Model Car Garage - The 1975 Corvette Convertible By AMT/ERTL - A Model Car Unboxing Video
Channel: Monster Hobbies Model Car Garage
Date: 30/07/2021

The 1975 model was advertised as "a more efficient Corvette," as service intervals were extended and electronic ignition and the federally mandated catalytic converter were introduced with "unleaded fuel only" warnings on the fuel gauge and filler door.

Today on the Monster Hobbies Model Car Garage we will be looking at the 1975 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible By AMT/ERTL - A Model Car Unboxing Video

For 1975, dual exhaust pipes were routed to a single converter, then split again leading to dual mufflers and tailpipes. Starting this year, tachometers were electronically driven. Speedometers now displayed small subfaces indicating kilometers-per-hour. 75's featured revised inner bumper systems with molded front and rear simulated bumper guards. The urethane rear bumper, now in its second year, reappeared as a one-piece seamless unit.

Power bottomed out this year — the base engine produced only 165 hp and the only remaining optional motor, the L-82, dropped an astonishing 45 hp, managing to deliver 205 hp. With no larger engine available, L-82 hood emblems began to appear on cars so equipped. 

This was the last convertible for the 1968-82 third-generation and only 12% of the cars were ordered as such. As in previous years, a folding top came standard with roadsters and a body color or vinyl covered hardtop was optional at additional cost. Anticipating further federal safety restrictions, Chevrolet believed it would be Corvette's last soft-top model ever but the convertible returned in 1986. 

This AMT 31813 1975 Corvette Convertible kit was part of the 50th Anniversary Series of Corvette kits made under GM licence by AMT. 

The 1975 Corvette Convertible By AMT/ERTL was originally released by MPC in 1975 (as a 1974) and this kit is a re-working of that original model, yet it is missing some of the original pieces like the Hilborn Fuel Injectors, racing exhaust, Wankel 4 Rotor Engine and stand, and operational front coil spring set-up. Other than that, this kit is the same.  However, the original MPC kit came with the 454 Cubic Inch engine and the real car was never so equipped.  This MPC "Engine blunder" is still a part of this model and should be replaced with a more accurate Chevy 350 from another Corvette model kit, possibly the AMT 1970-1972 Corvette models. 

Onbe thing that AMt corrected on the old MPC kit is the Corvette hood emblem. The MPC model was basically a 1974 car and had the large medallion on the headlight panel. AMT removed that medallion and replaced it with the smaller 1975 version. 

The AMT 1975 Corvette Coupe model kit is made of semi-soft grey plastic, clear plastic, transparent red plastic and chrome. The soft vinyl tires are BF Goodrich Radial T/A's which could be accurate to the real Corvette since in 1972 BF Goodrich launched the radial-ply touring tires in North America, while other manufacturers continued to develop “Bias-ply” tires. One very nice thing about AMT kits is that the body, chrome and clear parts are all in a separate bags to keep them from being scratched by other parts. 

Fortunately, the AMT 1975 Corvette Convertible model kit itself is not really that large. You get a few remaining options for building the kit from the MPC edition. This would include a racing interior option with tachometer, racing helmet, 3-piece roll cage, instrument gauge cluster, and racing seat belts. You also get the choice of 4bbl carburetor or the three 2bbl triangle air cleaner option. The wheels include the choice of the GM factory rally wheels, "cyclone" style Corvette optional wheels or the MPC racing wheels which are included in the kit but not shown on the instruction sheet. The MPC racing headers and a factory luggage rack are also included on the parts tree, but not listed in the instructions. 

As you might expect from a RC2 model kit, decals are not a big deal for this model car.  You basically get a decal sheet with 2 licence plate decals. The instructions show the decals for the MPC car, but they are not included in the kit. "Missing" items were a sort of hallmark for RC2.

All that being said, the AMT/ERTL 1975 Corvette Convertible model kit will build into a nice shelf model. It has pose-able front wheels and fills a void in the mid 1970's model car slot. It would be nice to see a fast-back roof body for this model kit just so we could have both versions of the 1975 Corvette. 

If you like these rare vintage sports cars, then the AMT 1975 Corvette Convertible model car kit is perfect for you! 

You may ask yourself "Where can I purchase the AMT/ERTL 1975 Corvette Convertible model kit?"  

See what we have - https://www.monster-hobbies.ca/Hobby_Products/c57-model-car-kits/

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Thank you for watching the Model Car Garage - The 1975 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible By AMT/ERTL - A Model Car Unboxing Video. 

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