AMT:
The AMT Corporation jumped into the burgeoning market in 1964, producing four very nice 1/25 kits derived from their one-piece bodied “promo” models. The exception was the pale blue or gray Cobra Roadster, derived from the static kit, with a factory-glued hood. Other cars in the series were a blue Corvette Sting Ray, a red or yellow Ford Mustang and a red ’57 T-Bird, sporting a 2-piece aluminum frame, with a huge “round-can” gray Mabuchi “15” series motor. They were packaged in fragile but pretty window boxes. Many were sold and a number survives in like-new condition today.
Next issues were the 1/32 Avanti and Mustang GT kits, the Mustang being particularly hard to find nowadays. They used the same aluminum chassis and a gray Revell-like FT16 motor. Packaging was similar but the entire box was shrink-wrapped.
(Photo 14: AMT’s T-Bird kit is hardest to find of the first series.)
(Photo 15: Corvette Sting Ray assembled from the kit. A beautiful car with mediocre performance.)
(Photo 16: the 1/32 Avanti kit came in red, black and cream. Chassis is identical to 1/24-scale models, but it uses the smaller Mabuchi FT16.)
(Photo 17: Hard to find Mustang GT kit. Red is only color seen by author.)
Their second series was composed of four kits using an excellent 2-piece brass frame with no drop-arm, designed by expert Dick Dobson. The motor was a purple Mabuchi FT36D, the best production motor at the time. Independent front wheels with hard rubber and soft rear spongies showed understanding of chassis design. The bodies were a bit narrow, and were also issued as static kits. Packaging consisted of an injected rigid white plastic tray covered by a thick cardboard box top, with cars drawn in black and white.
Unfortunately, the choice of models was virtually the same as everyone else, i.e. the ubiquitous Chaparral II, Lola T70, and McLaren-Elva, as well as the more imaginative Hussein II. Some rarer colors are to be found, like a black McLaren-Elva or Hussein, usually molded in blue.
By this time, AMT had purchased Dynamic Models Inc. of North Hollywood, CA. Dynamic issued two RTRs using all components from the original AMT Mustang and Cobra. The Mustang was red, the Cobra gray. Later, besides Dynamic using AMT’s leftover purple FT16D and FT36D motors in their “Bandit” and “Renegade”, the only crossover between the two companies was the use by Dynamic of the black Hussein II body, modified with special slots to fit a brass body mount for the “Swinger” kit.
AMT jettisoned Dynamic in late 1967.
AMT’ s third series was the “Super Stock” RTR, with four models sold in very nice window boxes. The Ford Galaxie, Ford Mustang fastback, Mercury Comet Cyclone and the rarer Chevrolet Impala were joined by an oddity: AMT produced an unmarked kit in a small corrugated box for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway shop, a Comet Cyclone Pace car, molded in white or red, with decals to suit. Later, it released a Super Stock version with the same decals and a strip across the box proclaiming the use of the Comet as Pace Car at the Speedway.
(Photo 18: Ford “Super Stock” RTR had great handling and ample power with Mabuchi’s big FT36D. Gray-blue is standard. Rare color is aqua.)
(Photo 19: Mustang fastback in a scarce pale blue. Orange is standard, brown is even rarer.)
AMT’s penultimate venture was a line of four 1/32nd kits with vac-formed-bodies. The Ford GT, Lotus 30, McKee and Chevette used a smaller version of the brass frame, and a purple FT16D motor. They were terribly ugly, and sales were poor. The last two cars issued were a sacrifice to the “Thingie” gods: the Fantum and Bandido had their own aluminum one-piece chassis closely following the contour of the bodies. The big purple Mabuchi FT36D was once again the powerplant. Packaging was typical AMT static kit boxes.
(Photo 20: The Fantum RTR was also available in metallic blue.)
(Photo 21: Obviously inspired by Dynamic’s Bandit, AMT’s Bandido RTR never had its charisma.
It is worth noting that several AMT static kits of the period contained slot car interiors and body mounts for an easy conversion, most notably the ’67 Corvette roadster kit.
By 1967, AMT had called it quits and reverted to static kits only.
My Dad owned a Hobby Shop that closed in the early 1970's, and he kept some of the more interesting slot cars and accessories from that era. The items I am listing are in most cases, near new or gently used. I have taken many pictures to show every angle and have tried to describe all features and/or flaws to the best of my ability. Please email with any questions specific to something I may have missed. Please check my other listings as I will be selling many cars, accessories and track in all three scales-- HO, 1/32nd, and 1/24th. If you don't see the car or part you are looking for, please email me. If I have it, I will list it for you. Many of the items in my inventory are NEW OLD STOCK.