Monkees '87 Mustang GT 5.0 monogram 1/24 ragtop

[mk11]

Curiosity about the tales I've heard regarding the monogram monkees mustang summoned a very reasonably priced example to my mailbox recently. As I also had an unbuilt '83/'84 ragtop here and some very sweet builds have surfaced lately, I thought a few contrast pics were in order, just to add to the kitbashers pool of knowledge here on the site.

The Monkees kit was obviously a transition kit using the '79-'86 interior and '83-'85 mechanical parts under the new for '87 body, thrown on the market to capitalize on their Monkees theme licence- and probably to gain capital to finish the drivetrain re-tooling   It was molded in a funky swirled blue plastic to somewhat replicate the marbleized paint on the real car. The body had the necessary external updates but shared the engine bay with the earlier convertible body. Interior bucket and dash were also carried over.

 

5.0 litre 4v dual snorkel air cleaner equipped engine and single exhaust was also a straight reissue. Chrome shot contrast shows wheel difference. Chrome pony wheels and dual exhaust from later issue shown as well for contrast.

Here's a contrast of early and late chassis showing minor trimming on tail end and extra holes for dual exhaust mounting

 

The monkees kit is a very affordable alternative to the earlier '83 kit for those looking for the 5.0 parts and dash for backdating other Fox body kits.

mike

Edited March 17, 2018 by mk11

[slusher]

That's some real good info Mike. I never would have thought of that version.

[peekay]

Thanks for the comparo Mike. I agree with Carl - these sort of posts are good value.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Your quip about gaining capital to finish the conversion was not only funny, but something that halfway occurred to me as the one factor to make this whole exercise excusable.  If Columbia Pictures TV - pimping that '80s version of the band - fronted a few promotional dollars for the kit, maybe it helped Monogram deliver a complete '89 for that short-lived "Performance Series".

A 2-in-1 parts donor for more legitimate Monogram Fox-body kits pre- and post-'87.  Not such a discredit to manure after all, I guess!

 

[keyser]

5 minutes ago, Chuck Kourouklis said:

Your quip about gaining capital to finish the conversion was not only funny, but something that halfway occurred to me as the one factor to make this whole exercise excusable.  If Columbia Pictures TV - pimping that '80s version of the band - fronted a few promotional dollars for the kit, maybe it helped Monogram deliver a complete '89 for that short-lived "Performance Series".

A 2-in-1 parts donor for more legitimate Monogram Fox-body kits pre- and post-'87.  Not such a discredit to manure after all, I guess!

 

The roof is a little off Chuck. ??‍♂️?

[Chuck Kourouklis]

HHHHHHA

[mk11]

Certainly can't beat that perceptive summary, Mr K  

Obviously we'll never see the '83 body again, with the mold update to the newer body, but fortunately the massaging needed to backdate the new body is limited to the side moldings and lower regions. With a talented resin caster capable of sculpting the proper slot between the headlights on the '83 fascia to make an '85/'86 front cap and maybe casting the '79-'82 & '83/'84 front ends, along with tail lights etc, we could see the complete line of four-eyed foxes being within reach of interested modelers.