 Posted September 15, 2015 Posted September 15, 2015 Very nice job.If you run across that Cav wagon again, let me know. Charlie Larkin
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