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So you're looking for a bargain on a muscle car?
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
March 13, 2006
Category: Announcements
If you are a car freak like we are at Revell, a muscle car fan in particular, you were probably plastered to your TV with eyes wide one weekend in late January during the Speed TV cable channel live broadcast of the Barrett-Jackson automobile auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona. (If you missed the live broadcasts, Speed TV is frequently replaying highlights from the event. Click on the link at the bottom of this story to go to their website and check their schedule).
While these annual festivities held under the huge tents in the desert has long been known for being the premier classic car auction event, this year's sale tops even the lofty marks this event has set in the past. A little over 1,000 cars passed through the sale ring bringing in over one hundred million dollars-an average of over $90,000 each.
Most of the cars that attracted the largest bids, those ranging into seven figures, were understandably incredibly rare or one-of-a-kind factory prototypes that somehow escaped the corporate crusher.
However, what was also notable were the record-high sale prices that regular production muscle cars released by Ford, GM and Chrysler brought. Yes, these were cars had rarely ordered engines and options that also underwent meticulous restorations, but the sky seemed to be the limit to what these factory street burners were bringing.
Now, how does this all tie in to model cars? (Well, you knew that there was going to be a tongue-in-cheek tie-in, right?) Seriously, this gets to one of the main attractions building a model car kit of your favorite muscle car holds. If you're like us, you don't have the spare cash around to be able to bid on some of these incredible machines. So a Revell or Monogram model kit provides us with a way to own all the classics you ever wanted-even if it is in a smaller than full-size scale. Take a scan over some of these results from the Barrett-Jackson auction and the corresponding Revell kits you can use to build a replica of:
Lot#1319-1971 Plymouth Hemi® 'Cuda Hardtop-sold for $648,000. There were only 108 'Cuda hardtops built with the 426 Hemi in 1971 which partly explains why this car brought so much. Fortunately, the Revell 1:24 scale version (kit #85-2943) will run you only $15.50 at your local hobby retailer, and you can repaint yours any color you want and it won't reduce the value, unlike the real car.
Lot #1326-1967 Shelby GT500™ Fastback-sold for $442,800. Head on down to your local store and Revell will sell you one (in 1:25 scale) already prepainted for only $21.25. (Kit #85-1522) Who says you can't find a bargain these days?
Lot #1284-1967 Corvette® 427 Convertible-sold for $378,000. You couldn't find a nicer restored '67 Corvette than this one-Rally Red in color, white convertible top and black stinger stripe on the hood. For only $15.50, you can pick up Revell's kit number 85-2968 and make yourself a virtual 1:25 scale clone, right down to the side exhausts.
Lot #752.1-1966 Shelby Mustang GT350H-sold for $180,900. This car was one of the thousand or so GT350's sold to the Hertz rental company-hence the "H". Revell's kit #85-2482 will set you back only $15.50 and you'll save a bundle in liability insurance alone.
Lot #1313-1969 Dodge Charger Daytona-sold for $172,800. A gorgeous car, Copper Metallic with white wing stripe and a 440 Magnum V-8. Revell's kit #85-2824 has all the showroom stock parts including the 440 engine.
This is just a sampling of some of the beautifully restored cars that sold at this year's Barrett-Jackson auction. With the onset of spring and summer, many cities will have local car shows coming up so make sure you bring your camera. Good reference material, be it from the internet or photos you've taken yourself, is key to creating a accurate replica of your favorite muscle or classic car.
Check the calendar here on the Revell website for upcoming car shows in your area. Bring along some of your built Revell models to these car shows. Chances are good that the exhibitors will enjoy seeing them as much as you enjoy seeing their full-size versions.
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