I have always loved this model of yours. It is stunning. Is it an original MPC kit? If it is, I've never seen one that looks so good. Whenever I try to build an MPC 77-78 Trans Am, the wheels/tires in the wheel wells looks terrible. *NM*

Thanks Scott, yes, base kit was the MPC76 firebird formula body , not sure why they didn’t do a T/A kit that year *NM*
- Old memory but IIRC there was a kerfuffle about the word Trans Am that got worked out. *NM*
  - It never really did get worked out. Always "Blackbird" or something... close. The lettering was always spread all over the decal sheet, too - even in the 10th Anniversary kits
    - MPC did use "Trans Am" on a few of them, like the '77-'78 annuals. I'm pretty sure my 10th Anniversary kit is a "Trans Am", though there was a "Firebird" box also. Monogram later got an exclusive deal which led to the MPC "Firebirds" with the scrambled decal sheets *NM*
      - MPC/AMT/Ertl 10th Anniversary Trans Am box art , , , *NM* *PIC*
    - Read years ago that the SCCA got FIVE dollars from Pontiac, for every Trans Am built. Don't know if it applied to the initials 'T/A'.
      - Your memory is probably better than mine - it wasn't much for how it spilled into the culture. Everything that looked like a Firebird after a few years was a "Trans Am" regardless of the trim level *NM*
        
        I’m not sure about that. Firebirds were never Trans Ams to me. However, I was an enthusiast that liked them so maybe it was different to people like me who knew what models they were. *NM*
        
        When I had my '82 S/E years ago almost everyone called ir a "Trans Am" . , , Pontiac even concidered changeing the name to just "T/A" when the 3rd gens came out for '82. Probably why MPC had the decals as "T/A" in the '82 kits. *NM*
        
        '82 would have landed smack in the middle of when Monogram had its exclusive deal *NM*
        I can understand that. The S/E model had almost the same exterior look of the Trans Am except for the turbo hood, but not all T/A’s came with the turbo hood in ‘82, black tinted taillights, lower body stripes, bowling ball hubcaps. It even fooled me back when they were *NM*
        
        Mine was solid dark blue/grey, solid hood, no fender vents, missing wheel covers so it looked like cheap turbine wheels. Just looked like a base model. No way it could have been mistaken for a T/A by anyone who knew that there were other Firebirds that WERE NOT Trans Ams. *NM*
        
        Oh, BTW, it was '97- 2000 when I had that car so a Trans Am looked a lot different then mine at the time. *NM*
        
        First new car was a HO V6 WS6 SE - same deal, everyone thought it was a TA
        
        I don’t think anyone would confuse this with a T/A, though. Well, at least I hope not. lol! *NM* *PIC*
      - ...which reminded me of something I used to see on a regular basis. *PIC*
        
        Then I found...this...when I went to look for a photo...
        
        One good thing about it is the ridiculous wheels are almost out of the wheel wells so you can actually admire the nice clean lines of the body. *NM*
- Promos came first, MPC probably wanted the Formula in those years *NM*
Try using the solid rubber GY tires from the old Caprice/Monte Carlo kits. Makes them look much better even the promo kits. *NM*

That is bright!!! *NM*

That's a real head-turner, terry. *NM*

That looks like a 1:1. Nice job! *NM*

Throw me the keys, I wanna test drive. *NM*

Messages In This Thread