Why so few American Motors kits?

[Matt Bacon]

...or at least, why a Gremlin and a Pacer, which are quirky choices to say the least, rather than a Javelin or Hornet? I think Jo-Han did both as promos, but the AMT Javelins in Follmer or Donohue boxes seem to be rarer than rocking horse do-do. Just picked up the new edition of Cranswick's American Motors book, and there's a lot in there that seem to deserve more styrene love...

best,

M.

[1972coronet]

Other 'an the aforementioned Johan offerings, there's the - for what it's worth - the MPC 1/20 scale AMX. 

AMT made, as you've noted, the Matador, from 1974-1977 (1978?). It was modified into the Donahue et al. after its run as the customised iteration (maybe prior to the customised version ?).
Some -and I'm not sure which one(s)- of the 'AMT' boxed AMCs were of Johan origin (think: the "AMT" Maverick).

Personally, I'd be keen on a 1971 Hornet S/C 360 with optional P/S parts.

[Can-Con]

The factory stock and nascar versions of the Matadors were both out at the same time until the stock version went custom.

But even then, the custom parts were only substituted for the corresponding stock parts. The body was never modified. It could have been issued as a 2in1 kit if AMT was so inclined back then.

 

[Can-Con]

BTW, here's a link to Casey's post of the '75 AMT catalogue showing both versions of Matadors in the same book.

https://modelkitreviews.proboards.com/thread/694/amt-1975-catalog

[cobraman]

I would like to see more selection with stock parts.

[Classicgas]

35 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

Other 'an the aforementioned Johan offerings, there's the - for what it's worth - the MPC 1/20 scale AMX. 

AMT made, as you've noted, the Matador, from 1974-1977 (1978?). It was modified into the Donahue et al. after its run as the customised iteration (maybe prior to the customised version ?).
Some -and I'm not sure which one(s)- of the 'AMT' boxed AMCs were of Johan origin (think: the "AMT" Maverick).

Personally, I'd be keen on a 1971 Hornet S/C 360 with optional P/S parts.

I'll take a 6 please ?

[1972coronet]

6 minutes ago, Classicgas said:

I'll take a 6 please ?

I have a feeling that the 1975-1977 Matador Coupe will see light of day within the next couple of years...

[Classicgas]

Can it be returned to stock configuration?

[Mark]

The Matador was produced first as the '74 Penske NASCAR version, then alternated between that and showroom versions '75 through '77.  After that came the custom-only version which had a stock body but not the hood or bumpers.  Lesney AMT later detrimmed the body and made some other alterations to create the Allison Sportsman.  The body isn't stock any more.

The Gremlin was one of AMC's better selling cars of the Seventies, even then AMT first offered it as a funny car with no corresponding stock version until mid-'74.  '70 through mid-'72 were six cylinder only which might be what prevented AMT from doing a stock one right off the bat.  

AMT guessed that the Pacer wagon might be the next big thing, they did that kit without a promo contract.  From what I have heard over the years, it didn't do too well when it was new.

Neither AMT nor MPC did much AMC stuff back then because Jo-Han had most of the AMC promo business locked up.  They probably didn't want to split what would have been a pretty small pie back then.

[Dave Van]

JoHan was the AMC kit maker. They did a LOT of AMC kits.....but they would cut up the 1967 Ambassador to make the 68....so the 67 was gone forever. They did that a LOT so all the Javelin, Hornet, Rebel etc kits are gone for the most part. I am bias......I own two real AMC's.......

[Ace-Garageguy]

Johan did the '69 AMX in two versions, stock and a racing thing. Then a later AMX...'72 maybe...again as a stocker and a funny car. 

Also several years of Rambler Americans, the earlier '61-ish body and the later '65-ish body in coupe and convert, and a racy thing on the later body style.

And a Marlin.

    

    

Also a '59 wagon...

 

Edited February 8, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy

[Mark]

Jo-Han did a bunch of Sixties AMC products as promotional models only...no kits.  Mainly station wagons and four-door sedans, which flat-out did not sell well as kits back when they were new.  

They did all three years of the two-seater AMX as kits.  But all were sold in AMT packaging back then.  The first one Jo-Han sold in its own box was the original issue Shirley Shahan Super Stocker, in 1971.  

They did screw up a couple of times.  They did the Hornet as a promotional model for '70, '71, '73, and '74.  They did kits those years plus '72, but as funny cars only.  No stock kits.  Insult added to injury, nobody ever ran a Hornet bodied funny car (though the '73 hatchback would have made a nice looking FC body).  They could have at least run off the hatchback as a snap kit instead of the Javelin AMX, but nope.

MPC only did the Pacer because the promo contract paid for the tooling to an extent.  They even updated the hood and grille to '78 spec on their own dime, but stopped there.  AMC dropped the car after a couple thousand 1980 Pacers were built, but MPC didn't bother after '78.  Just as well, most of the later ones were wagons anyway.

The MPC 1/20 scale AMX originated as a stock-only 1968 kit sold at AMC dealers and by mail.  The '69 added some optional parts.  MPC did the '70 update on their own, to wring another year out of it.  Not quite as good as the earlier ones, but any AMC stuff is welcome IMO.

[Dave Van]

The 72-74 Javelin was available first as a promo, then as a 3 in 1 stock, custom and funny car.....all in one box.....think about all the parts left over!!!!! AMT reboxed JoHan kits and offered the stock and Trans Am version. By the time the kit was done there were 6 versions......I am missing the funny version only. We need a new tool of the car. Stock, drag and Trans Am..........

[TonyK]

The Rebel Machine would be a nice addition but that's a one-of-a-kind car and can't be done any other way.

[BlackSheep214]

Good observation on American Motors kit. I wonder why that is they don't re issue them. I remember doing the '66 Marlin in my youth years.

So many iconic American Motors that need some luvin' today. Hornet is one I'd love to see as a kit.

[chryslerjunkandstuff]

2 hours ago, TonyK said:

The Rebel Machine would be a nice addition but that's a one-of-a-kind car and can't be done any other way.

This.

The Captain America lookin '70 AMC Rebel Machine is maybe the coolest car that AMC produced during the Muscle Car era.

Been lookin for one of the Jo-Hans that is priced using Earth-based currency for years.

[iamsuperdan]

I'd love to see a new version of the old AMT Matador kit...street version.

Maybe they can do what they did with the International 4070A; old kit, new molds.

 

I managed to find an original sealed kit, before prices went mental.

[Mark]

12 hours ago, Dave Van said:

The 72-74 Javelin was available first as a promo, then as a 3 in 1 stock, custom and funny car.....all in one box.....think about all the parts left over!!!!! AMT reboxed JoHan kits and offered the stock and Trans Am version. By the time the kit was done there were 6 versions......I am missing the funny version only. We need a new tool of the car. Stock, drag and Trans Am..........

'68 through '70 annuals had stock/custom/funny car versions in one box.  '71 on had no custom parts and were issued as two kits each year: stock or Pro Stock, and funny car only.  The latter had the promo style body with hood molded shut.

'68 annual, '69 annual, '70 annual, '70 Donohue TA, two '71 annuals plus AMT Donohue TA, two '72 annuals, AMT '74 annual.  I'm not aware of a specific '73 kit, though some of the Jo-Han kits with the '72 on the box have '73-'74 kits inside.  There is also the '73-'74 snap kit, all I have seen have Hurst mag wheels.  Also the George Follmer/Roy Woods TA racer.  All of those that I have seen have '73-'74 bodies, but the earliest of those might be '72s.  I think that covers the Javelins and Jav/AMX kits.

[mr moto]

I guess the short answer to "why so few AMC kits?" would be "because most of them were tooled by Johan. As we know all too well, most of Johan's tooling (all?) has gone to Neverland.