1974 Chevy Malibu (Stock converted from AMT Lennie Pond Nascar)

[Cosmo_Song]

I was excited to get this '74 Malibu from AMT since there hasn't been many mid 70s midsize GM colonnade cars from major model makers (except for the Johan Cutlass decades ago). I'm a big fan of Malaise era cars so I figured I could get this Nascar car and convert it into a mainstream factory stock '74 Malibu.

 

I thought it looked quite okay if I modify the front fender and wheel opening a bit.

 

Until I took a closer look at the side profile and compared it to a Johan Cutlass that I have, big difference on the pillars and greenhouse proportions. It looks like the AMT Malibu had a chopped top. I realized there's much more need to be done to fix the proportions before I can work on the front fenders.

 

 

[Cosmo_Song]

The rear wheel opening was also a little too long comparing to my reference photos, so I started with cutting from the middle of the rear wheel opening and moved it forward about 2mm. In the meantime I cut the A pillar from the bottom and made cut on the B pillar to adjust the roof angles, I moved the entire roof backward for 2mm and extended the A pillars.

 

I could technically cut the fenders from another AMT Malibu body but I decided to try something different for replicating the body panels without damaging an existing body. I built a box with cardboard to cover the inside and outside of the rear panel area that I wanted to replicate, and sealed the curvy gaps with silly putty. Once the silicone mold was cured I poured resin into it and it came out quite good and maintained the same body panel thickness from the parent part. I will use the resin duplicate parts to implant into the front fender area.

 

I marked the fenders on the line when the surface would bend to align with the main body and installed the duplicated resin parts with super glue + baking soda. Then I started to use Tamiya epoxy putty to merge the gaps and start forming the shapes all around the main body.

 

The original tail panel was too short, I added 1mm styrene sheet on the bottom and scratch built the taillight and license plate opening areas.

 

I used the Gray Mr. Hobby Mr Surfacer 1200 to check the body curvature consistency and now all the flaws became very noticeable. I'll continue work on smoothing out the main body.

Edited April 18, 2023 by Cosmo_Song

[Cosmo_Song]

In the meantime I'm looking for an interior that I can use, any suggestion for the bench seat and dashboard options? 

[1972coronet]

Quite the ambitious project ! It would appear that you've got the skills required to tackle this conversion -- those tail lamp fixtures alone are tricky. 

Is this going to be a Laguna S-3 ?

Some 40 years ago someone made a street / stock Laguna from the MPC Hawaiian Tropic (from Cannonball Run) . I'm sure that someone has images of it.

Keep on keepin' on !

[1972coronet]

Here's a link to decals :  [see below]. While I cannot personally attest to the quality of Ray's decals, other members have used them and the positive reviews are numerous.

 

Edited April 18, 2023 by 1972coronet
*TYPO*

[Khils]

14 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

Is this going to be a Laguna S-3 ?

 

  I do not recall "who" ...built tha S-3...but remember it as white w/ a red or maroon landau top.

 **My bad that was decades back in that "other" magazine.**

25 minutes ago, Cosmo_Song said:

I'll continue work on smoothing out the main body.

I'll be watching this build....I think your progress is paying dividends!

Carry on!

Edited April 18, 2023 by Khils
Correction

[Khils]

15 minutes ago, 1972coronet said:

While I cannot personally attest to the quality of Ray's decals,

Ray's stuff is great...he includes interior, underhood details also.

 I'll hafta find the link ...but there's a gentleman here in the states that's selling Rays decals & works closely  with Ray.

[Khils]

Here's one of his eBay listings......

[DoctorLarry]

That was my Laguna S-3. I built a replica of my real car. If you want accurate interior, use the parts from a Revell 77 Monte Carlo Snap Kit. They are real hard to find now, but I have some spare parts I would donate to the cause.

[DoctorLarry]

Here is the photo.

[Cosmo_Song]

19 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

Quite the ambitious project ! It would appear that you've got the skills required to tackle this conversion -- those tail lamp fixtures alone are tricky. 

Is this going to be a Laguna S-3 ?

Some 40 years ago someone made a street / stock Laguna from the MPC Hawaiian Tropic (from Cannonball Run) . I'm sure that someone has images of it.

Keep on keepin' on !

Thank you! I'm planning to do a mainstream Lumina Classic

 

[Mattilacken]

Great work! Also a huge fan of these some how! I have a 3gen going as well, and one original MPC and a nice resin body of the same stock car version in their boxes.
 

 I also used to be owner of a 1977 Malibu Classic Landau! 

nice corrections. It seems in my opinion and some others that the MPC body is more accurate even though it has it flaws.

[Cosmo_Song]

Finished as Nov.17th

Many thanks to DoctorLarry's interior donor parts!

[spkgibsonfirebird]

Amazing conversion!

[Duddly01]

Some serious work going on there, Nice job!

 

[slusher]

Real nice work and conversion!

Edited November 19, 2024 by slusher