The Model Car Showroom
Reviews, pictures, hints, and links 1/24, 1/25 car kits
’69 AMC SC / Rambler
This is a review of the Jo-han 1969 SC / Rambler #GC-2500
This review is a bit different than I’ve usually done. This is more of a rant and dismembering than a review. The JO-HAN kits have a long standing of being rare, expensive, and good quality. This is NOT that type of kit.
I have long wanted to buy another AMC kit that wasn’t a pitiful Pacer, lethargic Gremlin, or abhorred Matador. This kit is readily on Ebay and sells for exactly one arm and two legs… around $65. I thought that I could make a good run at producing a nice looking model. What I didn’t realize is that the lovely folks at JO-HAN designed a poorly crafted fraud.
The big gag with this expensive B.S. comes from the car NOT BEING a 1969 Rambler. This is – IN FACT – a 1966 Rambler Rogue American. – And here’s why:
The rear end of the car has taillights that are wider than where the hood starts. The 1969 taillights end AT the hood. The only Rambler to have this is a 1966.
The actual ’69 Rambler SC had taillights like this one. The remainder of the rear is the same, but the rear valance is quite different.
This is the model car – and as you can see – the taillights do not match the ’69. This American also doesn’t have side markers like the ’69 – or any other emblems either.
Now, aside from being a fraud, the model car is quite garbage for numerous reasons. Like:
- There is a multitude of flash to deal with – even with the chrome pieces. Some parts are even hidden on the tree because of it (took me a third time through the trees to find the ignition coil because it was stuck to the tree with flash – hiding it completely).
- The axles are made of round plastic that are difficult to use, roll, and insert. It is made worse since TWO of the wheel backs are made for a pin – which doesn’t come with the car. I had to use toothpicks to fix this issue.
- The decals – being some 30 years old – were rubbish. Following the instructions, I wasn’t able to use two of them as they broke and crumbled from age. The side decals also don’t have cutouts for the door handles – making a terrible procedure of cutting.
- The trunk lid fits about as well as a size 27 shoe on Richard Petty. The gap is outlandish and made worse by not being attachable for “opening”.
The hood had a chip in it; the wheels were whitewalls (not typical for these cars – more for a ’66 American); the headrests don’t have the texture needed for the tri-color look; and being a ’66 vs a ’69, the car should have a 327ci – since it did not come with a 390.
I painted the car Classic White, but wished I had used a ’66 American color. That said, I would still have had a misplaced hood scoop if I wanted to go more stock. I also painted the rims as per a SC, but think I may change them as the red side decals are toast.
There is a lot to be said for buying this model car and keeping it for an investment. It is already selling for $50-$60 and more. I find the model and the high sales of them despicable since it is such a hoax. It would be like buying a ’71 Hemi Cuda and finding out the kit was actually a ’74 with a lousy 360. As far as buying this as a model to build, it is among the worst I’ve ever purchased… and certainly for $56. It is a rubbish model with the taint of being misrepresented. I’ve seen a couple modelers build this car with the wrong rear lights; purchased a decal set; and tons of detail – just for a car that doesn’t match. I’d rather have saved all that mess and bought a proper model for half the price.
2.5 – Disastrous
The Model Car Showroom 
if you don’t like building models , you should invest in die cast .
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I was going to delete this but I decided I’d rather reply since you’re my first negative comment in 10,000 views. I have been building for decades and REALLY enjoy a good model car. The article you are commenting on is about purchasing a VERY expensive model and finding out it was a cheap fraud. I then informed everyone else of the expensive sham so they don’t get “taken” either. I’m not sure how that remotely means I “don’t like building models”. Thanks for stopping by.
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Yes, it’s basically a ’66 Rambler American with flashy decals and a hood scoop. And the rear lights and lack of side markers isn’t the only thing that makes this NOT a ’69 Rambler either. The front grill is wrong too. The ’67-’69 has a straight chrome strip below the headlights the whole with of the grill, while the 66 has a “knick” in the chrome strip by the headlights’ inner corners, similar to the strip on top of the grill/hood edge.
Pictures for reference:
’66 American:
’69 SC Rambler:
Jo-Han also didn’t bother to update the rear seat/interior tub, and insted used the one from the convertible. I believe this is the case for all Jo-Han ’64 on Rambler Americans, because they released the convertible first, I guess.
But hey, at least they remembered to include the hood scoop. LOL (Although I think the angle of the scoop is slightly more aggressive on the model than on the real car. But not 100% certain.)
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Yup. It is amazing how BADLY Jo-Han kits portray the cars and yet they are the more expensive and coveted ones. Proves rare good.
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BTW, thanks for stopping by!
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Funny how you rip this kit a new one for being fraudulent, but you think the AMT Taurus SHO disguised as a police package Taurus is a decent kit when it’s just as dishonest.
It’s a kit from the late 60s. The model manufacturers were more concerned about selling a product that appealed to 12 year olds of the time. It wasn’t until the 80s when adult modelers became the main focus of the hobby and people actually started caring about accuracy.
Johan kits aren’t coveted for being great. They’re coveted because they remind boomers of the glory days.
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So, a few things.
I appreciate your honesty and thank you for writing in.
That said, you are a bit mistaken on a few things. The first is that there is something wrong with a Ford Taurus as a police car. The Ford Taurus has been a legitimate police car for almost two decades, so I have NO idea what is dishonest about it.
The second thing is just because the Rambler kit is from the 60’s doesn’t mean it should be able to be sold as one thing and actually be another. The car should have been a 69 SC/Rambler and it wasn’t. Why should anyone be okay with getting something that was not what it was supposed to be? You would be upset if you were sold a 1969 GTO Judge for $70k and came to find out it was a lowly $30k Tempest after the fact.
Lastly, you are a bit mistaken about the point of Jo-Han kits. I NEVER said they were coveted because they were great. They are coveted because they are old and rare. I have sure bought/sold enuff of em and have built a few as well. They are, for the most part flawed – and in this case, a fraud.
Thanks though!
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CHECK OUT THE KENOSHA, WISCONSIN HISTORY MUSEUM. There you will find a display with a Johan SC/Rambler replica that was painstakingly done right. A multi National show winner that is just exquisite to see!!!
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So appreciate the info. I LOVE going to new auto museums and I haven’t seen a GOOD SC/Rambler. Appreciate the stop and hope you’ll check back. I will be doing an overhaul this holiday season. Cheers.
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