|
Attention Modelers
Due to mis-communications and other gremilns there were two glowing errors in
the first batch of 1959 Rambler kits. First, it was not noticed until too late,
that the moon discs were manufactured with an incorrect back and didn't fit the
wheel. As a temporary substitute, the first 5000 kits, and ONLY THE FIRST 5000
KITS were provided with FREE 1958 Dodge Lancer Wheel covers. This was done so
that modelers would still have a custom wheel option. The moon discs have been
corrected and the Lancer wheel covers are no longer in the kit.
Second, the tire mold was the first mold repaired for this kit. Somehow the
inspection process was not correctly followed and the wrong tire mold was
repaired. The mistake was not discovered until 3000 kits had been made. The tire
is actually better looking than the one intended, but will not hold the promo
type wheel. We considered several alternatives to correct this error. Our new
partners, BestResin, in association with our retail division, Accucast-X-El,
have jointly developed a wheel back to address this issue. If you have one of
the first 3000 (most were sold at Hobby Lobby), you can get a free set of wheel
backs by sending the kit's UPC label and a self addressed stamped envelope to:
BestResin, c/o Mark Holland, PO Box 224451, Dallas, TX 75222-4451..
$23.00 
(Includes shipping in the U.S.)
Remember the 3-in-1 kits of yesteryear? JoHan's 1959 Rambler, kit #2101, is the
first arrival in the series of Curbside Custom Cruisers. This series is intended
to bring back the fun of modeling first experienced during the "Golden Age
of Modeling". While simple enough for novice builders, they have
a multitude of extra parts and building options to satisfy the intermediate and
advanced modelers as well. Though the Rambler wagon has been reissued as a promo
many times, it has never been a kit until now!
The Custom Cruiser option
includes a custom seat pattern (from the 1961 Rambler wagon kit) fender skirts,
spot lights, lake pipes, moon discs, and your choice of flames or custom wood
grained graphics. For surfers a custom full side wood grain decal is included as
well as decals for a Hanson surfboard and for a Frostie Root Beer cooler.
The Commercial Cruiser option provides parts
and decals for 3 police agencies, a taxi, or an ambulance, all with era correct
graphics and licenses. AMC actually offered a wagon based ambulance
conversion they called the "Rambulance"
The Family Cruiser option offers the luggage and picnic
cooler from the 1964-66 Rambler kits; red, black, or stock wood grain side
spears; 1959 seat & door pattern decals, era correct or modern license
plates; decals for body scripts and dash gages; correct tinted Solex window
glass; and even decals for the AM Air-conditioned emblem that was on cars so
equipped. A factory stock painting guide is included.
Tips for advanced builders offer ideas for a phantom
Deliveryman Pickup, a sedan, or an Ambassador.
This kit will provide not 1 but 2 decal sheets. decals for
the surf boards, the luggage, whitewall tires and a slew of license plates
including Canada. The plan for this kit is to give modelers more information
than they have ever seen before in any kit on the market. For example,
instructions for advanced builders on how to convert the wagon to an Ambassador
4 dr hardtop wagon and a phantom Deliverman pickup.
A FREE THIRD SHEET OF DECALS AS INTRODUCTORY OFFER IN FIRST 5,000 KITS!
Also visit our
parts department for even more optional parts for this kit!
1959 Rambler Gallery
These photos are the first to arrive since the release of the 59 Rambler
wagon. Submitted by Don Sikora II of Kenosha WS. The kit instruction sheet was
used to build the lowered, Ambassador conversion. Don used the 61 custom interior,
and the Lancer wheel covers that came in the first 3000 kits. Good work Don, and
thank you for sharing it with us.
AMC did not have enough money to stamp a
complete wagon roof panel, so they simply welded a short piece of
sheet metal to the B pillar, cobbled up a tailgate, and voila! A
station wagon!!! To convert the wagon to a sedan or hardtop,
simply reverse the process!
The following shots are the second arrival for posting to the website. This fine
example is submitted by James the Hippie Bush. Hippie says the model is built
box stock following the directions and input from the kit. It is painted with
Testors gloss black and Plastikote red. The only difference is the tires. They
are from a Johan promo kit. Lookin' good!! hippie.
Here is a shot from
Wendell Sowers of a Rambler drag wagon he built.
Wendell used a Lindberg 64 Plymouth chassis,
rear suspension and engine block, Revell Big John Willys ladder
bars and complete front suspension, AMT Ala Kart front tires and
JoHan 64 Dodge fender well headers. The resin he used: wheelie
bars, rear steel wheels and front Radir's, blower intake and bug
catcher, parachute and valve covers.
1959 Rambler Pick Up
Built By Paul Cheshire
Click to enlarge photo
Chuck Cady writes: I came across this
original un-restored but pretty solid 1959 Rambler
sedan on my travels. Since the JOHAN station wagon kit
gives some information on converting it to a sedan I thought
some people might be interested in some detail photos of the
rear of the sedan to help in making one out of the wagon kit.
NOTE from JoHan: Thanks, Chuck. I am sure everyone will
appreciate the photos. However, the dog dish hubcaps are NOT
1959 Ramblers. Close to correct ones can be made using the 68
Plymouth dog dishes with the Rambler kit's "R" decal
in the center.
Click to enlarge photo
 
Marco Ferrari writes: Just
finished building the 59 Rambler kit. It's refreshing to have
something finally have something "out of the ordinary"
and different to work on...especially a station wagon. I
opted to deviate from factory colors and painted it turquoise and
white. It turned out pretty nice. I really love the tinted
windows. Attached are two pictures. You are welcomed to use
them in your gallery.
Back in the 70's and 80's I always liked to build JoHan kits. I
was always
into the odder cars like Ramblers, Studebakers and cars with fins.
Johan
offered the best alternative to the common muscle cars being
kitted back
then. So it's been nice to see Johan back on store shelves.
I just picked
up the Turbine car and plan to build that next.
Click to enlarge photo
 
Tom
Coolidge writes: I'm attaching some pictures of a '59 that we had
built from an original Jo-Han. Perhaps you would like to use one
or more of these shots in your gallery ? If I find the pics of the
car on the actual Denver Dio, I'll send one or two of that as
well.
|
