Going Topless! Lindberg's Sebring Convertible

[Faust]

I really would rather build a model of a car that I used to see driving all over the place than a model of some supercar I’ll never have a chance of owning. That’s why I gravitate to the “loser” and “everyday” car kits. In the ‘80s there was a chance to actually get kits of everyday cars, but as time went on, it got harder and harder. By the mid-1990s, there were hardly any kits of common cars.

That’s what makes the Lindberg 1996 Sebring Convertible so awesome! Not only do I remember lots of them around, but I also still see some come the summer time!  I know Lindberg was also responsible for the promos for the Sebring, so it’s no surprise they’d spin it into a kit. However, I was expecting something like their Caravan kit, not something as deluxe as the Sebring turned out to be!

 To see what I’m talking about, and take a gander at what might be one of the last “everyday car kits” of the 1990s, check out my out of box review of this kit below!

https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/out-of-box-reviews/lindberg-125-1996-sebring-convertible-oob/

 

Edited November 6, 2015 by Faust

[ChrisBcritter]

Could you check the link - it just goes to this same page.

[Faust]

Try it now. I noticed this when I previewed it, but I thought I had it fixed. 

If it doesn't work, try this link; the link to the article is in the appropriate square!

https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/out-of-box-reviews/

[Luc Janssens]

Too bad no one did the preceding model, the Chrysler '87-'95 LeBaron convert and coup. at the time it put Chrysler back on the map as a automotive manufacturer in Europe, heck if GM wasn't my employer back then, I would've bought one.

But it's an old car now.....

[Faust]

Hey Luc, I had no idea that they were popular in Europe! That's cool to know!

They were very popular here, so much so that I still consider the red LeBarons of that style to be the official "summer car" here in London Ontario, Canada. When you see the red LeBarons, the good weather's here for sure!

They seem to be very well maintained, though; mostly old people driving them, so they don't see winter or even rain! That helps. The 1996 is a much better looking car in my opinion; it might be one of the nicest of all the late '90s cars. Very stylish without being chunky, like so many of today's cars!

[vincen47]

Nice. I'll pick one up. I've always been a fan of "everyday" cars as models.

[charlie8575]

Nice. I'll pick one up. I've always been a fan of "everyday" cars as models.

You'll have to do a little hunting for one, but they're out there. Long OOP. Perhaps Round 2 may see fit to make a run of them.

Charlie Larkin

[Faust]

The good news is that the Promo seems to be out there, too, so if you find it, you can just knock it down and make a kit out of it yourself and be no worse off. In fact, you'll be ahead of the game because all the black on the windshield will be painted!

I'm always happy to see that there are others out there that love 'everyday' cars like I do. It's just neat to have a display with some stuff you've actually had contact with on it! I actually remember a day in 1996 that there was a "Chysler Test Track" thing up at a local mall (Masonville Place in London, Ontario). A local dealer brought one of everything, essentially, and Chrysler reps set up a little test course in the parking lot that had straightaways, tight turns, bumps, etc. You could sign up to give the cars a test drive.

I drove a Neon (blech) PT Cruiser (double blech-handled and accelerated like a pig!), Sebring hard roof (solid meh) Caravan (DO NOT corner at >50km/h - I almost flipped it!) and the Sebring Convertible (nice). The Sebring Convertible was quite agile and gave a good ride, as well as being much stiffer and more spirited than the others. 

[Tom Geiger]

I enjoyed your review of both the Sebring and the Lindberg Dodge Caravan.  Both of these vehicles sold in huge numbers and kept Chrysler funded and on the map throughout that era.  I have owned three Mopar Mini-vans,  a first year 1984 Caravan, a 1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager and the 1996 Grand Caravan Mark III high top that we still own.  They have been the most versatile  family vehicles, which kept us trading for new ones.   

I have also pined after the Sebring Convertible for some time.  I often look at Craig's List to see if there is a low mile car available.  My experience is that most of the ones I find are gold, silver or that dark green (or other dark colors).  I'd love to have a red one!   There are still a lot of these out there, some garage kept and low mile, but also a lot who saw the 100,000 mile mark many years ago. I have had experience with it's cousin, the Plymouth Breeze sedans and took one up to 195,000 and my current one has 165,000 so I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Sebring with some miles on it. 

Kit wise, you are correct.  It's an unassembled promo and could be built in an hour. You are right to be concerned over the body plastic, and the red bleeding through paint. The body appears to be made of a different type of plastic, with a shiny promo finish.  The Caravan is the same way, and yes I had the red bleed through one of my paint jobs. It seemed to be triggered by the Testors Wet Look Clear.  So be careful!  The headlights on the Sebring are chrome and part of the grille piece. This isn't perfect for detailing, but better than what they did on the Caravan kit, which has a clear lens, but has a rectangular mounting pin that you can see through the front on your finished model. It kinda looks like those World War II era vehicles with the black out slits on the headlights.  I have two Caravans on my unfinished model shelf, as I try to work out a detail that would look better.  That's the major drawback on an otherwise excellent replica.

Also note that while the Sebring kit was derived from the promo that Lindberg sold to Chrysler,  so was the Caravan.  I've been told that the Caravan was developed under a promo contract, then cancelled.  That left Lindberg holding the bag, so they went ahead and released it as a kit.  They weren't expecting much, but I've been told that the first shipment sold out immediately!  I had given a few of this kit to non-modeling friends who owned a like model Dodge Caravan and they were happy to receive it and built it with their kids.