In the 1960s, model kit building was a huge hobby. Kids built plastic kits of planes, tanks, race cars, space ships, creatures from scary movies, you name it. Before baseball card collecting, Pokémon, and video games, model kit building was one of the most popular hobby activities. Car and airplane kits were the most popular, and among the car kits, muscle cars, as we know them today, were one of the most popular categories. Many owners of real muscle cars today were not old enough to buy them when the cars were new, of course. Yet kids of the 1960s and 1970s worshiped these cars to an extent completely foreign to kids today. If you couldn’t afford or were too young to buy a muscle car back then, what could you do? For many, the next best thing was to buy, collect, and build muscle car kits from a variety of kit companies. Hundreds were made. Many of these kits have become collectible today, especially in original, unassembled form. Although people still build kits today, there is a broad market for collectors of nostalgic model kits. People love the kits for the great box art, to rekindle fond memories of building them 40 years ago, or even as a companion to the full-scale cars they own today. Here, world-leading authority Tim Boyd takes you through the entire era of muscle car kits, covering the options, collectability, variety availability, and value of these wonderful kits today. Boyd also takes you through the differences between the original kits, the older reproduction kits, and the new reproduction kits that many people find at swap meets today. If you are looking to build a collection of muscle car kits, interested in getting the kits of your favorite manufacturer or even just of the cars you have owned, this book will be a valuable resource in your model kit search.

New from the Nostalgic Treasures series: a comprehensive guide for modelers or would-be modelers. Discover histories and descriptions of some of the more significant collectible groups of kits including AMT's Trophy Series double kits, 1953-62 Corvette kits, Mopar B-body kits, Classic kits, and more. Find out how to get started collecting model cars, what to look for, and the pros and cons of collecting versus building vintage kits. A superb addition to your modeling library.

Relive the glorious first 25 years of Chevy drag racing in this comprehensive and nostalgic history. With the introduction of Chevy’s OHV V-8 in 1955, the brand’s domination on the drag strip immediately snowballed. Drag racers loved the compact V-8. It was lightweight, revved high, and responded like no other engine previously produced to modification. Chevy saw a record year in sales in 1955, thanks to a combination of a restyled body and the new mill. It was the age of ingenuity, and those who could get their hands on the new engine were swapping it into engine bays that once housed other weaker mills. Ford’s flathead, one that had dominated for so long, was rendered obsolete almost overnight. Chevy had a winner and dominated the sales charts for years to come. Aftermarket manufacturers got on board and offered up all the go-fast goodies needed to make Chevy a winner, no matter what category they ran. From Dragsters to Stock, Chevy’s success was immediate. And it was a long-term success, thanks to a combination of years of great styling and a vast array of driveline combinations. Accomplished racing author Dour Boyce takes a celebratory look at those years of success, with a focus on the first 25 years (1955 through 1980). Chevrolets gave rise to such stars as Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins, “Jungle Jim” Liberman, “Sneaky Pete” Robinson, “Dyno” Don Nicholson, Sox & Martin, Dick Harrell, Dave Strickler, and many more. World champs and fan favorites all drove Chevys. The success showed in the record books. No brand has won more races and events or has set more national records than Chevrolet. And unlike the other manufacturers, Ford and Chrysler, it was done with little to no factory support. Whether you are a hardcore Chevy fan or just love catching up on the history of drag racing during the golden age, this nostalgic look at Chevy racing history is sure to entertain for hours on end.

This richly illustrated book offers a complete guide to building model truck kits, across all of the popular scales. Concentrating on civilian vehicles, renowned modeller George Dent describes the fundamental processes involved in kit-building, including preparation and assembly of components, detailing and modification work including custom fittings, plus an in-depth look at painting and weathering techniques. Featuring a range of popular, readily available kits in all of the popular scales: 1:72, 1:48, 1:35, 1:32 and 1:24, and suitable for modellers of all abilities, each project is clearly explained in an illustrated, step-by-step format with over 680 colour photographs.

Growing up in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s saw the development of extensive prosperity, of previously unknown luxury, and a level of frivolity that the previous generation never knew. Television, expansion into the suburbs, and the rapid growth of automobiles all led to a development boom that people had never experienced. Combine this with automotive growth, hot rodding, car shows, kids playing with toy cars and building models, and you have the elements necessary to create the show rod craze that proliferated in America during the 1960s and 1970s. A complement to author Scotty Gosson's previous title, America's Wildest Show Rods of the 1960s & 1970s, this all-new book covers what was often the inspiration for all those crazy show rods, the model kits themselves. Viewed from a collector's standpoint rather than a builder's point of view, all of the coolest and wildest kits are featured. Kits including the Red Baron, Li'l Coffin, Mysterion, Uncertain-T, Batmobile, and many more are featured from manufacturers such as Monogram, AMT, Revell, and MPC. Interviews and insights from the designers, the car builders, and the corporate suits provide a unique behind-the-scenes insight into not only what enthusiasts were demanding, but also the methods and marketing savvy that made it all happen. Author Gosson's entertaining prose, unique perspective, diligent research, and color photography throughout make this book essential for show rod enthusiasts. Whether you are interested in picking up the collecting hobby, just want a few cool kits from your childhood to display, or simply want to reminisce about building and obsessing over these crazy kits from your youth, Show Rod Model Kits: A Showcase of America's Wildest Model Kits will be a fun addition to your library.

Covers slot racing cars and tracks, how to duplicate real race tracks in scale, troubleshooting and performing maintenance on slot cars, racing terms, and how to organize a race event.