— A guide featuring rare and desirable scale Mopar_® plastic kits and metal diecasts
— NHRA Funny Cars, Super Stocks, drag cars, NASCAR stockers and factory promos
— Showing currently available and hard-to-find examples 

Loyal Mopar lovers typically appreciate all the different varieties of vehicles that wear the Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Jeep_®, DeSoto and Dodge Truck badges. This is a simple, undeniable fact. If space and money were no object, certainly the majority of Pentastar fanatics worldwide would have a warehouse full of their (full-size 1:1) favorites as their personal collection. While that makes for a great automotive fantasy, it is – no matter how appealing – a rather unlikely scenario!

ALL ABOUT SIZE

Whenever one speaks of car modeling and diecast collecting, the word “scale” always comes up, and it is important to remember that scales of the items are actually mathematical fractions. Scale = measurements as compared to the real, full-sized vehicle.

The actual car itself is 1:1, meaning comparing the actual size to (repetitive) actual size, one size is equal to one (same) size. One of the most popular scales of plastic kits as example is 1:25 scale, meaning the kit is 1/25th the size of the original vehicle. And a small Hot Wheels or Matchbook car is 1:64 scale, relating to the fact that it measures 1/64th the size of the real thing. So the smaller the number in the fraction, the larger the replica is. A popular size in metal diecast cars is 1:18 scale, and it should be pointed out that just because a replica is a certain size, it doesn’t automatically mean there’s going to be more intricate detail built into it, that all depends on the manufacturing process and the price point set by the manufacturer.     

A way to “think small” Chrysler for product lovers is to augment their automotive passions with a selection of scale miniature models of the cars that they enjoy, but normally could not afford and/or have space for. And with such a wide and varied number of interesting and desirable miniature Mopar vehicles produced over the years, everything from the Airflow to the Viper, there’s no end in sight to the amount of scale replicas to start collecting! With today’s current offerings, plus what’s been available over the past 40 years, there is an almost endless selection of available scale-sized Mopar vehicles out there, priced high to low based on their rarity.

One thing that has made collecting scale cars more affordable is that market prices have actually come down on certain vintage collectibles in recent years. Why? It’s mostly thanks to the growth of eBay as everybody and their brothers have gone up to their attics and dug out all their own collections for resale, which in effect flooded the marketplace and has drastically lowered the selling prices of what once was thought to be “hard-to-find” models, kits and promos. And on the flip side, some kits are priced through the roof!

Road Signature’s 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T Convertible 1:18 scale diecast in Sublime Green with HEMI^® engine power, black interior, high-back bucket seats, correct “pistol grip” Hurst shifter, bumblebee stripe.

PROMO MODELS

Included in the mix are plastic-bodied 1/25th scale “promotional cars” (used by the factory to promote the lines of new cars in the showroom), which were often given out to the children of buyers and potential buyers of new Chrysler products back in the day at dealerships. Accurate colors were molded into these promos, some with a metallic type finish.  

Shown here with the original box, the 1:25 scale MPC 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T promo car molded in code PP1 Red color, complete with redline rubber. Most all were given away at Dodge dealers, this is a very rare item today!

Here’s the underside of the MPC 1971 Dodge Challenger promo showing how they incorporated molded-in suspension, engine and transmission. All assembled with four attachment screws, metal F&R axles were used to allow for rolling wheels.

The 1971 1:25 scale Dodge plastic cars from MPC were available direct in this special offer mail order ad that ran in late 1970 for $1.00 each plus postage (.25 cents). The offer was for assembled “promo” cars (Challenger R/T and Charger R/T) plus Challenger R/T customizing kit as well. Great prices at the time, even for kids.

392 GEN I SUPERCHARGED HEMI ENGINE DIECAST

From GMP Diecast (Georgia Marketing & Promotions), a Chrysler 392-cid HEMI engine that emulates a ’60s front-engined dragster powerplant, in 1:18 scale. The cylinder heads are fully engraved on both sides, brass head and intake manifold gaskets are part of the assembly and the zoomie headers are chrome. Polished blower case, ribbed blower belt, functional injector butterflies and polished ignition magneto. Crazy detail! 

WHITE BEAR DODGE CHARGER

The 1971 diecast Dodge Charger Funny Car from Tom Hoover, sponsored by Minnesota Dodge dealer White Bear Dodge, in 1:18 scale from Auto World, part of their “Legends of the 1/4-mile” series. Released in 2014, over 100 parts, including being fully wired and plumbed.  

POLAR LIGHTS HAWAIIAN

Polar Lights released this 1969 “Hawaiian” Dodge Charger Funny Car plastic kit in 1999, 1:25 scale and featuring a Keith Black Supercharged HEMI engine with “zoomie” headers, Logghe chassis. Pictured is a built version. Roland Leong car owner, Larry Reyes driver. 

MOONEYES DODGE DAYTONA

The Mopar-bodied Mooneyes Funny Cars are represented here with Racing Champions’ 1/64 scale 1996 Dodge Daytona and 1:144 1997 version, both of which were driven by Tokyo’s Kenji Okazaki.

BARRACUDA FUNNY CARS

The Polar Lights Big John Mazmanian 1:25 scale 1969 Barracuda Funny Car, a Keith Black car driven by nephew Rich Siroonian. The kit is listed as a “1968” car; however, one look at the hood and it’s clearly a ’69 body. 

The 1971 Dunn & Reath Barracuda Funny Car, a 1:24 diecast from 1320. Jim Dunn the fireman, Joe Reath the owner of Reath Automotive, Woody Gilmore chassis, supercharged HEMI engine on nitro, high-gear-only car and quick-change rear end.

OAKLEY HEMI

The 2004 Dodge Oakley Mopar/HEMI Funny Car 1:16 scale, driven by Gary Scelzi, part of the Don Schumacher Racing stable. Constructed with over 300 detailed parts, with posable steering and detailed, authentic body graphics.

CHALLENGER SE RESIN BODY

Here’s a 1:25 scale resin body that can be used with suggested donor kit AMT 6466, 1970 Dodge Challenger, and it features the “SE” rear glass plus overhead console as per the 1:1 cars. From Jimmy Flintstone studios.

QUARTER-SCALE 426 VISIBLE HEMI

Testors released this 1/4th scale battery-operated 426 Chrysler Street HEMI engine, a plastic kit featuring over 300 detailed parts complete with sound card recording of the real thing! An electric motor moves the crankshaft, pistons, cam and valves, right through to the rocker arms. “Easy-to-follow instructions help you assemble, detail and paint this miniature masterpiece.”

WINGED WARRIORS

The Dodge Daytona from 1969 has been a popular scale model mini-Mopar for many years and pictured is Legends of Racing’s 1:43 scale Jim Van-diver’s independent Daytona (sells in the $20.00 to $25.00 range) and a trio of 1:64 scale cars from Racing Champions, the Bobby Isaac K&K Insurance, Bobby Allison/Mario Rossi-owned and Fred Lorenzen/Cotton Owens’-owned Daytonas, all of which go for $15.00 to $20.00 range each.    

For promotional use, in 1969, Holly Hedrich of Keith Black Racing Engines had this Dodge Daytona, paint by Molly and colorful design. This is the Ertl Limited Edition 1:18 scale car, from 2003. Autoworld also offered one in 1:18 scale as part of their Car Culture Series, and included the “L.A. and Orange County Dodge Dealers” markings. 

CHARGERS ON THE TRACK

Staged in a group of three on a simulated superspeedway track, these three 1:25 Chargers were photographed at a San Diego Model Car Club gathering. The MPC 1971 #71 car was a NASCAR licensed kit, the other two, 1969 Charger “500” cars, one the custom-built #3 Buddy Baker version (thanks to Waterslide decal markings) and the other #71 car, both made from MPC kits. 

VINTAGE ’50s NASCAR

Legends of Racing presented this 1/43rd scale diecast in 1992 of the Carl Keikhaefer NASCAR Chrysler 300-B driven by Buck Baker, complete with a clear plastic display case. 

LITTLE RED WAGON

Since the 1960s, Lindberg has been producing this 1:25 scale plastic kit of Bill “Maverick” Golden, the Dodge A100 “Little Red Wagon” shown here expertly built. Famous wheelstander with injected Gen II HEMI engine! New sealed kits are readily available in the marketplace.

MISS MIGHTY MOPAR DUSTER

Factory-sponsored Mopar drag racer Judy Lilly’s 1974 Plymouth Duster Super Stocker came from Ertl (in 2004) in 1/18th scale diecast, complete with opening hood and doors. A detailed 360 LA small-block engine and steerable front wheels. “Miss Mighty Mopar”, a car that saw victory at NHRA national events!

SIX PACK SUPER BEE

This 1969 Dodge Super Bee Six Pack 1:24 scale car is a premium diecast from Danbury Mint with opening doors, opening decklid, lift-off hood, removable air cleaner assembly and removable spare tire and highly detailed interior and trunk. Originally produced in 2007 and measures 8 5/8-inches in length.

1964 S/FX DODGE

Part of the fun is creating custom “scratch-built” model cars, this is an accurate presentation of one, the “Dodge Chargers” ’64 Dodges that Carlsbad, California’s Dragmaster shop built, in 1/25th scale. With the stock wheelbase and with a supercharged 426 Wedge engine, a foreshadow to the altered wheelbase Funny Car.

CALIFORNIA FLASH IN PLASTIC

From Moebius is this 1965 Plymouth Belvedere I 2-door sedan, factory S/S car with A990 HEMI engine and 4-speed transmission. Kit comes with accurate 2×4 cross-ram intake, hood scoop, Dodge van bucket seats and correct exhaust headers with cutouts/single exhaust. These pics are of an expertly built kit, and with fogged-in undercarriage over-spray paint. 1:25 scale.   

1:18 DIRECT CONNECTION ’68 SS/AA

For the 1968 drag wars, the factory assembled a run of 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Super Stocks, complete with 426 Race HEMI engine, lift-off scooped fiberglass hood and with fiberglass front fenders. This is the “Rossi & Siemer” car that was campaigned in the mid-1970s, available from Desktop Muscle Cars.   

Upcoming in Part II of this story: Hot Wheels of “Mongoo$e & Snake” and King Richard Petty, plus “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, and more, including the famous Chrysler Corporation Turbine Car model! 

Author: James Maxwell