06/29/2018
Stepping back to 1963 , a brief r***e of AMT's 1963 Chevrolet PU kit :
After a successful sales year with George Barris as a "Customizing " authority and the merger of SMP , a smaller modeling company in nearby Detroit . AMT was beginning to be the Gorilla of sorts in the 3 in 1 kit markets . Jo-Han of course was AMT's only real competitor . One can see how the idea of Build it YOUR way had taken off like a satellite rocket into space .
AMT was now alone in the Light truck markets as none of the plastic kit competitors had done anything comparable , save for Revell and to a tiny extent , Paul Linburg. .
The folks at AMT had the "Promotional " market tied up tight as they did Chromed Ford truck award models for outstanding Ford sales personnel and kits for we "Budding " motorists yearning for our license to drive .
For 1963 , the Chevrolet had been down graded a little from the premiere Apache series to a rather vague form of Custom Cab , Custom rear window and Custom Chrome options . Previously, the 1961 and 1962 Chevrolet Apache truck kits had the engraving for the Custom Cab's on the "B" panel along with the side trim. Now for the "Custom " crowd , this is is a Time saver . It was still considered KWELL to have a No chrome look . Sure Chrome Grilles , bumpers , well Nerf bars , Rolled pans were still very much in vogue . Amt kits of the era were Chock full of various Custom options like two Grille options including a giant "V" which attached to the Custom piece . Out back , a matching attachment with sat in a body colored Surround pan with what appeared to have been 1959 Pontiac Bonneville tail lamps . An optional Tailgate Filler panel could have also been chosen to have blocked off the Chevrolet stamping .
Because these Chevrolet Trucks were referred to as "Pinch - waist " trucks , The AMT customizing members decided upon a set of Exhaust pipes at the rear most ends of the Eight foot bed or more Filler panels so as to eliminate the exterior character line .
The interior choices were limited to some add on under dash gauges , a floor shift and a dash mounted rear view mirror . The engine , a dubious looking 327 Mouse motor had three Rochester 2 CG's on a cast iron intake which also served as a mounting point for the valve covers . I guess we weren't all that inspired as to separate starters , distributors in that time . Hey, the big deal was , it had an opening hood with an engine !
Optional wheels were Full Moons or the stock Dog Dishes along with the Vinyl White wall "Stick -on's " Service accessories consisted of the red Bubble Gum lamp , gas cans and a tool box .
Now in previous years of AMT annuals , one could have found pieces to build a Go Kart or a Motorcycle . Of course you HAD to buy ALL of the annual cars along with the Trucks to have done either . For 1963 , that all changed ! The Ford had a "Bonneville " . Go Kart surround for the kart . The Chevrolet featured a Triumph Motorcycle with a fiberglass Cafe shell. Replica's and Miniatures of Maryland now faithfully reproduce BOTH the Motorcycle and the kart separately .
I'll be building this truck as a "Shop truck " with my company logo, Art Forms design on the doors .
