Fox Body Mustang Kits. 1979 to 1982

[stavanzer]

I've been reading about the '79-'82 Mustangs. It makes me want to build one.

I graduated High School in 1981, and the New Mustang was all the rage. I guess I want to sort of step back in time to those days. Building a Mustang would help.

So, My question. For First Generation Mustangs, whose would you build. Monogram, Revell, MPC?

Which ones are easiest to find, and which ones are the most trouble free to assemble?  I'm looking for a simple, straight up, Box Stock build. No kit bashing, no wheel swaps, no add-ons. I'll probably paint it Red (Because Mustang!), but other than that, just an easy build. I really like the Three Spoke Wheels that came on the '79's, but I do not have to have them, if the recommended kit doesn't have them.

Thanks, for any Advice or Suggestions.

Alan Alexis

 

[Bainford]

My personal favourite is the MPC kit, probably because I built a few of them in my younger days. Most are probably going to recommend the Monogram, and based on your requirements I will too. I've not built the Monogram kit, but I'm told it builds well right of the box. The MPCs take a bit of tweaking to get everything looking right, but they do look good. If the Revell kit is the one I think it is, avoid it. It's a weak kit. 
 

I'm not up on the availability of any of these kits, don't know how hard to find or expensive they might be. 

Edited August 8, 2024 by Bainford

[Fat Brian]

I've built the Monogram and MPC 79 kits. The MPC kit looks better to me, the Monogram kit has a droopy eyed look to it that I'm not sure how to correct. The MPC 79 pace car kit comes with both the standard nose and the air dam nose, the Monogram kits are either the air dam nose in the pace car or the standard nose in the red car kit. They're all easy builds though I'm not a fan of the MPC chassis and interior.

 

Here is an 81 I built from the Monogram red car kit.

[stavanzer]

Brian, I really like the wheels and paint on that Mustang.

Great Build.

[Fat Brian]

9 hours ago, stavanzer said:

Brian, I really like the wheels and paint on that Mustang.

Great Build.

Thank you, the wheels are Aoshima, they have the correct 4 lug bolt pattern. I can't take credit for the paint, I pretty much copied this car.

[DJMar]

IMHO, the 4-eyed Mustangs are one of those cars that deserve an updated, newly tooled kit. But I'm weird about Mustangs.

Personally, I like the Monogram (Pace Car issue) the best of the bunch. It is simplified, but has the front air dam, rear spoiler and the 3 spoke wheels.

The MPC kits are a good second choice, and they released a number of different versions - Indy Pace Car, Snakebite, Turbo Cobra, etc.. The MPCs are also 1:25 vs the Monogram 1:24, if that matters to you.

I think your biggest challenge is going to be finding any of these for a reasonable price.

 

[rattle can man]

I would love a new fox body Mercury Capri

[stavanzer]

I wonder if Atlantis has the Indy Pace Car tooling, or if the Mustang Tooling that is left is the Monkey's Convertible?

[Fat Brian]

34 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

I wonder if Atlantis has the Indy Pace Car tooling, or if the Mustang Tooling that is left is the Monkey's Convertible?

There seem to be two of the Monogram kits left, the SVO hatchback and the 90 convertible. The 2010 reissue of the SVO kit was made in China, the 2001 reissue of the convertible was made in the US.

[stavanzer]

Off to the Secondary Market I guess.

I've got other kits to build, so I'll just work on those, and get my Nostalgia Fix later.

[Fat Brian]

3 hours ago, stavanzer said:

Off to the Secondary Market I guess.

I've got other kits to build, so I'll just work on those, and get my Nostalgia Fix later.

I picked up a pace car kit reasonably on ebay a while back, the engine was built poorly and the box had seen better days but almost anything missing can be sourced from one of the more readily available kits. The convertibles in particular go for pretty cheap at shows.

[webestang]

I have about 10-12 early Fox kits but I think they are all hatch's. I would love a fully detailed kit of the 79-82 notchback. Would like to replicate my 81 I had back in 1983. 

[stavanzer]

2 hours ago, webestang said:

I have about 10-12 early Fox kits but I think they are all hatch's. I would love a fully detailed kit of the 79-82 notchback. Would like to replicate my 81 I had back in 1983. 

Did the even make a kit of a Hatchback?

That is a sharp little car there. Was/Is that yours?

[DJMar]

4 hours ago, Fat Brian said:

I picked up a pace car kit reasonably on ebay a while back, the engine was built poorly and the box had seen better days but almost anything missing can be sourced from one of the more readily available kits. The convertibles in particular go for pretty cheap at shows.

This is one of the kits I have on constant eBay search. I've yet to find a factory sealed original Monogram Pace Car issue for under $50. But I'll keep looking!

[DJMar]

1 minute ago, stavanzer said:

Did the even make a kit of a Hatchback?

That is a sharp little car there. Was/Is that yours?

I'm assuming you mean notchback. I think the first notch they kitted was the Revell 1990 LX, which has some body shape/dimension issues. Every other kit was a hatch or convertible, unless I missed something.

[stavanzer]

You are correct, I meant Notchback.

[Fat Brian]

3 hours ago, DJMar said:

This is one of the kits I have on constant eBay search. I've yet to find a factory sealed original Monogram Pace Car issue for under $50. But I'll keep looking!

You won't find a sealed one for cheap, mine was water damaged, partially crushed, and started and was still $25 plus shipping.

[Can-Con]

13 hours ago, DJMar said:

I'm assuming you mean notchback. I think the first notch they kitted was the Revell 1990 LX, which has some body shape/dimension issues. Every other kit was a hatch or convertible, unless I missed something.

Monogram did do an early notch, but it's 1/32 scale snap.

[Rob Hall]

23 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

Monogram did do an early notch, but it's 1/32 scale snap.

I built one of those as a teenager in the late 80s to resemble my 1:1 '86 LX as far as the color scheme..dark metallic gray outside, red inside...

[stavanzer]

I wonder if Atlantis has the tooling for that one?

Would be a nice addition to the Nova and Firebird in 1/32.

[DJMar]

1 hour ago, Can-Con said:

Monogram did do an early notch, but it's 1/32 scale snap.

Totally forgot about that one!

[webestang]

17 hours ago, stavanzer said:

 

That is a sharp little car there. Was/Is that yours?

Thanks. Yep that was my ride from 1983 to 1988. Traded in my 68 Mustang for her which I kinda regret now. 

[webestang]

3 hours ago, Can-Con said:

Monogram did do an early notch, but it's 1/32 scale snap.

I do have this kit, thinking about using the body for my 1/32 slot track. 

[kelson]

I seem to remember years ago Morgan Automotive detail offered a 79'Notchback in resin,no idea if they're still in business.