63 Chevy Impala Low Rider

Andy Oldenburg · December 28, 2022

Unboxing this AMT kit I knew I had some work ahead. I like this ´63 Chevy model but the kit is on a low level of detail. The undercarriage is basically just one piece of plastic with a simple array of details. I have been through this before so I had no inhibitions to chop up the floorboard. The x-frame keeps it all sturdy and in shape. Looks like a mess, but it will work out in the end.

Next I filled the cavities with sheet styrene in 0.5 and 1mm. I extended the x-frame and filled the cracks with putty. Then sanding, filler spray and a second round of putty.

Next came all the missing parts: Suspension, driveshaft, differential, exhaust system. The differential I modeled with FIMO plastic clay on an 6mm aluminum tube. All the other parts are cut and glued from styrene profiles or sheet. Shock springs are 1mm aluminum wire. The bumpy area in the middle will be covered again with the exhaust system so I refrained from investing too much time in getting it smooth.

Here is what it ended up into. The mufflers I scavenged from my spare parts box, but the pipes I finger bent from 3mm styrene rod. Look like a fat 3 inch system. The V shaped front suspension parts I rescued from the deconstructed cut-outs. All the other rods and stuff are hand made from styrene.

The interior is show car. I added a flock floor and the seatbelts. The doors had about no structure at all, so some detail work with styrene was necessary. Chrome is Bare Metal and Molotow pen.

The kit engine is a joke. I had enough parts to build a 409 HEMI and just happened to have a leftover fuel injection from my last corvette. It took a while to get all the parts and lines to fit, but I´m very happy with the results. The belt is a thin strip of rubber on the deconstructed pulley system.

And here we have the finished model.

This AMT kit is something of a disappointment. You can feel that the mold must be 50 years old. The body has a few dents and the window line sags on one side. Many parts didn´t fit, but I discarded most parts anyway so that didn´t matter much. Funny how they include a TV-set, a bunny and other stuff, but no rear mirrors, no red taillights etc... If I had known ahead about the low level, I would still have bought this kit. The 1963 Impala was a beautiful car and I love to work the plastic and customize.

The color coat is a Molotow black line graffiti spray. Very fine spray cap and a good flow, although a matt finish. The pink areas are Schmincke Aero Color mixed with metallic fluid. After that I carefully sprayed the whole body with slight touch of metallic to give it a sparkle. Next 2 coats of AK clear gloss and a good polish. The wheels and tires are from my scrapbox, the grill I cut open and inserted a mesh metal. All the chrome is Bare Metal under the last clear coat.